--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: AIDS had landed and I was terrified. I…" description: "\"AIDS had landed and I was terrified. I was very scared, just as everyone was in the '80s. It was really hard to be sexually active and to sleep with me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/michael-stipe-6714_80s_aids-had-landed-and-i-was-terrified-i-wa_2448402.png" --- # AIDS had landed and I was terrified. I was very scared… ![“AIDS had landed and I was terrified. I was very scared, just as everyone was in the '80s. It was really hard to be sexually active and to sleep with men and with women and not feel you had a responsibility in terms of having safe sex.” quote by Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/michael-stipe-6714_80s_aids-had-landed-and-i-was-terrified-i-wa_2448402.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/michael-stipe-6714_80s_aids-had-landed-and-i-was-terrified-i-wa_2448402.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/michael-stipe-6714_80s_aids-had-landed-and-i-was-terrified-i-wa_2448402.png) > “AIDS had landed and I was terrified. I was very scared, just as everyone was in the '80s. It was really hard to be sexually active and to sleep with men and with women and not feel you had a responsibility in terms of having safe sex.” [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fear and stigma of AIDS in the 1980s created sexual anxiety and a heightened sense of responsibility for safe practices **In simple terms:** AIDS fear led to sexual caution and responsibility Key Takeaway Prioritize safe sex and empathy during health crises Themes health stigma sexuality responsibility fear Mood concerned hopeful Type personal reflective When to use this quote - education campaigns - support groups - personal safety planning Key Concepts Public health psychology social norms Questions to Reflect On - How did fear affect your relationships? - What can reduce stigma around disease? A Different Perspective Stigma can hinder open dialogue and effective prevention ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) ## Related quotes > [ By the time \[of modern\] generation was coming of age sexually, there was already this idea of safe sex. But that didn't exist for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/by-the-time-of-modern-generation-was-coming-of-age-sexually-there-was/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [Football is being used as a language in that project...The vital message being communicated to the boys and young men is about safe sex,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/football-is-being-used-as-a-language-in-that-project-the-vital/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [People still think of AIDS as a shame-based disease, it's a sexually transmitted disease, and you're either gay or you're a prostitute or an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/people-still-think-of-aids-as-a-shame-based-disease-it-s-a-sexually/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [The '80s was brand new. It was AIDS. It was gangbanging. It was starting to become big dope-dealing, and crack was starting to flood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/the-80s-was-brand-new-it-was-aids-it-was-gangbanging-it-was-starting/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [If you're going to have sex, I think you should have safe sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bristol-palin/if-you-re-going-to-have-sex-i-think-you-should-have-safe-sex/) [Bristol Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bristol-palin/) > [“Rachel's mother slipped her arm around his waist. "Steven was just telling us about being gay, Fred." Rachel's father smiled and reached down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-larochelle/rachel-s-mother-slipped-her-arm-around-his-waist-steven-was-just/) [David LaRochelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-larochelle/) > [Capital burns off the nuance in a culture. Foreign investment, global markets, corporate acquisitions, the flow of information through transnational media, the attenuating influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/capital-burns-off-the-nuance-in-a-culture-foreign-investment-global/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Safe sex- if you're gonna make love with the person whom you love so much do it wearing the safest thing. . . . a marriage ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/safe-sex-if-you-re-gonna-make-love-with-the-person-whom-you-love-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And what gift of America to the rest of the world is actually most appreciated by the rest of the world? It is African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-what-gift-of-america-to-the-rest-of-the-world-is-actually-most/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Always use condom sense!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-puck-m-s-m-ed-ph-d-c/always-use-condom-sense/) TayloR Puck M.S. M.Ed. Ph.D. c > [ I don't know what anybody else in the world would want to thank America for, but man, it \[jazz\] works. What I like about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-don-t-know-what-anybody-else-in-the-world-would-want-to-thank/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I know about safe sex," Nathan said, interrupting Jack's thoughts. Jack swallowed. "That's good." He smiled at his son, vastly relieved that there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/i-know-about-safe-sex-nathan-said-interrupting-jack-s-thoughts-jack/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [Safe sex is great sex, better wear a latex cuz you don't want that late text... that I think I'm late text.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/safe-sex-is-great-sex-better-wear-a-latex-cuz-you-don-t-want-that/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“Sometimes I regret going into that public toilet with your father.’ ‘Then practice safe sex, Mama!!’ ‘We were! There was a fight in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dunne/sometimes-i-regret-going-into-that-public-toilet-with-your-father/) [Jonathan Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dunne/) > [What is my definition of jazz? "Safe sex of the highest order."