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I'm from Purdue and took a few courses from its top rated Audiology and Speech Science Department, so I got a lot of exposure to ASL and the Deaf culture. One t

by Jun8 14y ago

I'm from Purdue and took a few courses from its top rated Audiology and Speech Science Department, so I got a lot of exposure to ASL and the Deaf culture. One thing that I couldn't understand is the following sentiment, which is quite common: "I never viewed deafness as not understanding anyone - “deafness” is a clinical concept, a -‘ness’; it implies absence, a lack of something, therefore I am inferior. Its logic is so devastating, it is almost too easy to fall for it, as many people have. If the world is examined closely enough, we will find it is not true. There are a thousand and one possibilities and ways of being. I am culturally Deaf, wherein I gain my identity and a unique window to the world" I don't want to be offensive, but deafness is a lack of one of the senses. I appreciate and applaud the vibrant culture the Deaf community created around ASL (and the corresponding deaf languages in other countries) and understand part of this is a coping mechanism. Yet, I have met and read many Deaf culture enthusiasts that argue (almost) that being Deaf is somewhat superior to our "normal" hearing culture, so much so that some Deaf parents wish their children are born deaf too. Would you consider blindness to be similar? I haven't heard of a Blind culture, but maybe it exists.

deleted 14y ago
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chadwtaylor 14y ago
One could argue that it's a matter of perspective. Granted there are many challenges in life and this is true for everybody, including myself. Why "fix" things if I consider myself on a successful path? If you don't see that I am, at least respect that I am comfortable with me being me and satisfied.
- Jun8 14y ago
  I totally respect you (and other members of the Deaf community) and what you have achieved. I know this is a sensitive topic and wouldn't dare to discuss it anywhere other than HN. I have two question/comments and would definitely would like to hear your feedback on them: 1. You (and some others) seem to equate any attempt to "fix" the situation as an affirmation that your condition is an inferiority and therefore reject such attempts (e.g. I know many people in the Deaf community reject cochlear implants due to this reason and out of fear that they would be rejected by the community). Yet, they don't have to be so opposed to the other. A famous example is Oscar Pistorius (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Pistorius http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Pistorius) who have qualified for the Olympics in 400m. He is using artificial legs but I don't he views himself as an invalid. 2. Coming back to the desire of some Deaf parents to have a non-hearing child: If you think that Deafness is somewhat a cultural artifact then there's nothing wrong with this (I want my son to be fluent in my native language in addition to English), yet ethically this idea seems wrong (e.g. I could only find an old example online: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/mar/09/genetics.medicalresearch http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/mar/09/genetics.medic...), here's a discussion on the subject (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_wanting_a_deaf_baby_if_you_are_a_deaf_couple_ethical_or_unethical_and_for_what_reasons http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_wanting_a_deaf_baby_if_you_are_...).
  - chadwtaylor 14y ago
    I'm the wrong person to be discussing this. Not every Deaf people think the same things as implied above. My principles in life is pretty simple. Respect one another and I will love my child regardless s/he is deaf or hearing. The same question, as you're indicating above about deaf vs hearing babies, is akin to someone asking me what I hope for: Boy or Girl? I say I would love a daughter but no matter which gender that pops out, I will have my undying love ready if not already. Live and let live is what I try to do for myself and others, including yourself. Perhaps someone can answer and engage themselves into the questions you've asked. My life principles are too simple to engage myself into this.
DanBC 14y ago
Deafness is only a lack of something if you had hearing and lost it. If you can never remember hearing then deafness is not a lack. You cannot see in infra-red: are you disabled? Are you visually impaired? You have a hearing range very roughly from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Are you hearing impaired because you can't hear sub-sonics or super-sonics? Can you speak ASL? Can you read braille? You can see that you might miss out if you can't, but would you consider yourself crippled for not being able to? Do you have a Synesthesia? Do you consider yourself impaired, disabled, crippled, lesser because you can't smell the colour orange or taste the word Tuesday?

by Jun8 14y ago

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

chadwtaylor 14y ago

One could argue that it's a matter of perspective. Granted there are many challenges in life and this is true for everybody, including myself. Why "fix" things if I consider myself on a successful path? If you don't see that I am, at least respect that I am comfortable with me being me and satisfied.

Jun8 14y ago
I totally respect you (and other members of the Deaf community) and what you have achieved. I know this is a sensitive topic and wouldn't dare to discuss it anywhere other than HN. I have two question/comments and would definitely would like to hear your feedback on them: 1. You (and some others) seem to equate any attempt to "fix" the situation as an affirmation that your condition is an inferiority and therefore reject such attempts (e.g. I know many people in the Deaf community reject cochlear implants due to this reason and out of fear that they would be rejected by the community). Yet, they don't have to be so opposed to the other. A famous example is Oscar Pistorius (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Pistorius http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Pistorius) who have qualified for the Olympics in 400m. He is using artificial legs but I don't he views himself as an invalid. 2. Coming back to the desire of some Deaf parents to have a non-hearing child: If you think that Deafness is somewhat a cultural artifact then there's nothing wrong with this (I want my son to be fluent in my native language in addition to English), yet ethically this idea seems wrong (e.g. I could only find an old example online: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/mar/09/genetics.medicalresearch http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/mar/09/genetics.medic...), here's a discussion on the subject (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_wanting_a_deaf_baby_if_you_are_a_deaf_couple_ethical_or_unethical_and_for_what_reasons http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_wanting_a_deaf_baby_if_you_are_...).
- chadwtaylor 14y ago
  I'm the wrong person to be discussing this. Not every Deaf people think the same things as implied above. My principles in life is pretty simple. Respect one another and I will love my child regardless s/he is deaf or hearing. The same question, as you're indicating above about deaf vs hearing babies, is akin to someone asking me what I hope for: Boy or Girl? I say I would love a daughter but no matter which gender that pops out, I will have my undying love ready if not already. Live and let live is what I try to do for myself and others, including yourself. Perhaps someone can answer and engage themselves into the questions you've asked. My life principles are too simple to engage myself into this.

DanBC 14y ago

Deafness is only a lack of something if you had hearing and lost it. If you can never remember hearing then deafness is not a lack. You cannot see in infra-red: are you disabled? Are you visually impaired? You have a hearing range very roughly from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Are you hearing impaired because you can't hear sub-sonics or super-sonics? Can you speak ASL? Can you read braille? You can see that you might miss out if you can't, but would you consider yourself crippled for not being able to? Do you have a Synesthesia? Do you consider yourself impaired, disabled, crippled, lesser because you can't smell the colour orange or taste the word Tuesday?