If I hear one more person talk about how sad it must have been that I did not grow up using ASL, I am going to f-ing scream. Mind your own business! Especially if you don't know or understand the situation. Why attack me and my family for some choices we made over twenty years ago? What do you want me to do? Apologize?
My family did an excellent job.
Maybe if you back off and stop being so critical and mean to those who did not learn and use sign language, more people and parents would be willing to use it.
I do believe that sign language should be learned by more people. Sign language would be very beneficial to everyone, deaf or hearing. It would be wonderful to see it more often in public. However, if a large number of you keep acting like crazy militant fools, making others feel like sh*t, no one is going to want to be a part of the Deaf Culture or learn sign language.
To the mean-spirited deaf radicals: You can attract more bees with honey, right? Why are you constantly slinging vinegar at them? What kind of tactic is that?
(e
My family did an excellent job.
Maybe if you back off and stop being so critical and mean to those who did not learn and use sign language, more people and parents would be willing to use it.
I do believe that sign language should be learned by more people. Sign language would be very beneficial to everyone, deaf or hearing. It would be wonderful to see it more often in public. However, if a large number of you keep acting like crazy militant fools, making others feel like sh*t, no one is going to want to be a part of the Deaf Culture or learn sign language.
To the mean-spirited deaf radicals: You can attract more bees with honey, right? Why are you constantly slinging vinegar at them? What kind of tactic is that?
(e
I HEAR you. I'm tired of all the radicalism too.
ReplyDeleteI feel ya (e.
ReplyDelete(e,
ReplyDeleteThe Oral Radicalism started the whole thing back in 1880 Milan by banning sign language and promoted oral only method education for the deaf.
The Deaf started to wake up the society about how important sign language was around 1960's.
Now we got thousands high schools and Universities across the country having sign language courses. More parents are learning sign languages, more hearing babies are learning sign languages.
And it got to the point that the Oral Radicalism such as AGBell, Oberkotter Foundation and many Oral organizations started to spread propaganda about ASL radicalism people or what some would call them, mean-spirited deaf radicals that they are crazy militant fools about promoting sign language.
Please don't blame the ASL Deaf community, it is the Oral radicalism/organizations/medical people trying to tell parents not to learn sign language.
I don't blame the ASL Deaf Community. I love the ASL Deaf community as a whole. Not everyone is like the few jerks I come across poking around in my business. The thing that makes me mad is that I don't even know them or ask to discuss this. They just assume that I had a horrible life because I did not have ASL. I understand how terrible it must have been for a lot of deaf people to be restricted to oralism. I can't imagine. So I understand that some are extremely angered by this. But don't put it out on me and don't make assumptions and quick judgments about me without speaking with me or asking me questions.
ReplyDelete(e
By the way, I have yet to see oralists inflict their ideals on signing deaf people. Has anyone experience this here or elsewhere? Probably so. I would not be surprised.
ReplyDeleteJust curious.
(e
You don't have severe to profound deaf. That's why you don't see is as bad.
ReplyDeletein both ears, that is. I know plenty of hearing people who function fine with one normal hearing ear.
ReplyDeleteYou say you haven't seen anyone doing this, I have.. Deaf people are often asked why don't they want to cure their deafness or get an CI -- meaning make them hearing and speaking like them.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous- "You don't have severe to profound deaf. That's why you don't see is as bad."
ReplyDeleteThis is what some people who are severe or profoundly deaf in both ears, don't seem to understand. Because I have a moderate hearing loss in right ear and a profound hearing loss in my left ear, I can hear a lot of sounds and am able to get by without sign language. This is why I did not grow up with ASL. Had I been prfoundly or severely deaf in both ears, I would most likely have benefitted from ASL.
"That's why you don't see is as bad."
I don't see it as bad for myself. But, I can't speak for others. I know and have witnessed deaf children who were restricted to oralist methods for several years and it was a nightmare for them. Once sign language was introduced, they were much happier and successful in school. But, I do know some deaf children who were very successful and happy with the oral approach. Whatever works. Everyone is different.
The point is, I would never go to some stranger and tell them that how they communicate makes me sad. Ask questions and get to know the other person first before jumping to conclusions.
(e
"You say you haven't seen anyone doing this, I have.. Deaf people are often asked why don't they want to cure their deafness or get an CI -- meaning make them hearing and speaking like them."
ReplyDeleteWould they tell them how it makes them sad or make comments like, "What a shame" "How awful" ? If they do, then this is where you can tell them to keep their opinions to themselves or explain how ASL has helped you.
