How do deaf enjoy music?

I was inspired by Shel's recent comment about music in my last post. Several months ago I mentioned how Evelyn Glennie, a deaf percussionist had motivated me to learn the djembe. Here is her intriguing explanation of how she perceives music.

http://www.evelyn.co.uk/live/hearing_essay.htm

She considers hearing just another type of touch.

Most hearing people don't understand that. Being deaf, I totally get it. Years ago I had a flash epiphany. This happened probably at my lowest point of hearing loss when I realized I could no longer hear any music but the base guitar and drums in most of my favorite oldies. I think I've mentioned I have a guardian spirit before? (Yeah yeah-- I know y'all probably think I'm a total flake now.) So I was feeling really low and suddenly she pointed out how I could feel the vibration in my steering wheel and gas pedal. After that I understood I would never lose music completely. Later, at an SWC event we all used balloons to feel music. COOL!! I still listen to the radio in my car with the volume turned all the way up. People turn around and look at stop lights because my entire car is vibrating.

Even though music doesn't sound the way it used to, I love it-- as long as there's a good base. Over the years, my taste in music has changed. For example, I used to be into classical in a big way, but I find that unless there's a good base drum part and lots of cello, classical doesn't really appeal anymore. Flutes and violin solos are out. At the opera I'm much more moved by good with baritone voices than sopranos who get all the attention from everyone else. But I don't go to opera for the musical experience anymore. It's just a social thing for me. I love the stage and the fact that it's always subtitled.

Generally I prefer music with a loud beat and base guitar. Rap is cool! I can't hear the awful lyrics most hearing parents complain about. I love country, rock, indie, blues -- really ALL kinds of music because of my good low tones and ability to feel it.

Above is a picture of my djembe with (the d is silent). I've posted it before so you might have seen this pic already. It was handmade in Indonesia.

Shel asked, What was it like?

Me-- when I could hear well. (1961)

Shel wrote a nice comment in my post On the Fence, and asked about my childhood. I guess he wanted to gain a better understanding of what it feels like to be late-deafened.

You're right: I can never fully understand where you are coming from. You can also say you can never understand where I am coming from as I've chosen to own ASL as my mother tongue, and thereby my Deaf identity. It's a long story, dear. I do invite you to read my blog on growing up in a Hearing family at Shel: A Deaf Canadian's Thoughts. This is in response to Open Minded Deaf Observer's negative perspective of life in a Hearing family and life in general. He's entitled to his perspective, and so am I entitled to mine. (So are you to yours! :-)) There are some things you might not understand, but do please feel free to ask me. If you are willing, would you mind describing in depth that experience as a child in school and outside of school? I'd love to hear about it... "hear"... talk about puns!

I've been thinking how to answer this question--'what was my hearing childhood like?' First of all, I want to say I appreciate that you want to understand.

I grew up hearing. **shrug** I'm not sure what more you need to know about that. Do you wish for me to describe what hearing was like? I can't.

I have tried to think of different analogies that might help, but I've realized it's impossible. I've read comments from Deaf people who have said music means nothing to them, or that they wouldn't want to hear because the world is "noisy." I understand that, because when you wear hearing aids many sounds are unpleasant. However, hearing aids do not even come close to natural hearing.

There's a richness to sound you can't possibly understand unless you've heard it. Sound is rarely painful and not usually annoying to people with good hearing. The human ear is every bit as miraculous as the eye.

Of all sounds, music is sublime. There's good reason every culture all over the world celebrates with music. Did you know music probably came before speech? Almost all animals sing or chatter to attract mates. Humans are no different. Read Your Brain On Music for more information about how music and rhythm evolved. Anyway I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad. I just want to point out how significant sound is to most hearing people. I want you to appreciate how deeply rooted sound is in our human evolution and how connected it is to our emotions. I could tell you about sounds I used to love, but it would be like describing a beautiful sunset to a blind person who has never seen. There aren't words enough.

I don't mean to offend, but music can even enhance orgasm, which is why many hearing people use it to seduce a date, and play it while having sex. It's also evokes spiritual and transcendental experiences, which is why it is used to celebrate God.

Some hearing people love music more than others. I started playing the piano at age four-- the age I was in the picture above. I took ballet dancing, played flute in my school band from fifth-grade on and sang in my church and school choirs. I loved piano best. I haven't completely lost music, but I don't hear it the way I used to and that has left a big void.

