[CWC]

The general impression people have towards blood donation is pinned against the backdrop of pain and trypanophobia, at least, this is what I've gathered so far. I am a regular blood donator, visiting the blood bank every 4-5months or so, depending my my state of health; mental, physically and at times even emotionally.

I could understand the underlying fear towards sharp objects, or even the phobia of being restraint head up, but, however, I certaintly did not expect something along the lines that explicitly aroused the feeling of "disgust" by anyone, but this was what was said in my face. In short, the collective opinions was that donating blood is disgusting, and that blood donators are equally well so.I am quite surprise, to say the least at such an ignorant remark.

Of course, I have no qualms with people who are unwilling [or 'unable'] to overcome their mental phobia for a greater good [ For sake of topic, we assume blood donation is morally good], and I certaintly take no offense should they decide that overcoming this mental hurdle is not worth their potential to save lives.

What are INTJ views towards blood donation, or perhaps even blood donators. Apparently, I fail to see any well-nigh correlation which holds between blood donation and the negative connotations it bears.

[Webbster]

I've never heard anyone speak out against blood donations. It seems to me that it is quite an honourable thing to do.

I wonder where that person though the blood comes from when it is needed in an operation? Perhaps, they feel blood is inherently dirty and it is simply a blood phobia.

[Amphorian]

I've donated blood before, more then once; however, I'm getting a tattoo this week and will have to wait awhile to donate again.

Perhaps they meant sharing blood is disgusting? That they couldn't fathom having someone else's blood inside of them? Usually with those type of people I start telling them where everything they eat and wear come from. =D

But I don't see anything negative about donating blood in the boarder sense (maybe in the personal sense). Why would there be?

[mormeguil]

I have never really heard about anything like this about donating blood. It's viewed as a good deed about equal to donathing a good amout of food.

It's a bid sad considering that I can not give blood due to stupid laws. Even my organs will be refused due to my homosexuality (I could lie ... but I hate to lie...)

[CWC]

Originally Posted by Amphorian To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I've donated blood before, more then once; however, I'm getting a tattoo this week and will have to wait awhile to donate again. Perhaps they meant sharing blood is disgusting? That they couldn't fathom having someone else's blood inside of them? Usually with those type of people I start telling them where everything they eat and wear come from. =D But I don't see anything negative about donating blood in the boarder sense (maybe in the personal sense). Why would there be?

That was why it came across as a surprise for me upon hearing the passing of such a remark by fellow homo sapiens -ignorance? No matter how you attempt to balance the pros and cons [if there are], it withstands the scrutiny of being an act of saving lives.

[Warrior]

I've never come across this attitude about giving blood. Lot's of people at work do it during the blood drives every couple months. I've never heard anyone say it was disgusting. I can somewhat understand not wanting someone else's blood - I'm kind of like that myself.

[Pachystima]

	Originally Posted by CWC To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	The general impression people have towards blood donation is pinned against the backdrop of pain and trypanophobia, at least, this is what I've gathered so far.

Really. You must be talking to different people than I encounter. The general attitude that I perceive is that it is a relatively painless and selfless act.

[admittedheretic]

I would think there would be stigma toward those who refuse to donate.

I have donated blood and plasma in the past, but I no long do as to avoid the social situations and I hate needles. It makes me feel worse knowing that I have an universal blood type

[Night Runner]

The very subject of blood seems to be taboo to a lot of people. We are taught to be afraid of blood since we're little: if it's your blood, it's due to an injury; a stranger's blood is to be avoided at all costs (even if it's accidental contact). Therefore, it carries a lot of negative associations. Add the fear of needles to it, and you'd have something most people would rather avoid.
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I have a rare blood type and I used to donate every two months, but the staff at the local blood donation place were really careless. Even though my veins aren't hard to find, they'd never get the needle in on the first try. (And they always assigned some interns or people with pretty much no training to do that.
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) I was fairly tolerant, telling myself this was all for the greater good. However, the last time I donated (almost two years ago), they jabbed me with that damn needle at least 10 times before getting it in the vein, and the next day I developed a huge hematoma.
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My current aversion to giving blood is based on my experiences, and I won't donate again anytime soon unless they start treating the donors better or there is a disaster and they completely run out of blood.

[firebee]

I've not noted such a negative connotation generally. I don't donate, myself, first because I have a tendency to "crash" in certain circumstances (my mother has a similar issue, she once tried to donate, and after spending the next four hours horizontal and trying not to faint, she was cordially invited not to come back), and more concretely because I date bi men and am hence ineligible.

[Vagrant]

I view donating blood as a very good thing.

However, I myself do not donate blood. The biggest reason is because I'm usually dehydrated, meaning I bleed slowly. This leads to very strong lightheadedness and headaches when I give blood, something which I do not like.

[ya lyublyu tebya]

I've never heard that. O_O That's terrible.

I feel guilty about not being able to donate blood. I don't weigh enough.
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I wish they could just take half a pint or something.

