MovieChat Forums > Isaac Asimov Discussion > Looked up Asimov because of today's debu...

Looked up Asimov because of today's debut of Apple TV "Foundation"

posted 3 years ago by TrentnQuarantino (8600)
21 replies | jump to latest

I think we never heard about it at the time, but Isaac Asimov had heart surgery for a heart condition he discovered in 1977 ...

In 1977, Asimov suffered a heart attack. In December 1983, he had triple bypass surgery at NYU Medical Center, during which he contracted HIV from a blood transfusion.[102] When his HIV status was understood, his physicians warned that if he publicized it, the anti-AIDS prejudice would likely extend to his family members.[103] He died in Manhattan on April 6, 1992, and was cremated.[104]

Asimov was 72 when he died. That story makes me sad, both for Asimov who still had a lot to offer to the world, and for Americans and how ignorant and superstitious we were back then, and probably are today, about illness, disease, and at that time it was AIDS.

How can that be that someone goes into the hospital for life saving surgery and basically gets a death sentence? I don't recall that news every being made public, and I always paid attention for information or articles about Asimov.

[–] Ranb (7360) 3 years ago

Back then, no matter who you were, if you got AIDS, then something was wrong with your moral character.

Look up the history of Hanson's disease (leprosy). Even father Damien who contracted it after years of caring for people in the Hawaiian leper colony was accused of immorality just for dying from it.

[–] whynotwriteme (7145) 10 months ago

To be fair, even today when someone gets AIDS the first impulse is to assume they got it from gay sex. Nobody guesses a bad transfusion first.

[–] DarthAckbar (882) 15 days ago

All blood donations in the United States have been screened for HIV since March 1985.

[–] Luffy (837) 10 months ago

Asimov was no saint, but he did not deserve to die the way he did. I like a couple of his books. He is one of the big three of 50s science fiction. That will always be true.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (10567) 10 months ago

He was no saint? I never heard much about his personal life. What did he do which was unsaintly? I mean none of us are saints.

[–] whynotwriteme (7145) 10 months ago

Asimov was an ass-grabber from what I have heard. Apparently he was known in SF fandom as a "dirty old man" who would always lech on much younger women.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (10567) 10 months ago

Oh well, he was a great sci-fi writer. So he was entitled. 🤣

[–] TrentnQuarantino (8600) 10 months ago

Too bad he wasn't gay and could grab your ignorant ass.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (10567) 10 months ago

Sorry, I don't give a fuck about some dumb broad whose ass was grabbed 50 years ago. I'm sure she survived.

[–] Ranb (7360) 10 months ago

Asimov had a reputation for being handsy.
https://gizmodo.com/dont-look-away-fighting-sexual-harassment-in-the-scifi-1785704207

Similar to what Trump bragged about as a perk of wealth. https://www.mic.com/articles/156222/donald-trump-billy-bush-leaked-video-full-transcript-read-the-full-sexist-exchange-here

This has been going out of fashion these last several decades, but some people still cling to the old ways.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (10567) 10 months ago

I don't care about an artist's personal life. I judge him by his art. I loved Asimov's "Foundation Trilogy".

Yes, I think it's creepy for a guy to grab a woman's ass.

So? Who knows what creepy things that women did?

Point is we don't know any of these people.

[–] Ranb (7360) 15 days ago

I have to draw the line somewhere. I cannot stand Roman Polanski. He allegedly drugged and sodomized a 13yo girl and then pled guilty to unlawful sex with a minor. He excused it by saying that everyone wants to f*ck girls.

Even today his apologists spring to his aid whenever his vile actions are brought up. But the one thing they never say to describe him is "child rapist".

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (10567) 14 days ago

Oh, Polanski is a creep.

But I can still watch "Rosemary's Baby". His personal behavior is no reflection on the art.

[–] whynotwriteme (7145) 14 days ago

The awkward thing about Polanski is that his now middle-aged victim says it was no real biggie and he should be left alone. This 2017 article shows them holding hands and smiling at an event. https://deadline.com/2023/04/roman-polanski-rape-victim-samantha-geimer-no-problem-no-suppport-metoo-movement-1235326147/

[–] Ranb (7360) 14 days ago

The awkward thing is that Polanski was allowed to flee punishment for his crime and is lauded for his films instead of reviled for his alleged rapes.

The state has a responsibility to stop rapists from re-offending, no matter what they did to their previous victims to influence them into forgiveness.

If Polanski had actually been held accountable for his crime, the perhaps there would be fewer women calling him out on raping them too. https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/8/17/16156902/roman-polanski-child-rape-charges-explained-samantha-geimer-robin-m

[–] liscarkat (16625) 15 days ago

Being "handsy" is really not a big deal, at least not in a sane world. It's just annoying.

[–] raymondoz2007 (2053) 10 months ago

Robert Heinlein gave him his start.

[–] PaladinNJ (20326) 10 months ago

My grandfather was caught in an explosion that almost took his hand off. They were able to save his hand but the transfusion gave him HIV which eventually killed him.

[–] leader (1697) 10 months ago

Did he live for a long time after that? Or did he die very fast.

[–] PaladinNJ (20326) 10 months ago

About 8 years.

[–] leader (1697) 10 months ago

That's longer than I would have guessed, to be honest.