Some Deaf people have said that I haven't accepted Deafhood if I don't love being deaf. To me, that's like a childless woman telling a mother who has lost her child that it's wonderful being childless. Once a parent, always a parent -- even after a child dies. There's no going back. It's the same with hearing. I can't go back and pretend I never heard.

So when Deaf people say that I need to move on, that I need to celebrate Deafhood, or that I need to choose which "side of the fence" to sit on-- hearing or deaf, I want to scream, "How DARE you!?" You can't possibly know what it means to become deaf unless you have heard. You've always been Deaf. (When I say 'you' I don't mean you personally Shel, I mean the 'anyone' you.)

I agree I can't possibly know what it's like to be you either.

Life is worth celebrating, whether Deaf, deaf or hearing. Deafhood is no more special than any other way of being. I'm celebrating my own life and my own personal journey, which happens to be neither hearing, nor deaf. I do not grieve the loss of hearing, but I sure do appreciate the meaning of what I've lost. There's no going back.

Smiles,
Kim

For all of you wiping tears over the fact your babies are growing up, I have news for ya. They'll always be your babies. I've just spent the afternoon watching my 19-year-old play "war" outside with a couple buddies and their airsoft guns.

I hate guns. I'm a vegetarian. But we live in a pseudo-country environment where it's not terribly uncommon for a kid to own a real hunting gun. Anyway, when he was 13 all he wanted for his 14th birthday was an airsoft. He talked non-stop about it for a year until he finally saved up and bought it himself with his own money. I caved. For those of you who don't know what an airsoft gun is, they shoot hollow plastic pellets of air. It's just enough to give you a good sting when hit, but not enough to maim. Still I put my foot down. The rule around here is they have to wear goggles. So he's been out there with his goggles shooting at his begoggled friends all afternoon. Their "gun" paraphernalia is spread all over the living room, and it looks like a group of terrorists live here. I guess I'm the only mom in the neighborhood who'll put up with the noise. There are advantages to having a deaf mom.

He only moved home for the summer a couple weeks ago. To make room for some of his college gear, we had to condense the huge plastic bin of legos he had in his bedroom closet. Though he played with them over Christmas break *with a girl!--during a date!!* he finally conceded they could go in the garage for storage.

Up until today he had an action figure decorating his windowsill-- a red ape with green hair. He put that in his closet right next to "Blue Bear"-- a small six-inch stuffed light blue bear he's had since he was a newborn. He hasn't given Blue Bear up completely, but they don't sleep together anymore.

Yeah-- we talk politics and he can run errands picking up stuff at the grocery store, and he's planning to barbecue dinner tonight. He's big help-- but grown-up??? Good Lord. . .!

"On the Fence"

Below is an anonymous response to Dena of "Going Deaf" after she expressed confusion over the growing hostility in DeafRead because of the new Deaf/deaf aggregator formed. As a late-deafened person experiencing a progressive hearing loss, Dena seems to feel pulled in two directions.

http://denareiter.blogspot.com/2008/06/where-i-am.html

"Excuse me! We are not responsible for your choices. It is you who decide, not us. Your attitude sucks. You blame on the Deaf community for making your choice, which you decide to pick Deaf village and Deaf Read. We do not want any people who demand us to be responsible for your choosing and we must behave THE WAY you want us to. It is your responsible as a human being to observe, to recognize, to work, and to accept there are some situations that are going on in the Deaf community that involves all kinds of Deaf. Kim, People who feel that they are fence sitters are the sign of helplessness. They do not learn how to embrace different main community and sub communities with different ideologies. People need to rethink how this approach this situation about finding Good solutions or too lazy find better solutions, blames others, and demand them to be responsible for your actions?"

Here, an angry vlogger protests the new DeafVillage aggregator's guideline #5, that says only captioned or transcribed vlogs will be accepted on the aggregator. He asserts that DeafVillage creators are trying to create an atmosphere of "apathy" or trying to drive the ASL Deaf away.

http://drmzz.blogspot.com/2008/06/youre-crazy.html

DeafVillage's Mike McConnell responds

http://kokonutpundits.blogspot.com/,

"Deaf Village's requirement that submission of vlogs be captioned/subtitled or included transcripts is not intended to create "apathy towards ASL" or "drive ASL vloggers away" but rather to create greater inclusiveness *FOR ALL*. Not all can sign or understand sign very well and having, especially, a subtitled video can help create a continued interest for those who want to learn sign language someday. Or cued speech. Or whatever. It's the message that people want to hear, watch or read about."

