"No, seriously, if HIV doesn't cause AIDS, why don't you inject yourself?"
Originally posted in clairvoyantwank, until I came across the prize wank in the original rant's comment section, a fountain of WHOA.

Over at The Nation, blogger Richard Kim posts a rant about Harper's Magazine publishing an article by Celia Farber. Celia Farber, for those of you who haven't heard of her, has been making a name for herself since the 1980s arguing that HIV isn't the cause of AIDS.

PCR: Awesome!! Now I can go back to unprotected sex!!!

And then, Farber's defenders stepped into the fray:

Darin Brown (a professor of mathematics, apparently): Thank you for your editorial. It is a perfect example of the kind of behaviour Celia mentioned in her article. In a sense, your reply (using the terms "denialist" and "conspiracy theory", and quoting editorials which were never subject to peer review, including the infamous Cohen 1994 hatchet job, as your "best rebuttals"), only strengthens her piece.

The HIV/AIDS hypothesis is possibly the most refuted hypothesis in science. It remains in force solely because of politics. But the science demolished it years ago. It is only a matter of time before the politics weakens and reality prevails. You cannot deny reality forever.

[Cutting a little stuff out here, to keep this a manageable length.]

I would also suggest, Mr. Kim, that you read Harvey Bialy's new book, "Oncogenes, Aneuploidy, and AIDS", (if you CAN...your post is so smacking of scientific ignorance that I wonder...)

Will C.: I would be so much more impressed if you actually injected the live virus in your veins. If you alone are not enough for a scientific experiment, perhaps we could assemble all those who think HIV doesn't actually kill people to also inject the live virus in their veins.

Remember, because the virus is harmless, you can not administer any treatment.

And we will release the findings after you all die a peaceful natural death with your immune systems intact and properly functioning.

Wadda you say?

Up for the challenge?

And much, much more along that line.

Additionally, the sexy gossipmongers over at Wonkette post a link to the rant, which Wonkette commenter Gus does not approve of. The fight there is small, but, like an afterdinner mint, tasty.