Originally Posted by NCU886

Hello all! My name is Sarah. I'm hearing. I'm taking an anthropology class, and I've decided that I want to study deaf culture. Also, there are quite a few deaf students at the school I attend, and 2 of my roommates are interpreting majors, so I'm really interested in learning more about the deaf world. I would love any feedback anyone has to offer on any of the following questions! Also, since I'm studying deaf culture, it would help me (if you don't mind) if you could identify whether you are Deaf, CODA, HoH, Hearing, etc. So I can take differing perspectives into account. THANKS in advance to all of you who post replies to any or all of my questions (I know I have a lot) !!

1. Do people in deaf culture mind if hearing people try to learn or become apart of deaf culture?

I do mind, it all depends on the attitudes of learning sign language, and learning their elistist approach -thinking they can ask any deaf/Deaf anytime and anywhere abotu sign language, we're not stupid we have our own lives too, and hearing people need to realise we not gonna always to so-called opened minded hearing people, trust is earned not bought


2. What are some misconceptions that you think hearing people have about the deaf?
untold, you only have to spend 5 days reading through this forum to get the gist of it, if i can name three, here it is,
a) deaf people will teach to any hearing people sign language regardless, without suspicion or contempt because hearing people thinks sign language is cute or fun, deaf people loathe hearing people with this attitude
b) deaf people dont mind receiving second-hand information to avoid being missed out on in group conversations -thats untrue.
c) deaf people are black and white about things, that is partly true BUT it has nothing to do being more simple, it has to more to do with being held back by oppression that denied the learning which has to do alot with decision/judgement making.




3. Describe spatial relations. Is it common to stand really close to or far away from someone? What is normal, ok, rude, polite, etc. regarding nearness and touch in normal conversation?


tend to have more space for movement of arms and hands for sign (and to watch signs)


4. Family. Tell a little about your personal experience if you don't mind. Or describe how being deaf or HoH has affected the life of someone you know.

urgh my family, they are ethnocentric self-centred career-minded morons. they have no time nor interest to learn sign language or culture.


5. What do people within deaf culture find rude or offensive about the actions of people outside the culture?

when the so-called open minded teacher of the deaf gets the undeserved 'respect' just because they 'know" deaf culture exists but do nothing to contribute, or extremely little, wherein they seem to do it, to keep their jobs. training new and passing [hearing] teacher of the deaf to with little or no consideration to get response of endorsement from the actual deaf community, and deaf signers expected to give free lessons in sign language to any hearings is deplorable, dim lights in resturants and bars should have some consideration, say, have 1 corner with extra lighting would be very welcome, though it might disrupt the 'atmosphere' blah hell some pictures on wall might be even better viewed, (havent they stupid hearing morons ever thought of that?! no i bet) lastly i dont apologise for calling hearings morons, cuz they are, and we get called morons a thousand fold, blah too bad , if it doesnt make me right either(if you factor in '2 wrongs doesnt make a right', stuff the bible shit

6. What do people within deaf culture find rude or offensive about the actions of people within the culture?

when hearing people expects free sign language lessons during the deaf's own free time. slightly off the tangent, deaf peopel should really try harder to make late deafened or oralled deaf bit more welcome, help the , teach them signs (and too bad forhearing-UNLESS they are HPDC, that would be different)

7. How common is TTY use? Is it on its way out with the video phone?

I use MSN, and theres internet version of TTY relay, and no i havent used that yet, once or twice on actually TTY at the deaf office is about it, quite good experience though, but i believe hearing people need to be educated more on this to overcome the delay factor which might amount to off-setting decision making for employment as a hidden form of discrimination, while so make it harder , and punishable for discrimination based on discounting telecommunication aspects, for instance office jobs.
i think video phones is still a fair way off, for right now many people are under heavy finanical burden just to cover ordinary daily living costs, i dont see it taking over MSN, TTY anytime soon. Except the rich deafs.


8. How do you feel about the cochlear implant? Why?
I think it's a good option for hearing adults who want to hear again from say a car crash and could benefit from it but for childen and babies then no, its bad idea, very bad, why? isolation, arduous speech training are torturous and other hearing children dont take deafness to kindly, especially with the utter ignorance of sign language from all angles and levels.

9. I heard someone say one time that friends in deaf culture are closer than friends in hearing cultures...even friends in different states or countries...what do you think? If you agree, why do you think this is so?

yes that is true, shared experiences of Deafdom are thicker than blood


10. Comments on entertainment? Is entertainment with interpretation easily accessed in this largely hearing world? Maybe you have different forms of entertainment...anything strictly related to deaf culture? Comments on movies or music? I'd love any opinions or comments you have to offer.

Subtitles in computers games, or some sort of modification so Team Deaf could beat some hearing Battlefield 2 players - would like to see that. only kidding really,but it would be good to see a mod, to overcome this, then the stupid quick msg function they already have, none of the real gamers use that they use headphones and mikes. Its double harder for me to just to wander on my own and looking out for teammates as a virtaul Deaf OMG !!, but in a way it also showed why deaf cant join the army, I can see why now.....

Subtitled lyrics in music DVDs, aired music videos, so deaf teens would know and understand their hearing peers far better than they do now, like i think its unconfortable to see deafies inmitate solely just on images, kinda embarrassing.

Bring back mandatory CC, subtitles laws for ALL commerical films released on dvd, make it harder for 'independent film makers to get away with 'corporate/institutional discrimination' to omit access for deaf/Deaf/hoh people. plenty more but cant think of it all now



11. Anything else you'd like to share or think I might benefit from knowing would be greatly appreciated! THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!