As a late-deafened person I can appreciate Dena's position. She's not deaf or hearing. Neither am I. Recently I read an article about becoming true to oneself. Sometimes we're forced into circumstances that don't fit our inner selves. I think maybe that's the case with the late-deafened. My inner self is a hearing person. That's how I was born and how I lived during my formative years. But I've been going deaf much longer than the time I spent hearing perfectly, and so over the years I have come to view the world differently-- as a deaf person.

I love ASL. But it's not my first language. I am both hearing and deaf; neither hearing nor deaf--however you want to look at it. I can hear a little and sign a little. I can't hear well or sign well. I believe when Dena said, "Please don't make me choose," she meant she's not ready to choose. Maybe she'll never be ready to choose. Why should any of us have to choose? Many of you who hear or who were born Deaf cannot possibly understand this place we're at on the fence. It's a BIG fence, like the Great Wall of China. There are lots of people walking it every day, just like me. I can't possibly understand where you are all at either. The purpose of my blog is to be there for others on the fence-- people like Dena.

I am thrilled with DeafVillage's decision to promote captioning through their new guideline #5. For once I feel included at ALL times. I wonder if you can possibly understand how very rare that is for someone like me? Probably the only other time I feel totally included is once a year at my SWC Convention for a few days, when I meet up with other late-deafened people who understand what it's like to be both hearing and deaf; neither hearing nor deaf; on the fence. The rest of the time I am outside the circle of communication, even within my own family.

I didn't understand the point of Vlogger Mike's vlog. If he isn't interested in DeafVillage, why complain about their guidelines? Very confusing, since he's perfectly capable of transcribing his vlogs. I can only conclude he doesn't give a rat's ass about people like me.

It felt strange to be lectured about embracing communities with different ideologies by the anonymous name-caller above, while at the same time that person disregarded and disrespected my personal identity and ideology.

Name-calling isn't usually an effective way to resolve problems, win people over or get them to see things your way. All in all I'd say your negative energy tends to weigh DeafRead down. It's too bad because there are really some great Deaf bloggers I enjoy.

I'm on the fence cuz that's where I am. That's just me-- in a different place from some of you. I'm happy to stay there for now, enjoying both DeafRead and DeafVillage.

Smiles,

Kim

Comparing On-Line ASL Resources

I don't believe American Sign Language (or any language) is best learned on-line, but it's a fact of life that many of us who are late-deafened are extremely busy. Sometimes we cannot find any ASL classes nearby, and often when we do, class schedules conflict with work hours.

In the past few years I have discovered a few on-line ASL resources for those who don't have the time or money to take a college class. Not only are most of these on-line resources convenient, they are also relatively cheap. One drawback of ASL books and dictionaries is how to convey three dimensional movements in two-dimensional drawings or photographs. Interpreting the proper movement can be challenging. On-line videos offer visibility of the entire hand-arm action and facial expressions used during while signing.

My favorite is http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/fingerspell.cgi This site shows the complete movement of each sign in its video dictionary including facial expressions. Within the dictionary is a section on conversational phrases, which I think is a really COOL feature! It also offers fingerspelling quizzes where one can choose speeds of slow, medium or fast. Additionally there are word quizzes, and a special section devoted to religious words.

The two main drawbacks of this site are that there's no curriculum to follow. It's a great study tool to compliment course work, but doesn't offer a curriculum of its own. Secondly a few of the signs are different from signs in the course books I've been using. They may also be different from regional signs one uses in their particular area. Thirdly the fingerspelling quiz isn't the best one, because it only has three speeds and you can't adjust the length of your words. However, I personally like this site the best.

Dr. Bill Vicars fingerspelling quiz is way better than ASL Pros. http://asl.ms/ It has slow, medium, fast and "deaf" speed. haha! which is like "light speed." Because you can choose the word size, there's more flexibility in adjusting for improvement. This fingerspelling quiz is connected to ASL University at http://www.lifeprint.com/ Lifeprint offers three courses in ASL, including grammar and cultural information about the Deaf. The course is completely free, unless you want to take it for college credit-- which you CAN do from home! The site is full of info, but one drawback is it's dictionary isn't in video. Dr. Vicars demonstrates the signs in a series of pictures that can be hard to follow. Also he doesn't show much facial expression. Still, if used in conjunction with aslpro.com, you could learn quite a bit of ASL on your own.

