AlleyCat

... react when someone (hearing) comes up to you and tells you they know sign, but they really don't? I have had people, complete strangers, come up to me while I am signing to someone else, and tell me they know sign (I have no problem with that if they do know sign language.) But these people literally really DON'T !! Just the other day I had this woman come up to me while I was signing to a friend, and she said she knew sign. She then took both her hands and just made a mess of fingers in the air (it was complete gibberish.) I was speechless and said, "What was that supposed to be?" And she said, "Oh, I'm just showing you that I know how to sign." ... What do you say to people who say that? I don't think she was trying to mock me, I think she really thought she was serious.......

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Deafness

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frogsign

Sometimes I just say, "Great...keep practicing," and return to my conversation. Or you could pretend not to hear them and mess with their heads. People are funny....until they're annoying.

~♥~Pinky~♥~

ZigZag. Maybe deaf group didn't accept you because not use ASL??? Umm



For me. I am profound deaf since I was born. When I was in 4 grader. The hoh and oral kids started to reject on me for not use my oral. And their friends several hearie kids didn't like me because I didn't use oral at all.

When I transfered to Deaf School. They rejected me for use not use ASL. The deaf kids made fun of my Sign Exact English. I went to ASL class. I learned it fast to beat them ass.

My hearie friends accept who I am. I don't mind to be friend with hearing, hoh and deaf. No matter what! We are humans. When i am trying to find a new job. They rejected me because I am deaf and can't speak. But 1 problem when I joined to Country Kitchen for new job. I know who is deaf work there. She talked to her boss about my back. They rejected me because I has Retina. It made me so ANGRY at them. I will never see them again! I don't give a fuck shit about Deaf Pride or Hearing Pride. Who cares???

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jillio

I think it comes from a basic misunderstanding of the complicated nature of sign, and the paternalistic attitude toward the deaf. I'd tell them to keep learning, as well as reminding them that it is extremely rude to interupt the conversations of others.

Wokamuka

For me, they get the message when I have to ask what they'd just said.

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jasin

Maybe they do know sign but are just baby signers? Maybe they are level 1 week 1 or something?

RedFox

Maybe they thought they'd know sign language if they just looked at little things like ABC cards and basic books, while not getting total immersion.

Tousi

I have run into people just like this a time or two and I honestly, for the life of me, cannot understand how it is they think they are signing. All I saw was gibberish on the hands while listening to them aurally. Maybe this is where I have the advantage over some of you who don't hear the spoken word. I tell ya, man, they had to have been mental......it's been many years now so I don't recall the specifics....

VamPyroX

I just nod my head. If the conversation seems meaningful, I'll continue talking. If it is pointless, I'll find an excuse to leave. I usually respond to my pager like someone was trying to get a hold of me. "Oh, sorry... I gotta go now. My friend's waiting for me to pick him up. Nice to meet you."

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SCBassist

Oh God! One place thats full of such people is Walmart. If I sense a joke, I will play along with sign jibberish and an accidental followed by an oops! I've floored people before, But if it's annoyance (which is rare in my experience), I would look at their position, think for a moment, and return to my conversation as if the altercation never happened. "ANYWAY..., OH YEAH..., SOOO...etc"

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jasin

That could be true too! Some guy the other day on the bus told me he is half way through Asl 4, and yet, he could barely even sign stuff that is Asl 1.

orione1even

Man, you guys are harsh! LOL...Makes me not want to try to communicate with a deaf person for fear of complete and utter humiliation. But hey...since when was I above making a fool of myself...LOL

I have to say I have done that...walked up and signed "Hi, my name is Hunter..." and having nothing more to say...yeah that must pretty much suck for y'all. So am behalf of stupid hearing folks around the globe, a heartfelt apology from me to you.

AlleyCat

Hey .. I have no problem with someone who is hearing that comes up to me and tries to sign. If they're learning then I'm all for it. In the case I mentioned in my first post, I have come to realize this woman was mental or something else - she truly didn't know any sign and just signed gibberish (similar to what you'd see kids doing to deaf kids when mocking them in school) so maybe she was indeed trying to make fun of me. That was what I didn't appreciate.

