A Hearing Man in a Deaf World

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mnwjm1981

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Hello,

My name is Matthew Munson and I'm a hearing man who is learning BSL! It's a brilliant subject to learn, but I'm still just starting out on the road - and it's slow-going!

I'm loving learning and enjoying meet new people in the Deaf community, which is a facinating mix of people. To my shame, I'd never met many Deaf people before, so am making it my mission to meet as many Deaf people as possible!

I'm writing a blog about my experiences, which I'd be interested in getting your opinions on.

Life From The Front - Dispatches From Viking Bay: The Sound of Silence

Life From The Front - Dispatches From Viking Bay: Dyspraxia, Emotions & Sign Language

Life From The Front - Dispatches From Viking Bay: Sign Language, 4 Weeks In - BSL & Expressions

Life From The Front - Dispatches From Viking Bay: Language!

Thank you,

Matthew Munson
 
Hi, nice to meet you. I am Annie. Welcome to the boards. I don't know much of either versions of sign language. I should probably learn. I rely on lipreading. lol.
 
Hi Matthew. I'm Daniel also hearing but love the deaf world and the ppl in it. I'm just leading to sign and ASL. The most confusing thing to me is how some things that mean nothing to the hearing can really REALLY offend the deaf. I haven't been around the deaf much in my life till this year. The only signs I know I e learned from my friends. Same with deaf culture! I learned the hard way that leaving the room without telling anyone and not maintaining eye contact when those who can use their voice uses their voice to help you understand are major do not do's! I hope I can learn from this site some more of the do's and don't's so the things I may think are little don't come between me and my deaf friends. And also maybe make some new friends here too! Nice meeting you and happy hollidays to you too.
 
Welcome :) I read your blogs and they're quite good. Hearing allies are a wonderful thing!
One thing though.. When people use the word "silence" to describe the Deaf community, it irks me because it's incredibly misleading! The word silence implies calm and wordlessness, and the opposite is true! We're loud and active and talkitive! I mean, cmon... DST, anyone? :giggle:
Alot people would argue that the word "silence" is used to describe the fact that deaf people can't hear, but that's also untrue. Most deaf people have some degree of residue hearing.
:lol::wave:
 
warpedpink said:
Welcome :) I read your blogs and they're quite good. Hearing allies are a wonderful thing!
One thing though.. When people use the word "silence" to describe the Deaf community, it irks me because it's incredibly misleading! The word silence implies calm and wordlessness, and the opposite is true! We're loud and active and talkitive! I mean, cmon... DST, anyone? :giggle:
Alot people would argue that the word "silence" is used to describe the fact that deaf people can't hear, but that's also untrue. Most deaf people have some degree of residue hearing.
:lol::wave:
Click to expand...

You mean without the hearing aids? Without the use of my hearing aid (left ear) plus my right ear being totally deaf (can not use my hearing aid as I could not hear a thing), that would be silence totally. If we are loud plus active and talkative, then there are some of us, Deafies, who can not hear the noises at all. Of course there is a different degrees of residue hearing but still we are deaf anyway, eh? :hmm:
 
Bebonang said:
You mean without the hearing aids? Without the use of my hearing aid (left ear) plus my right ear being totally deaf (can not use my hearing aid as I could not hear a thing), that would be silence totally. If we are loud plus active and talkative, then there are some of us, Deafies, who can not hear the noises at all. Of course there is a different degrees of residue hearing but still we are deaf anyway, eh? :hmm:
Click to expand...

You misunderstood me. When the general public hears the word silence, total quietness is not the only thing that comes to mind. When people hear deaf and silence in the same sentence, they usually envision a calm, wordless community.
And in regards to hearing loss. Yes, I know that some people are totally stone deaf no matter what, but most have some hearing, even if its with the help of hearing aids.
:)
 
warpedpink said:
You misunderstood me. When the general public hears the word silence, total quietness is not the only thing that comes to mind. When people hear deaf and silence in the same sentence, they usually envision a calm, wordless community.
And in regards to hearing loss. Yes, I know that some people are totally stone deaf no matter what, but most have some hearing, even if its with the help of hearing aids.
:)
Click to expand...

Thank you for clearing that up. :cool2:
 
Thank you everyone for such kind welcomes - it's great to be welcomed by you all!

I also take on board what's been discussed about "silence" - I shall definitely take your comments on board as I'm writing. I never considered it in that way before, and it's good that people are willing to pull me up on these words - I love learning about the diversity within the Deaf community. I hope I can be more involved as my learning increases - next stop, deaf pub!
 
Hey everyone! My name is Marshall Harris, I am a freshman at a community college in Richmond, Virginia. I am hearing, but I would like to learn more ASL (just starting out) and get into the deaf community. Nice to meet y'all!:wave:
 
Hey Marshall and Lissa - thank you for both checking out the thread :)

Marshall - I'm finding that the deaf community are a really cool bunch of people, and they've all been patient with me so far, despite my slowness with my signs!

Lissa - I like your blog, I'm now a follower, so make sure you keep posting :)
 
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