Here's another video dictionary-- the ASL Browser http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm from Michigan State University. I don't like this dictionary as well as the first one I mentioned in ASL Pro because her facial expressions aren't right, but if you just want to get an idea how to move your hands, it's OK. This site also offers a CD-Rom on ASL instruction for $19.95, or you can go to two other sites. One offers on-line courses with four month access per course, for $49.95 each. The other link leads you to an ASL book for less than $20.00.

This site http://www.lessontutor.com/ASLgenhome.html offers both ASL and Signed English (SE) for free. The pictures are primitive and hard to follow, but if used with one of the video dictionaries above, it might be OK. One problem I can see is a new learner could become confused between ASL and SE, which are grammatically different.

I love the way this site http://www.handspeak.com/byte/index.php presents cultural information. It also offers a free curriculum. However, there's no fingerspelling quiz feature, and its video dictionary is slow, spasmodic and of poor quality compared to the others. Still, if you're looking for cultural info, I think this site offers way more insight than any of the above.

Again, I don't think this is the best way to learn ASL. Just as you wouldn't become fluent in French listening to French tapes, you can't become fluent in ASL by watching videos. Like any language it takes tons of practice and use with native speakers. But if you want to start with a few basics, then these sites would be a great place to begin.

What color is your crayon?

I don't usually do these silly quizzes, but I love color and crayons, and so I took this one which had surprisingly few questions. The amazing thing is it was dead-on. HOW?!

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors. While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around. Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease. You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows! Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

For Tony-- Meaning of the Golden Rule

After visiting Deaf Village, Tony asks, “What is this Golden Rule?"It’s not spelt out, and it is left to the reader to workout what it is. But if by the Golden Rule she (Rachel) means, being polite and respectful towards different opinions, then it needs to be spelt out on the aggregator. Furthermore, being polite and respectful need to be defined. Do they mean no swearing, no heated language, what?"

It's fairly universal and simple, Tony. Even though I'm not a DeafRead moderator, I hope they don't mind if I take the liberty to enlighten you on this subject.



This will make the rules clear. From the Religious Tolerance website.



Quotation:
"Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people's suffering. On these lines every religion had more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal." ~The Dalai Lama



Some "Ethic of Reciprocity" passages from the religious texts of various religions and secular beliefs:
Bahá'í Faith:
"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah
"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf


Brahmanism: "This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you". Mahabharata, 5:1517 "


Buddhism:
"...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353 Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18


Christianity:
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version.
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version.
"...and don't do what you hate...", Gospel of Thomas 6. The Gospel of Thomas is one of about 40 gospels that were widely accepted among early Christians, but which never made it into the Christian Scriptures (New Testament).


Confucianism:
"Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23
"Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3
"Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." Mencius VII.A.4


Ancient Egyptian:
"Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates to 1970 to 1640 BCE and may be the earliest version ever written. 3


Hinduism:
This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharata 5:1517


Humanism:
"(5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity."
"(11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings. " 4
"Don't do things you wouldn't want to have done to you, British Humanist Society. 3


Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 5


Jainism:
"Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101-2.
"In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self." Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
"A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33


Judaism:
"...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.
"And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15 6


Native American Spirituality:
"Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace.
"All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One." Black Elk
"Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb.


Roman Pagan Religion: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves."


Shinto:
"The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form"
"Be charitable to all beings, love is the representative of God." Ko-ji-ki Hachiman Kasuga


Sikhism:
Compassion-mercy and religion are the support of the entire world". Japji Sahib
"Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone." Guru Arjan Devji 259
"No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend." Guru Arjan Dev : AG 1299


Sufism: "The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of others. If you haven't the will to gladden someone's heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone's heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this." Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order.


Taoism:
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien.
"The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49


Unitarian:
"The inherent worth and dignity of every person;" "Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.... ""The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;""We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Unitarian principles. 7,8


Wicca: "An it harm no one, do what thou wilt" (i.e. do what ever you will, as long as it harms nobody, including yourself). One's will is to be carefully thought out in advance of action. This is called the Wiccan Rede


Yoruba: (Nigeria): "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."