[t3hrubikscube]

I think that donating blood is a very honorable thing to do. More people ought to do it since it's relatively easy.

I've never really heard of anyone speaking out against donating blood...aside from little comments about being afraid of needles, etc.

[Syntax]

I've never donated blood, but I've sold a TON of plasma. I like money.

[phej]

	Originally Posted by t3hrubikscube To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I think that donating blood is a very honorable thing to do. More people ought to do it since it's relatively easy. I've never really heard of anyone speaking out against donating blood...aside from little comments about being afraid of needles, etc.

Jehovah's Witnesses?

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[Thinktress]

I can't give blood, most notably because I have a chronic form of anemia, but also because I have been a recipient of transfusions many times in the past. As such, I really appreciate those who donate. My son, ironically, makes TOO much hemoglobin. He is one of those people who actually feels physically better after he donates blood because it drops his count down to a more normal level.

It should be noted that only 38% of Americans are even eligible to donate blood - this kind of gives you a picture of how important it is for the people who are eligible to try to donate:

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I think that there has been a negative connotation to giving blood because people confuse blood donation with the donation of plasma. Unlike blood donors, plasma donors are paid for their contributions. This has had a tendency, at times, to cause those who are down on their luck or who need money fast to be prone to donate. People can donate plasma for pay every 48 hours. The plasma is tested for commonly transmitted diseases. Payment for donation has led to the perception that most plasma donors are skid row druggie types (in truth, I have no idea what the actual stats on plasma donors are).

Also, I believe that big pharma runs the plasma centers and they make a huge amount of money off of plasma. So that is viewed negatively as well. All of this has led to a negative stereotype that has generalized to include blood donation just because people don't understand that its a different process, run by different players.

But in truth, the plasma donation, however its obtained, is also a very necessary process.

[Zombicide]

I've always wanted to give blood but for some reason I imagine my blood is vile, toxic, reprehensible and that one would rather die than receive my blood. It'd be too embarrassing to even take the chance of going to offer my blood.

[Syntax]

	Originally Posted by Thinktress To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	It should be noted that only 38% of Americans are even eligible to donate blood - this kind of gives you a picture of how important it is for the people who are eligible to try to donate: To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

One would think that they would raise that 38% by a bit if they'd accept homosexual men. I can understand the risk assessment they're doing and the reasons behind it, but they go a bit far imo. Even if you've just engaged in oral sex with a homosexual man ONCE in your life you get screened out. Based upon that rule alone, I couldn't donate blood without lying about it beforehand(it was college...I was experimenting).

[Thinktress]

	Originally Posted by Zombicide To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I've always wanted to give blood but for some reason I imagine my blood is vile, toxic, reprehensible and that one would rather die than receive my blood. It'd be too embarrassing to even take the chance of going to offer my blood.

I don't know if this helps, but whenever I have received blood, I've been pretty grateful that someone took the time out to go down and volunteer to get stuck with a needle. I'm definitely not thinking anything bad about any of the donors, or that I don't want their blood. I'm pretty grateful for it. When you donate, the testing they do doesn't come back until after you're gone. So even if you had an issue with your blood, or a disease even, they wouldn't tell you and reject you at the point of donation I don't believe. I think you would get a card or letter in the mail. And even if you had an issue that caused them to be unable to use your blood, it doesn't make your blood vile or reprehensible, just not eligible. And if that's the case, you'd be better off knowing anyway so that you could address the issue.

[Yhor]

I've donated blood, 'sold' plasma, and was checked for bone marrow match (ouch... my cousin's daughter had leukemia, though).

Up until I was 16 (my first arrest), I never thought I'd let someone take my blood. A bit different than JWs, but it was sort of a religious principle. I've never been one who believed in organized religion, but I did believe in something spiritual, and I felt it was wrong to 'cheat death' and do 'blood rituals', which is essentially what the practice is. Anyway, I was 'knocked out' and blood was taken, and it ruined my spiritual outlook. As serious as I was about it then, I kinda laugh now. But I was young and ignorant, that's my excuse.

Since then, it took me until my cousin's daughter needed help (3-4 years later) to decide to think about it in terms of donating. I donated regularly until my service in the military took me to Africa, which is a dis-qualifier.

[AnnoyingPony]

I wasn't aware that some people considered donating blood particularly gross.

[Fanowene]

I think it's awesome that people decide to donate blood. I never donated blood in Switzerland, and now I can't donate blood in the U.S. because I grew up in Switzerland. I would if I could... A blood donation bus stops by campus on a regular basis.

[AnnoyingPony]

	Originally Posted by Fanowene To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I think it's awesome that people decide to donate blood. I never donated blood in Switzerland, and now I can't donate blood in the U.S. because I grew up in Switzerland. I would if I could... A blood donation bus stops by campus on a regular basis.

You can't donate blood in the U.S. if you grew up in a different country? WTF is that about?

[hulloworld]

I dont really think there is a negative connotation... nothing near that of sperm donation.

[True Rune]

Some think they're giving away their life when they give blood.