However, if they are just asking why you would not consider an implant or cure your deafness, then that's fine, because they are asking you a question. This is where you can educate them on cochlear implants or help them understand why some deaf people don't see deafness as a problem to be fixed.
However, if they are random complete strangers and you did not ask them to come up to you, then that would be rude. Then I would tell them to mind their own business.
I am fine with someone asking me why I did not use ASL growing up. I would gladly have a conversation about it. But, if you pity me or attack me and my family, I will tell you to shut up and stick your opinions where the sun doesn't shine.
(e
Good for you!
ReplyDeleteTousi43
They often say "oh I'm sorry you are deaf" Is that the same as saying "it's a shame"? Just saying. The point is both world get treated that way.
ReplyDeleteI AM severely/profoundly deaf in both ears and never used ASL growing up. Each individual is different and everyone needs to respect other individuals; that's how I see it. Criticism doesn't help anybody.
ReplyDeleteGeez, where do these people get the nerve to say, "Oh, I'm sorry you are deaf"? Yes, I agree, it is the same as saying "what a shame."
ReplyDelete(e
The Deaf Militant that you're talking about seems to be a rare bird.
ReplyDeleteIt's rude to criticize one's family or decisions made in the past. In fact, most Deaf adults over about 30 years old had oral backgrounds and varying degrees of success with it before adding ASL to their communication preferences. Most Deaf respect their fellows who have usable hearing and wear aids or CI's as being "lucky". Nothing more.
The militants, where they exist, are more likely to be criticizing the hearing professionals who impose oralism and its various forms without offering alternatives or balanced programs. They are promoting a philosophy that hearing is better and that children should be brought up to a hearing standard in order to "function" in the world.
Deaf militants aren't into attacking oral deaf or HOH people, nor are they trying to convert those who don't need or want ASL in their lives as they know it.
A characteristic of the Deaf militant, however, is to react strongly to oral deaf advocates for oral methods, cochlear implants, or otherwise imply by their example that oralism will succeed for every deaf child. One doesn't have to be a deaf militant to be concerned about that approach.
AMEN!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine how much we'd be criticized if we said how sad it was that some Deaf people grew up only with ASL and how they've missed out on so much not having speech?
That's certainly not my view, but this double standard thing is getting old!
Oh my gosh this topic just came up in my life! I will post about it. It is too detailed to go into on a comment.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that strikes me is I was worried about how to approach a person I just met who was raised oral but learning to sign. It was so interesting. It was a work situation which is even more interesting. I didn't want to ask about her opinion or express mine but because of how we all fall into a comfort zone when deaf is involved we had a great talk.
I conducted my first interview at my new job in ASL with a non native deaf person. It was awesome! I know that it doesn't look like it works fo your post but the details do match on some level.
Thanks everyone for your comments! I always take everyone's ideas and opinions into consideration. I will try next time to understand where some people who make rude comments are coming from. Maybe next time I will use a different approach. Instead of getting mad, I can stop and ask if we can go get coffee and discuss this some more.
ReplyDelete(e
Hey (e, yes I have seen an oral deaf person verbally attack a signing deaf girl. This guy was talking to the girl's hearing mother, asking her why couldn't the girl talk. He was very arrogant, saying, "Look at me, I can talk perfect, why can't she?" and tried to make it sound like she was an unfit mother for allowing her daughter to learn sign language. He was a real asshole...
ReplyDeleteLauren,
ReplyDeleteYeah he sounded like a real a-hole.
(e
Hi e), I am just discovering your other blogs. You are becoming a favorite! I too have a problem with people tarring other people with the same brush, just because they're [whatever]. Just as there is a lot of variety among hearing people (not all of them are audists by virtue of the fact they happen to be hearing), there is a lot of variety among deaf and hard of hearing people (not all deaf people use ASL, not all hard of hearing people are oral, and so on). The Deaf militants seem to see the world in only black and white. They claim to embrace all deaf people, but oral deaf, those who want/have CIs, promote Auditory/Verbal methods, and/or immerse themselves in the hearing world are NOT welcome in their ranks. I see this all over the blogosphere. The continual bashing of AGBell and the money grubbing CI companies turns my stomach.
ReplyDeleteI just want to tell a short story, related or not, for the heck of it. Last winter I was skiing at a resort and had occasion to talk to a hearing guy. The first thing I told him was, "I'm deaf." He said "OK." I said, "Thank you for not saying you're sorry!" And he said, "I'm not sorry!" We both laughed.