Zoroastrianism:
"That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself". Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5 "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29


Some philosophers' statements are:


Epictetus: "What you would avoid suffering yourself, seek not to impose on others." (circa 100 CE)


Kant: "Act as if the maxim of thy action were to become by thy will a universal law of nature."
Plato: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me." (Greece; 4th century BCE)


Socrates: "Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you." (Greece; 5th century BCE)


Seneca: "Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors," Epistle 47:11 (Rome; 1st century CE)

Tony-- As always, I look forward to your responses in Deaf Village and elsewhere soon. Smiles, Kim

My Response to Patti (People of the Eye)

Of all the blogging action about how DeafRead removed Cochlear Implant On-line from its aggregator, the only place constructive discussion seems to be building bridges is on Patti's blog, "People of the Eye" I felt the need to respond openly in my own blog.

Sorry I'm so late in responding, Patti.


Kim – . . .I want to ask you – when u challenge DR not to exclude Rachel do u simultaneously challenge Rachel not to exclude ASL and Deaf culture in her blog – meaning can she help introduce parents to Deaf culture and ASL herself?

It's true CI On-line is very pro-AVT. You're right, there isn't "celebration" of ASL. She and I have differing views on that.

As you already mentioned, her views supposedly weren't the reason she was kicked off of DeafRead. She was kicked out for breaking a rule that didn't clearly exist and one others have broken as well.

That said, I will point out there are Deaf vloggers and bloggers who are anti-CI, anti-AVT, and anti-oralism. I won't name names here. I am getting better and better at understanding ASL, so I know what they're' signing in their vlogs. HAHAHA! They have a right to their views, just as Rachel does.

I don't believe it's necessary that individual bloggers/vloggers support ALL facets and subgroups of the Deaf/deaf community. Yet, those who don't should expect some negative feedback. An aggregator that claims to be impartial should support all bloggers regardless of their views, unless they explicitly state otherwise.

I am curious to see if Rachel's new aggregator, Deaf Village, will be as inclusive as she and the others claim. It would be interesting if some Pro-ASL/Anti-AVT Deafies joined, just to see how the moderators will handle their posts. Will they be impartial? Will they refrain from name-calling? Will they treat all the way they wish to be treated? I expect some will and some won't. We're all human.

If DeafVillage becomes "infiltrated" by "Deafhood" bloggers, will CI bloggers complain that Deaf Village is too focused on "Deafhood?" Will the Deaf Village moderators kick Deafhood bloggers off their aggregator? Only time will tell.

In answer to your question on whether I've challenged Rachel on her AVT position in the past. Yes-- I've challenged both her and her mother. I don't believe in AVT. It's an option-- yes-- but not one I would choose.

However, my thoughts on whether parents have the right to choose are as follows--- I don't tell Catholic, Baptist, Buddhist or Jewish parents to raise their children in the Congregational church, the way I raised mine. Rachel has turned out great with AVT. Just as some Catholics may eventually convert to Methodists or even become Atheists-- there will be Deaf children raised with AVT who will embrace ASL as adults, and those who won't. We're all individuals. Parents make many decisions their young children. I believe in individual choice.

Both Patti and AnneMarie addressed economic factors affecting Deaf people. The unemployment rate and "under-employment" rate of deaf/Deaf people is one reason Hearing parents choose to implant their children. It gives them a leg up in society when they can speak. We all know deaf/Deaf people routinely get passed over for promotions other less qualified Hearing individuals receive. Few Hearing people care to support the deaf/Deaf with expensive accommodations in the workplace. Lately our American economy has been faltering, and most companies are looking for ways to cut corners. I don't expect the problem of Deaf/deaf employment to get better any time soon.

Patti said--
i think we r just in our infancy of understanding ourselves so having safe places to bump around ideas and thoughts r really important

This makes perfect sense. Still, I felt DeafRead adequately answered that "safety" issue when they created the Custom option. It seems only those who go looking for a "fight" get one. Even though Cochlear Implant On-line is off DeafRead, she's still posting her same thoughts on AVT. She has every right to visit any of your blogs, and use what you say in her own blog. The blogosphere is not private. We all must pick and choose what we read and respond to.

Patti-- you mentioned the point I brought up about Deaf vloggers not captioning their vlogs. I understand this, truly, and blogged about it myself a few weeks ago. One of my recent ASL assignments has been to translate a children's book "Peter Rabbit" into ASL. It's extremely difficult. Many of you in here have a pretty good grasp on the English language-- a much better grasp on English than I have on ASL. I feel those people could easily give a synopsis of their vlogs like LaRonda usually does-- if they don't want to caption over their ASL.

