Am I (D)eaf?

Byrdie714 said:
Little 'd'.

Unless you marry a Deaf woman and have Deaf babies--then you would be big 'D'.
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So you are saying that you have to be born from a Deaf family to be so?
 
Bottesini said:
My grandparents were Deaf.
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Were they born deaf or became deaf later on in life?

jillio said:
A deaf person can choose to i.d. as Deaf if they adopt the values, concerns, ethics, and philosophies of Deaf Culture. A Deaf of Deaf is considered to be culturally Deaf because those are the values that were transmitted to them by their parents, grandparents, etc.
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Plus they have to live it on a daily basis

naisho said:
So here's something I was trying to start up from the previous topic before it got locked. Sadly, but anyways:

You could technically be a D all your life if you were born deaf, parents deaf, grandparents deaf.

Once you got that CI, you just shrunk your D into a d in the eyes of the rest of the D, ain't that the truth?
Like I was trying to make an example of earlier -- it's like Army desertion in a way isn't it?

I'm interested in the perception of this because it affects the decision making process of getting a CI, in a way to me.
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Yes.

jillio said:
Getting a CI would not automatically transfer one's i.d. from Deaf to deaf. Again, it has nothing to do with hearing status, but with values and norms embraced by the culture.
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Hmm....I am going to disagree with you on this on. :) :lol: Sorry jillio--if an individual is from the big 'D' and has family members as well. Then they get a CI--you might as well as kiss yourself off because it is viewed "not normal".
 
Byrdie714 said:
It is insulting and I agree with you. I cringe everytime I see someone insult another person that way.

If I ever meet you--I would meet you with *HUGS* :)
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awww... FYI I was born deaf. Grew up orally. Attended to a Deaf school in my high school years. So I do consider myself as being a big "D"


It is how others view me.

Makes me think that you have to be "accepted"
 
jillio said:
A deaf person can choose to i.d. as Deaf if they adopt the values, concerns, ethics, and philosophies of Deaf Culture. A Deaf of Deaf is considered to be culturally Deaf because those are the values that were transmitted to them by their parents, grandparents, etc.
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:ty: for the explanation. Based on what you've said, I'm Deaf since I do believe in the values, etc. of Deaf Culture. Also, I've never had anyone sign "hearing-think" to me.
 
Babyblue said:
so you are saying that if a person view and, Identify themself as a "D"eaf person the rest will view them that way as well?
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Yes but before that happens - That person would need to identify his/her self within the norms, value, culture before the rest of them view them that way.
 
Hear Again said:
Yes. I was born totally blind.
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Hear Again said:
:ty: for the explanation. Based on what you've said, I'm Deaf since I do believe in the values, etc. of Deaf Culture.
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That's nice but as an individual that is the big "D"--I don't see you as a member of the big 'D' due to the fact that you are also blind.

I see you as a member of the Deaf-Blind, not the Deaf.

Two separate communities and culture.
 
Byrdie714 said:
Were they born deaf or became deaf later on in life?



Plus they have to live it on a daily basis



Yes.



Hmm....I am going to disagree with you on this on. :) :lol: Sorry jillio--if an individual is from the big 'D' and has family members as well. Then they get a CI--you might as well as kiss yourself off because it is viewed "not normal".
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Born Deaf and attended to Deaf schools.
 
Jiro said:
what about... if I'm a fluent ASL'er but switch back and forth between hearing and deaf worlds? Would I still be considered Deaf?
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Same here but I am more around hearing people than I am deaf.

Due to location. I live out in the boonies. Hearing family and friends..

That is why I am here often. :lol:

Pathetic eh?
 
Jolie77 said:
Yes but before that happens - That person would need to identify his/her self within the norms, value, culture before the rest of them view them that way.
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Born deaf..raised orally..
I have identified myself as being Deaf. I started attending to a Deaf School in my high school years. First time I was proud. I learned ASL.

I embraced the culture, I learned ASL. I felt like I belonged.

Then it hit me. When they said I was not "Deaf enough"

I am sorry, but I have to disagree with you and some other posters here. Unless you were born into it and have Deaf Family members. You have to be accepted into the culture.
 
Let's try to look at this as an analogy.

I have a good friend who happens to be Black. She and her husband, also Black, have two children born to them. Several years ago, they also adopted a white infant who was removed from his parents after being abused. She laughingly told me that during Black History Month, this little blonde, blue eyed 7 year old was walking around the house chanting, "Say it loud! I'm Black, and I'm proud."

Is this little boy ethnically African American? No, he isn't. Is he, culturally Black? Yes, he is. African American culture is being handed down to him by his adoptive parents and siblings.

Culture is learned. It is something that is handed down like a precious treasure from previous generations to future generations. It is a wonderful gift that one adult can give to another.

I am fully hearing, yet some of you have recognized me as Deaf. That is becuase Deaf adults gave me the gift of their culture, so that when I relate to other Deaf I am able to do so from their perspective. It is something I learned from those who learned it from others.
 
Byrdie714 said:
And live it everyday!
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Everyday? Well, I can see that in order to be identified as a 'D';

Take me for instance -

My parents are hearing. I was once married to a man who comes from a deaf family. I have 2 deaf children. I've attended and graduated from a residential deaf school. I have several relatives that are deaf. I was born deaf due to the hereditary.

So with that - I identify myself as a Deaf person because of that. Would it be wrong to not to live it everyday?
 
Jolie77 said:
Everyday? Well, I can see that in order to be identified as a 'D';

Take me for instance -

My parents are hearing. I was once married to a man who comes from a deaf family. I have 2 deaf children. I've attended and graduated from a residential deaf school. I have several relatives that are deaf. I was born deaf due to the hereditary.

So with that - I identify myself as a Deaf person because of that. Would it be wrong to not to live it everyday?
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No, it isn't wrong. You are Deaf, but you have also integrated some of the hearing cultural values of your parents into your existence. It is like an immigrant who moves to America, and adopts some of the American cultural values and integrates them into their native cultural values. They take the best of both and make it their own. But they will always lean on their native cultural values when push comes to shove, unless they have totally assimilated. You, no doubt, are in your heart Deaf, and will rely on those values when push comes to shove. But, you are also able to take some things from the hearing culture of your parents, and use them to benefit you when you need to.
 
Jolie77 said:
Everyday? Well, I can see that in order to be identified as a 'D';

Take me for instance -

My parents are hearing. I was once married to a man who comes from a deaf family. I have 2 deaf children. I've attended and graduated from a residential deaf school. I have several relatives that are deaf. I was born deaf due to the hereditary.

So with that - I identify myself as a Deaf person because of that. Would it be wrong to not to live it everyday?
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Yep.
 
From the analogies, examples given,
Have been the lil' guy all my life. Don't deny it, nor am looking to boast it.
 
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