Being real deaf in both ears-interesting.
Implant- Advanced bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
Implant
"Real deaf" - as apposed to "fake deaf" ?
incidentally, provided I'm understanding your earlier questions/state about teh number of variations etc in ASL...
ASL actaully has a similar percentage of "variations" or "regional-izations" to any other widely used language which is used across a vast physical space (less an issue now with internet).
If you compare the English usage of various regions in Canada, the USA, the UK etc - you'll notice that there are a number of both "subtle" and more obvious differences/variations etc.
Many people who's native language is English, aren't (consciously or otherwise) aware of the vast alterations, variations, and regional-izations that "their" language can have and still be considered "correctly used" according to the local population. Because most people don't consciously think about how they use their native/daily used language, they don't focus on the variations they hear/see unless it causes them to pause to understand the intent of the word or phrase.
When a person is learning a language be it ASL, English, German etc past the peri-lingual stage the way the "learn" the language changes into a less "natural" more "artificial system" (they compare the "new language" to their "native language". They also become much more aware and "caught up" by any subtle variations, alterations in use/form because they are (at least initially) MEMORIZING more than they are "naturally acquiring" the aspects of the language.
In spoken languages this would mean that they would see something as 'minor' as an accent as a "variant", not to mention any "word replacements" (lorry/truck, buggie/cart/trolley, boot/trunk,coke/pop/soda, etc etc).
Of course ASL being a natural, living language - it also has "accents", and sign variants (depending on geographical area, age of users, etc) which for a fluent user are noticeable in much the same way as a native English speaker might notice (but not be "troubled" by) an accent, different phrasing or "word-exchanges" (ie buggie, trolley, cart). These changes take a bit of adjustment initially, however then become simply "an aspect of the English Language"
Hope that Helps.
Dr.phil - I know that you personally have (at least implied that you have) no need/wish to learn ASL from a communication standpoint... however it may still be valuable for you to take some classes from an educational standpoint (ie, to learn more about what ASL is, how it works etc) not because you are deaf (with CI) but simply "for interest sake as someone who currently knows very little about ASL". Heck, you may even find that you like it
I think my eyes are about to bug out at the sheer egocentrism in this thread.