Imagine
that you and a romantic friend are together and the Friend says some of
the things written below to try to persuade you, even though you don’t
want to, to have sexual intercourse or to have unprotected intercourse.
Put a check next to the responses that you think are good; put two checks
next to the responses you think are even better; and put a star next to
the one response you think is the best.
| FRIEND: | You would if you loved me (or) |
| If you love me, you’ll do it with me (or) | |
| But I love you! | |
| YOU: | If you love me, you’ll respect my decision (or) |
| If you love me, you’ll help me wait. | |
| FRIEND: | Everybody is doing it. |
| YOU: | I’m somebody, and I’m not doing it (or) |
| 50% of U.S. teenagers, 17 and younger, have not yet had sexual intercourse -- they’re not doing it. | |
| FRIEND: | What’s your problem? |
| YOU: | I think we should wait. There’s nothing wrong with that. |
| FRIEND: | If you won’t do it, I’ll find somebody who will. |
| YOU: | I’m sorry I don’t mean more to you than that. |
| FRIEND: | But I love you! |
| YOU: | If you love me, respect my health (or) |
| Condoms protect, love doesn’t (or) | |
| It’s so sexy when a man cares (or) | |
| Do it for me. | |
| FRIEND: | I’m not gay and I don’t shoot drugs. You won’t catch HIV from me. |
| YOU: | You don’t have to be gay or shoot drugs. More than half the people in the world with the virus are married women. |
| FRIEND: | Do I look sick? |
| YOU: | Most people who have HIV look and feel healthy and don’t know that they have the virus. |
| FRIEND: | It takes too long. |
| YOU: | You’ll be turning me on every second (or) |
| I love it when you take your time (or) | |
| What’s the rush? (or) | |
| I’ll wait. | |
| FRIEND: | Just this once. |
| YOU: | It only takes once (or) |
| Only kids make decisions like that (or) | |
| This isn’t up for debate (or) | |
| No way. | |
| FRIEND: | It doesn’t feel good. |
| YOU: | AIDS feels worse (or) |
| I’d feel better (or) | |
| When I feel safer I go wild (or) | |
| Just wait. | |
| FRIEND: | It spoils the mood. |
| YOU: | It puts me in the mood (or) |
| So does worrying (or) | |
| Not if I help (or) | |
| We could always go to a movie. |
Adapted
from New York State Department of Health publications.