Once again I'd like to point out if you want accommodations, you should be willing to accommodate others. (I'm not using the "you" personally here Pattie, since you blog.) The argument that there isn't a fair balance of captioned blogs vs non-captioned has no place here. I am also affected by non-captioned video blogs on Youtube and non-captioned movies, and television programming. HLAA (full of hard-of-hearing people who don't sign) has worked tirelessly alongside the NAD to help change captioning laws.

Thanks for the great discussion Patti, and all those who posted civil thoughtful comments. I appreciate the level-headed way you and many other Deaf bloggers have responded. We may not agree on all points, but I like that we can disagree without animosity.

Smiles,
Kim

Still looking for clarification. . .

I can't help it. I'm still confused. Why? Here's how I see it.


A DeafRead blogger was kicked off DeafRead because she violated a guideline.
Which part of the guideline did she violate?

A highlighted link takes us here: http://blog.sponsoredreviews.com/?p=40 to a site that is NOT EVEN CONNECTED TO DEAFREAD OR POSTED IN THE DEAFREAD GUIDELINES

"6. Disclose professional relationships: if you work for a company or institution disclose it on the “About” page. Explicitly declare that the views expressed on the blog are yours and not the ones from your employer (unless you are blogging for that employer, obviously)."


The blogger was kicked off DeafRead because she supposedly violated this non-existent "guideline" that isn't printed anywhere in DeafRead.

AND in fact-- she didn't actually violate the non-existent guideline at all. Because?? She is not employed. She is a student. She blogs voluntarily for a cause, not for a particular company, and not for money.

Why should she have divulged "professional" connections that didn't exist?? But wait. . . She WAS upfront about the purpose of her blog all along. No one can say she didn't divulge her "connections." Anyone who read her blog knew what they were.

Anyway she didn't have to formally say anything about it, since the above blurb wasn't printed anywhere in the DeafRead guidelines. Right? Wrong!

Nevermind-- not important. Moving on.

Let's look at what it really says in the guidelines.

"6) Commerical Sites
We do not link to commerical sites for the purpose of generating profit, other than our own (we have expenses to cover!). "

Hmmmm. . . So that means commercial sites that exist for the purpose of generating profit are not allowed.

Oh, but wait. Her blog site doesn't generate any profit. It's not a commercial site. It's a personal blog that doesn't have any ads or sell anything, except a book in which all proceeds go to a non-profit organization. All expenses come right out of the blogger's own pocket. Commercial??

Here's a commercial blog that hasn't been kicked off DeafRead--
http://www.i711.com/my711.php?tab=2&article=245

Here's another--
http://www.joeybaer.com/

And another--
http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/


I'm sure there are at least a dozen more. Why haven't THESE sites been taken down??

Oh well, we've been told, it's OK to blog commercially for profit. In fact it's OK to put ads all over your blog. A person has to make a living, right? The only time it's not OK is if you volunteer to blog as part of a support network for the deaf, then fail to disclose that you're blogging professionally when you actually aren't, since you don't make any money. That's NOT OK!!! Never, ever do that. Never!! Or you will be kicked off!!

And also-- DeafRead can kick off any blogger at any time for failing to adhere to rules that don't exist in DeafRead. deaf people are expected to read ALL rules everywhere ALL over the blogosphere and adhere to every single one. If not, you get the boot. This is called kicking off slimy, shameless, deaf pigs.

And by the way, it's TOTALLY OK to call deaf people names.

Guideline number 8 doesn't apply to Deaf people when calling deaf people names. It ONLY applies when deaf people call Deaf people names. Here it is in full. Familiarize yourself.

"8) Name Calling and Discrimination
DeafRead is enjoyed by all kinds of people worldwide ranging from children to senior citizens. It is also safe to assume that people from all races enjoy DeafRead. We will not post anything that is an attack on a specific race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orienation, age or religion. This offense is serious and the offending blog will be promptly considered for removal from DeafRead's subscription."

So there you have it! Name-calling is a serious infraction only if you're deaf.

You see, it is a great privilege to belong to DeafRead if you are only deaf, not Deaf. Deaf people RULE. They have been more than fair in "allowing" deaf people to post their blogs in DeafRead. deaf people have no business complaining if they get kicked off or aren't accommodated. It is extremely hard to accommodate deaf people since many of them talk, and might have once been hearing people. Hearing people are slime. Long, long ago some of them made Deaf people try to act like seals. That was very bad and all of them are shameless pigs in disguise.

I hear you loud and clear DeafRead editors.

Exclusion Confusion

Many late-deafened people feel isolated when their hearing loss is first diagnosed. I mentioned before that I never knew one single person who wore hearing aids when I first got mine in my early twenties. Most of my friends at the time were finishing up grad school, getting married or having babies. Usually I was the only one they had ever encountered with a hearing loss, other than possibly an elderly grandparent. Conversations revolved around the usual subjects young people that age discuss--pop culture, school, boyfriends, babies, breastfeeding, husbands, sex and childbirth. When I turned the discussion to my hearing aids, I'd be met with blank stares as they tried to process what I was going through. I learned quickly enough most people my age couldn't handle it.

The isolation was overwhelming at times. When you develop a disability at a young age, it changes you. My eyes were opened to a truth few were willing to accept-- that life is unpredictable and unfair. Disability can settle on anyone at any time for no particular reason, and there's often no cure. Depressing? It can be, but you learn to adapt and take pride in your ability to adapt, because adapting becomes your life.

I can't imagine growing up deaf or being the only six-year-old who wears hearing aids in a mainstreamed classroom of giggly first-graders, though those I've met have who grew up HH are remarkably well adjusted. Sometimes I think part of the problem for adults who lose their hearing is an identity crisis. At one time I was a different person, then my world turned upside down. My life seemed to be on hold, because not only had I developed a hearing loss, but my hearing was unstable. I've continued to lose more and more hearing all these years.

With the knowledge that my hearing could take a nosedive at any moment, it's been hard to carve out a path. I've learned to live in the present. This is where I am today. I don't know where I'll be tomorrow. I crave the stability of structure and a backup plan more than most. The unknown is scary. I'm dependant once again on something (someone) I can't count on, only this time that someone is ME. Luckily I married the Rock of Gibraltar whose unwavering devotion, routines and support is as predictable and solid as they come. He doesn't drink.

This is a great blog about camps for young HH, deaf children set up so they won't feel so isolated. http://aslci.blogspot.com/2008/06/calling-solitaires-for-research.html In a few weeks I'm going to "adult camp"-- two of them back-to-back. I couldn't be more excited. You see, late-deafened adults need to connect with each other too-- just like kids. Adult camp usually takes place in big cities. There will be interpreted workshops with CART, trips to restaurants in large groups of people who can't hear, tours for the deaf, and lots of hanging out in bars.

Conventions with HH, deaf people are the highlight of my summer. Normally, I'm paralyzed by group socializing with hearing people because of all the lips needing to be read, but not with this crowd. We write, sign and repeat as often as needed until **everyone** gets it. No judging. We all know deafness does not equal stupidity.

This year I'm going to the International Federation of Hard-of-Hearing people up in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Then I'm going to Philadephia for the Say What Club convention. There, I'm going to meet with a few DeafRead bloggers, and old friends I don't get to see all the time, and we're going to have a blast!! ALDA and HLAA also have adult "camp" (conventions) for people with hearing loss. I believe the HLAA con is coming up soon, but I couldn't swing it in addition to the two others. IFHOH was a priority since Vancouver is so close, and it rarely gets held on this continent. Also I get free room and board with an HH Canadian friend.

Because of my experience of growing up hearing, then becoming deaf, I value inclusion above all else. I've felt EXcluded too many times among the hearing that I find the exclusionary practices of DeafRead offensive. I haven't blogged about this before, but when DeafRead failed to provide CART for their convention in SF after I requested it last spring, I realized I don't really belong here, though I've stayed to learn more about Deaf culture. Also, I had hoped with the influx of CI blogs, they would become more inclusive over time.

There was really no GOOD excuse not to accommodate me. I requested the accommodations more than two months in advance of the convention. The thing is, the Say What Club is equally as small as DeafRead, and they're committed to providing interpreters as well as CART for their conventions, so ALL attending will be able to understand. I realize interpreters are expensive. We ALL know that. The point is if we want to be included, then we should all be models of inclusion.

Now DeafRead has booted off Cochlear Implant On-line under a trumped up charge that she's in cahoots with Cochlear. This is so ridiculous I'm speechless. A person can not be an "employed volunteer." She makes no money off Cochlear. While I realize many of you don't like Rachel's blog, wasn't it enough to exclude her from your "custom" feeds?

Further, I've since found out DeafRead has disallowed a cueing blog from joining.

DeafRead has become an uncomfortable and unwelcoming deaf community for those of us who use our voices.