Deaf, hard of hearing bloggers keeping tabs on VanderGiesen case

Miss-Delectable · 02-22-2006, 09:27 PM

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...602220312/1001

Darlene VanderGiesen's death has been the topic of a nationwide conversation among a small but growing group of deaf bloggers.

They've been using the Internet to keep track of developments in the case and dispel stereotypes about deaf people.

Among them: Ricky Taylor, who considers himself "arguably the most controversial deaf blogger in America."

A survey of recent posts at his online journal includes discussion about "Brokeback Mountain," the Islamic cartoon uproar and "Desperate Housewives" plot turns.

Scroll further, and the Washington, D.C., blogger tackles another topic - gossip about the recent murder of a deaf woman in Sioux Falls.

"I find it very intriguing," Taylor said in an e-mail interview. He learned about the case from a reader in Sioux Falls who e-mailed him when VanderGiesen was reported missing.

After police arrested an acquaintance, Daphne Wright, on a first-degree murder charge, Taylor posted an anecdote about an encounter he says he had with Wright several years ago out east.

"I guess what appealed to me the most is that I knew (Wright) myself," he said.

Others with less direct knowledge also have chimed in the discussion.

Jamie Berke is author of a blog on About.com that deals with deaf and hard-of-hearing issues. She first blogged about the murder late last week.

"I chose to blog about it because I realized it was a big story," Berke, who is deaf, said in an e-mail interview.

Berke blogged that it isn't the first time a deaf person has been accused of killing another deaf person.

She linked to articles about murders in 2000 and 2001 at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. A fellow deaf student admitted guilt.

Mike McConnell, a hydrologist for the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico, writes a blog called My Kokonut Pundits. He also blogged about previous murders involving people who are deaf.

"People somehow have the notion that deaf people do not have the capability or even the wherewithal to kill another person," wrote McConnell, who is hard of hearing.

VanderGiesen's murder hasn't created as much blog chatter as other crimes involving people who are deaf, McConnell said in an e-mail interview.

A double homicide committed by a deaf man last year in Pennsylvania received more attention because of geography, he said.

"The ... murders created a bigger blogging sensation since it was closer to the major deaf community hubs," McConnell said.

02-22-2006, 09:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,645 Blog Entries: 3	Deaf, hard of hearing bloggers keeping tabs on VanderGiesen case http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...602220312/1001 Darlene VanderGiesen's death has been the topic of a nationwide conversation among a small but growing group of deaf bloggers. They've been using the Internet to keep track of developments in the case and dispel stereotypes about deaf people. Among them: Ricky Taylor, who considers himself "arguably the most controversial deaf blogger in America." A survey of recent posts at his online journal includes discussion about "Brokeback Mountain," the Islamic cartoon uproar and "Desperate Housewives" plot turns. Scroll further, and the Washington, D.C., blogger tackles another topic - gossip about the recent murder of a deaf woman in Sioux Falls. "I find it very intriguing," Taylor said in an e-mail interview. He learned about the case from a reader in Sioux Falls who e-mailed him when VanderGiesen was reported missing. After police arrested an acquaintance, Daphne Wright, on a first-degree murder charge, Taylor posted an anecdote about an encounter he says he had with Wright several years ago out east. "I guess what appealed to me the most is that I knew (Wright) myself," he said. Others with less direct knowledge also have chimed in the discussion. Jamie Berke is author of a blog on About.com that deals with deaf and hard-of-hearing issues. She first blogged about the murder late last week. "I chose to blog about it because I realized it was a big story," Berke, who is deaf, said in an e-mail interview. Berke blogged that it isn't the first time a deaf person has been accused of killing another deaf person. She linked to articles about murders in 2000 and 2001 at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. A fellow deaf student admitted guilt. Mike McConnell, a hydrologist for the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico, writes a blog called My Kokonut Pundits. He also blogged about previous murders involving people who are deaf. "People somehow have the notion that deaf people do not have the capability or even the wherewithal to kill another person," wrote McConnell, who is hard of hearing. VanderGiesen's murder hasn't created as much blog chatter as other crimes involving people who are deaf, McConnell said in an e-mail interview. A double homicide committed by a deaf man last year in Pennsylvania received more attention because of geography, he said. "The ... murders created a bigger blogging sensation since it was closer to the major deaf community hubs," McConnell said. __________________

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