User:Haytham2
The use of the term "denialist" in the context of AIDS is an intentional insult, meant to invalidate and dismiss any claims made by so-called AIDS "denialists." This term is not accurate or specific, since so-called AIDS "denialists" do not deny AIDS. AIDS is acknowledged, but it is the HIV hypothesis which is questionable.
The proper term is AIDS *dissidents*. Any respectful discussion about AIDS should ideally reject intentionally pejorative terms such as the biased term "denialist." Some dissidents call themselves "rethinkers" or "skeptics" or "reappraisers" but the common, accepted term is DISSIDENT.
I am a firm supporter of Wikipedia: WikiProject Alternative Views. This project might very well serve to eliminate some of the current inherent bias of the Wiki entries concerning AIDS.
"Denialist" or "denier" is a term often used to refer to AIDS dissidents. It became popular in usage around the mid- to late-1990s and has grown in popularity since that time. It is used exclusively by those who support the HIV theory, and it has strong pejorative connotations. The implication made is that individuals who question the HIV/AIDS hypothesis must necessarily be in a state of "denial." This is frequently combined with the false claim that most dissidents have tested HIV+ and have adopted their doubts based purely on personal motives. These observations discount the fact that many dissidents are scientists and researchers with no immediate personal motive for "denying" HIV.
The term possibly originated out of attempts to link dissidents to Holocaust deniers. The implication is that questioning the HIV theory is tantamount to questioning the existence of the Jewish Holocaust.
Many dissidents have reacted to the "denialist" label by calling themselves "AIDS realists."