Quote:
Originally Posted by Calphool
I've seen that happen at the place where I take ASL lessons. After class, the students start chatting away in voice, and stop signing. I always feel like it's totally rude to our teacher (she's deaf). I usually try to keep her aware by signing things like "They're talking about her daughter and how she got into an argument with her.... They're talking about her boyfriend.... They're talking about being in debt.... etc." It sort of makes me angry, because there's really no reason for them to drop their signs -- they're good enough that they can hold conversations in ASL, so it's just plain being inconsiderate. One time I got angry enough that I blurted out "Why do you guys stop signing as soon as class is over? Can't you see that there are deaf people in this room?" I got some embarrassed and angry stares...  It didn't change their behavior though. Next week, they were dropping sign again. |
And the ironic thing is that these are probably the same type of ASL student that would attend a deaf event and complain that they were shunned or left out. Incondiserate and thoughtless toward others but they can't seem to recognize it in their own behavior. Respect and consideration is a 2 way street.