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LM, in answer to tour question, I'd guess the big one is a tendency to use 'Are you deaf? In place of 'Are you stupid?' or 'weren't you paying attention?'  i kinda think that's changing, especially with so many deaf/ profoundly HI kids mainstreaming; kids stop to think about it because they suddenly recognize that it's being used derogatorily.


You see similar things with gender, race, religion... 'Throw like a girl', 'Jew down the price'.... Using a cultural stereotype as an insult is insulting to that culture.  But when the stereotype is part of the dominant culture, you don't always realize.


Earlier today I was debating something with a friend on FB (don't judge!).  He was losing pretty badly, so he announced he would let me win, because I was cute.  I pointed out that he couldn't see me, and also, 'let' had nothing to do with it; I was winning because I was smart and better at backing my points.  Entertainingly, he likes to be all chivalrous for us poor widdle giwls, but it never occurs to him that saying 'Aw, you're cute, so I'm gonna let you win' is dismissive, insulting, and clearly poor manners.


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