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WhisperHorse

I would do same thing as Vampy said in his post.

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jillio

Its all a matter of what attitude they have when they approach you, isn't it?

AlleyCat

Very true. That was probably why I didn't pick up on that she was maybe mocking me as it didn't quite come across that way. But I can't figure out what she was trying to do, it wasn't a case of someone knowing a few signs and trying to make an effort, it was flat out gibberish that was clearly not sign language. I was with my friend at the time and we both just looked at each other and it was clear on our faces we agreed "what the heck was that?" .. so that's why I was speechless.

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Catmandu

I don't mind people when they say, sign language is very fascinating and/or I wish I could learn to sign. Sometime they'd come to me and mention one of their relatives or family members is/are deaf and they went to this school and learned sign. I don't have a problem with that. Otherwise I have low shyt tolerance when people start giving me gibberish sign language crap and ofc, I'd let them know!

jillio

Perhaps in this case, since she didn't come across as mocking, she has some mental health issues. In which case, she probably wasn't even aware of how innappropriate her behavior was.

orione1even

At least I know enough to say "I'm sorry, I sign very slow" or "I only sign a little" and stick to things like My name is...and nice to meet you. I'm a ways off from being able to hold a fluent conversation. Many hearing people think signing is really cool and want to learn or feel included, if you can believe that. I do, anyhow. So I learn.

deafbajagal

I say, "Cool! Guess what! I can talk in alien language." Then I start talking in alien language. They usually excused themselves and back away from me slowly.

ASLGAL

Reminds me of a Latino and his Caucasion girlfriend in court one day.

The judge asked if he needed a Spanish interpreter....
The girlfriend chimes in and says no that she will do the translating.....
Tha judge asks "Do you understand the charges against you" and waits for the girl to interpret... she turns to the guy and yells "D-O Y-O-U U-N-D-E-R-S-T-A-N-D T-H-E C-H-A-R-G..." That is when the judge stopped her and requested a Spanish interpreter for the poor guy.


As far as the rude interupter
The person probably thought they had more skill than they actually do.

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DeafPenPal

I would not understand the whole thing if she does that. Especially if it is more than 2 sentences. It will confuse the brain. Sound like boring to me.

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Phillips

huh?

Rude!!!

Someone trying mock and gibberish sign to me... Then I will speak with gibberish back.!!!

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~♥~Pinky~♥~

I have another post about myself. I want to tell you. I have no problem with my circle hearing friends. They love to learn sign languages to communicate with me. They love me because I am cool and friendly person. They are feeling sorry for me not hear anything. So they wanted to learn sign languages. Other hearing people who are not my friends. They never ask for learn how to sign languages.

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orione1even

Can I be in your circle of hearing friends Pnky678? I won't feel sorry for you not hearing but I'm all about learing how to communicate with my friends.

H

Moon-child

To respond to the original question in this post.....I think people are just trying to connect ya know. I know little sign and am very slow at it, but have been able to connect with deafies who appreciate my attempts.

AlleyCat

And I think most deaf people do appreciate an attempt by a hearing person. I know I do. I think I didn't come across very well in my original post .. It wasn't about someone being awkward or trying to make an effort. If someone wants to say "hi" or share what little sign they know, that's more than fine by me. But in the case of my original post, whatever it was that she was doing clearly wasn't sign language, not even remotely close. I sincerely believe she was making an attempt at lame humor or has issues of some sort. And with many of us deaf people being mocked for using sign language, (especially at a younger age) that was what this came across as even if that wasn't immediately obvious. And as an adult (and otherwise!), I don't feel I deserve to be ridiculed for being deaf or using sign. That was the point of my post - asking other deaf people how they feel about being mocked or imitated in a very obvious non-sign way, and what they do about it. It isn't the first time I've been in a situation like that and it actually leaves me embarassed, and I shouldn't have to be...

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Moon-child

Ah, now I get it. thanks so much for taking the time to clarify. I hear some with my hearing aid and lip read, I actually slapped a dude once for making fun of me, so on some level, I can relate! Peace!