Reba

I'm a hearing person and it doesn't offend me.

Deafness

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Danielle4ASL

wut pisses me off is when they cover there mouths or speak slowly like if your retarded or something like this one person in my class at college 2 semesters ago would make fun and be like
h - i c --a--n y--o--u u-n-d-e-r-s-t-a-n-d m-e.

and when i looked back at him i was just curse him out in sign. it really bothers me and also when people like in my family whisper to whoever and put there hand on the mouth omg its so rude.

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SMILES- DANIELLE

Chase

I'm a deafie, my sister is a deafie, we have many deafie friends (both totally deaf and significantly hard-of-hearing), and we all refer to ourselves as deafies. By extension, we refer to those who hear as hearies. Both terms are neutral, descriptive.

However, outside the culture I can see how those first hearing the terms might take offense. Someone somewhere will always take offense at something, so I'm careful never used the terms except with those in the deaf culture.

My hearie girlfriend only learned the terms here, and initially thought them pejorative. My advice was not to visit here, as they are short terms for deaf person and hearing person and are are about the least of the offensive language a visitor will encounter.

I hope you stay, become immersed in the culture, and perhaps later not find the terms so offensive.

Flight

Hence the term "if I..." in what I said.

Flight

I'm having a bit of culture shock being here. I'm deaf, been deaf for about 15 years, this is probably as close as I've ever been to deaf culture, but I still wouldn't want to be called a deafie.


I wouldn't use the term at all, I wouldn't even call anyone that even if they're cool with it.

It seems unprofessional. kind of childish, but that's just me. I don't take my deficiency as something "cute." Like the smurfs.

Flight

Ok Back on topic. I don't like when someone approaches me and asks for something, like directions, etc and if I don't understand them I tell them I can't hear and they say"Oh, I'm sorry" and walk away.

jillio

Inside Deaf/deaf culture, we refer to Deafies and Hearies all the time. It is not meant to be offensive in the least, but is merely the use of slang. Why woudl you be offended over something so innoculous?

Reba

It beats "hearing impaired" and "normal".

Chase

As I said, it's just a hope. Suit yourself. But "cookies" aren't necessarily cute, either; it's just a general term for cooked objects. I have buddies, none of whom are cute, etc.

Good luck in changing the culture. Such things have happened.

jillio

Now that's unprofessional! And, in some places, downright dangerous!

Reba

Exactly.

jillio

Rarely! The "politically correct" attempted to change "deaf" and "hoh " to hearing impaired in the name of non=offensive language, only to be told that the terminolgy they had selected was offensive to those belonging to the minority they attempted to define.

Flight

I am now aware that in deaf culture the term is used freely. Myself, I'd be offended because I'm a professional and adult who doesn't care to be referred to like that. As I said earlier, I think it sounds childish or like a snack or something. My question would be why would anyone want to come up with yet one more name to call themselves or others. To me that would be like calling a black person a "n******"

But that's just me. Live and let live.

Flight

I don't refer to myself as hearing impared either

shel90

I am a professional too but among my friends, we call each other that. It is not a big deal.

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~Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

shel90

Yes, by a FAR shot!

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~Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

Flight

I'm not out to change any culture. You and every other deaf person can have people call you whatever you want, but if someone IRL came to me talking that crap then they're liable to get something (some words or...).

You should read my post before this one. I said it sounds like a snack and then you bring out "cookie"

LOL

jillio

No, "hearing impaired" or "handicapped" is rather akin to using the "N" word to refer to a person of African/American decent. The connative meaning of all three is negative.

I don't think professionalism is an issue. I, too, am a professional. It doesn't affect my professional status in the least to be known as a "hearie". In fact, it has even been facillitative at times.

Oh, and BTW, all caps is considered yelling.

But, since you object to the term, I will certainly try to remember not to call you a "deafie". However, if you should slip and call me a "hearie" there will be no harm done.

If you thinkthose two terms are offensive, stick around for awhile and visit some of the more controversial topics. You may come to find that those are the two least offensive terms used.

Reba

Right. It depends on the situation, setting, and individuals involved.

Reba

No problem. With that attitude you won't have many repeat visits or invitations from the "deafie" community.

Flight

I know about caps, and when you see a string of caps that starts with a lower case letter then you might consider someone hit the caps lock on accident.

What I meant when I wrote "professional" is that I have a more...how should I say this... formal "mentality."

shel90

That's in a nutshell!

__________________
~Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

Flight

I'll live.

shel90

I keep the formal "mentality" at work cuz I am not a formal person myself. I grew up with extremely laid-back values so I dont see why I should change myself just because I in a professional field. However, of course, I dont go around doing over-the-board informal actions/wordings.

Guess that's your personality and we can respect that.

Anyways...sorry for off-topic!

__________________
~Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

Flight

Whatever. I see I put some bees in some bonnets.

jillio

Oh,so you aren't a professional?

That lower case could have been an accident, just as the all caps could have been an accident. No way to tell in print.

shel90

It is all about learning from each other. Nothing wrong with that, in my opinion.

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~Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana