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From: Vixen.*@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen *)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Signing Snobbery
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Date: 4 Jan 90 21:30:31 GMT
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Index Number: 6044

Hi Pat person,

Well, I can't speak for others here, hearing or non hearing, only
for myself. My experience has been, that "yes" some deaf people are
extremely rude to people who do not sign well and the reasons for
this may be varied and even understandable, but, in my opinion, it
is still mean-hearted, thoughtless and childish behaviour.

As I recently said in another post, being hearing impaired does not
automatically instill any "class" in a person. Deaf people can be
just as stinky as hearing people.

However, that is not "all" deaf people, only some, as I am sure you
realize. As I have continued along with my signing education, my
experience has been that most deaf people are very open to me (if
they are not put off by my visual limitations and optical
devices).

Although, I must be honest and say that a number of the hearing
impaired "I" meet or know, seem to be the more tolerant of my ASL
boos boos and blunders when they know that I am also hearing
impaired.

On the other hand, I know "hearing people" that approach signing to
someone as though it were a sort of game or seemed to want impress
others by "signing" (no matter how badly). Though I think ASL is a
beautiful langauge in and of itself, to me, it is means to
communicate with other human beings above and beyond all else.

The are a lot of social complexieties invovled in all of this, and
what I know about the "deaf culture" would fit in a thimble, but
like all else, it seems to me that it calls for tolerance,
understanding and education on both sides of the fence. (Also,
taking down those damn dividing lines!)

Yes, I have experienced being "brusehd aside" and treated rudely by
deaf people and I have expereinced the same with hearing people.
But, for the most part, I have found deaf people more willing to
embrace me than reject me. Maybe moreso than many hearing people!

Anyway, that's my experience for what it's worth!

Keepin' the faith!

.                           Vixen

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