Quote:
Originally Posted by deafbajagal
A touchy subject, huh? I wish the social events would be labled "closed" for d/hh only and "open" for all. I have nothing against hearing people learning to sign (in fact, I wish more would) or hanging out with "us" - but there are times when I need a place to go to that is truly deaf-friendly. A haven, if you will.
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Great idea, Deafbajagal.
I think people need to practice a lot without any speech and see ASL (not SEE or PSE). I want to support interest in hearing people who are polite and friendly. I meet so many hearing people who love ASL and want to learn because my hearing roommate is in ASL class. These people are great and I am happy they want to learn.
And it is better than hearing not caring about anything about ASL, deaf/HoH etc and think all should be hearing, speak perfectly etc. So I can't complain about both hearing people too interested and hearing people not caring at all I think.
But.....sometimes I am tired of the look - anyone understand? - like you look at a bug under a microscope or animal in the zoo. Maybe you are impressed with the animal or interested so you look like -->
Sometimes my roommate's friends stare when we sign together. I know they want to learn, but our discuss was not a lesson . In the past I have hearing people stare at my mom and me talking and then interrupt to say the person is hearing, loves ASL, is so interested etc etc. and I smile but think "you watched and interrupt a conversation with me and my mom!" Last is the "Children of a Lesser God" problem - Women, do you understand me? Hearing guys so intersted in the deaf/HoH woman.....again looking at me like a bug or zoo animal.
My hearing roommate thinks the CoaLG problem is so funny! She knows this look from hearing guys to me and immediately starts trying to mention the movie!
But I try to answer all questions and be friendly and patient. Now I am friends with several of my roommates old ASL classmates, and they stop asking me "what is the sign for __" or "Have you ever heard the sound of __" every 5 minutes because they stop thinking of me only as deaf/HoH.
But sometimes I am frustrated. Like today earlier. So I rant on AD - sorry!
At least Thanksgiving is tomorrow!