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/what-is-my-definition-of-jazz-safe-sex-of-the-highest-order/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More by Michael Stipe > [We don't get groupies.We get teenagers who want to read us their poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/we-don-t-get-groupies-we-get-teenagers-who-want-to-read-us-their/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [ At the \[teenage\] time, I did have an inkling of my sexuality. And I had an inkling that I was different from other people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/at-the-teenage-time-i-did-have-an-inkling-of-my-sexuality-and-i-had/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [I don't find R.E.M. to be nihilistic. There is a constant undertone of joyous optimism. I'm not going to kill myself to Patti Smith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/i-don-t-find-r-e-m-to-be-nihilistic-there-is-a-constant-undertone-of/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [ I simply constructed a project to try to snap Kurt \[Cobain\] out of a frame of mind. I sent him a plane ticket and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/i-simply-constructed-a-project-to-try-to-snap-kurt-cobain-out-of-a/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [I was vulnerable every day. Every night that I stepped on stage I was laying myself open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/i-was-vulnerable-every-day-every-night-that-i-stepped-on-stage-i-was/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [We're absolutely American and distinctly so, I think. That's part of what people respond to outside of this country, part of the reason that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/we-re-absolutely-american-and-distinctly-so-i-think-that-s-part-of/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [ \[Columbia House\] magazines were how I found out about the punk world going on in New York. Because of what I read, at the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/columbia-house-magazines-were-how-i-found-out-about-the-punk-world/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [I'm tired of being this solemn poet of the masses, the enigma shrouded in a mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/i-m-tired-of-being-this-solemn-poet-of-the-masses-the-enigma-shrouded/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [Frankly I'm not great with heroin addicts. I tried heroin, but it was by accident. I'm not great with that level of substance abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/frankly-i-m-not-great-with-heroin-addicts-i-tried-heroin-but-it-was/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [The whole punk ethic was do-it-yourself, and I've always been very literal, especially as a kid. When they said that anybody can do this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/the-whole-punk-ethic-was-do-it-yourself-and-i-ve-always-been-very/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [They spoke truth and a lot of people listened… that voice, Kurt we miss you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/they-spoke-truth-and-a-lot-of-people-listened-that-voice-kurt-we-miss/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [A wise man once said-'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave,'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/a-wise-man-once-said-the-skill-in-attending-a-party-is-knowing-when/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [They always want me to play myself and that's a big snooze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/they-always-want-me-to-play-myself-and-that-s-a-big-snooze/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [Anything you do as a group is fraught with compromise... But everyone 's got to do that, right? It's part of being a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/anything-you-do-as-a-group-is-fraught-with-compromise-but-everyone-s/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) > [To be called an elder statesman is so unbelievably insulting. Brad Pitt is exactly three years younger than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stipe/to-be-called-an-elder-statesman-is-so-unbelievably-insulting-brad/) [Michael Stipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) [Explore all 98 Michael Stipe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stipe/) ## More 80s quotes > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [As an actor I kind of do. I started out doing voice overs in the mid 80s when I was in grad school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/as-an-actor-i-kind-of-do-i-started-out-doing-voice-overs-in-the-mid/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [It's nice to have been around long enough to be a part of people's lives. A lot of people who come to my show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-easton/it-s-nice-to-have-been-around-long-enough-to-be-a-part-of-people-s/) [Sheena Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-easton/) > [ It was a very economically depressed time \[the 80s\] and because of that, there was a lot of space. Everything was relatively dilapidated, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-smith/it-was-a-very-economically-depressed-time-the-80s-and-because-of-that/) [Kiki Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-smith/) > [If for no other reason than it's just fun to watch people age, and it's fun to watch what happened to '80s hairdos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/if-for-no-other-reason-than-it-s-just-fun-to-watch-people-age-and-it/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) > [I don't dislike rappers or hip-hop or people who like it. I went to the Def Jam tour in Manchester in the '80s when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-don-t-dislike-rappers-or-hip-hop-or-people-who-like-it-i-went-to/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Since I was gay and loved disco music, it was kinda pre-programmed that my first experiences with house music and acid - which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justus-kohncke/since-i-was-gay-and-loved-disco-music-it-was-kinda-pre-programmed/) Justus Kohncke > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [When I was coming up in the '80s television, if you were on television that meant either you were a young actor just coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-i-was-coming-up-in-the-80s-television-if-you-were-on-television/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [My fashion was not the best in the '80s. I looked crazy as hell. I used to wear my pants tucked into my socks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/my-fashion-was-not-the-best-in-the-80s-i-looked-crazy-as-hell-i-used/) [Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/) > [Bin Laden was, though, a product of a monumental miscalculation by western security agencies. Throughout the 80s he was armed by the CIA and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-cook/bin-laden-was-though-a-product-of-a-monumental-miscalculation-by/) [Robin Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-cook/) > [When someone asks if you're a god, you say YES!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/when-someone-asks-if-you-re-a-god-you-say-yes/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [His (Lloyd Kaufman) string of low-budget, lowbrow horror comedies stretching back to the ’80s has been cited as influence by Peter Jackson, the Farrelly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-lumenick/his-lloyd-kaufman-string-of-low-budget-lowbrow-horror-comedies/) Lou Lumenick > [I have this obsession with the '80s because I missed all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/i-have-this-obsession-with-the-80s-because-i-missed-all-of-it/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [It was the case in the 70s and 80s that people believed music could change the world. But now people aren't making music because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/it-was-the-case-in-the-70s-and-80s-that-people-believed-music-could/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) Browse all 488 80s quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "AIDS had landed and I was terrified. I was very scared, just as everyone was in the '80s. 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