Deafies: your opinions, please!

society's_child

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One of my closest friends suggested that I "live a day in the life" of a deaf person. Meaning: she thinks it would be a great idea if i pretended to be deaf for a day. I'm talking buying earplugs and using nothing but asl for communication, writing things down on paper, or using my blackberry. She wants the two of us to go shopping or out to eat. She would be the hearing person (she knows just a smidge of sign) and i would be deaf of course.

She's asked me several times if we could do an outing together but if it's something that might show the Deaf community in a negative light, i'm not going to do it.

Opinions appreciated, thank you.

p.s.- my siad friend works with HOH children so she's picking up signs little by little. I believe her when she says she has respect for deaf/Deaf.
 
society's_child,

i think doing this is noble, but it will not give you the true experience of what being deaf is like. even with earplugs, you will still be able to hear the sound of your own breathing as well as loud environmental sounds.

however, if this is what you want to do, i applaud you and think you should go for it. perhaps it will give you an entirely new perspective on what it means to be deaf. smile.
 
One of my closest friends suggested that I "live a day in the life" of a deaf person. Meaning: she thinks it would be a great idea if i pretended to be deaf for a day. I'm talking buying earplugs and using nothing but asl for communication, writing things down on paper, or using my blackberry. She wants the two of us to go shopping or out to eat. She would be the hearing person (she knows just a smidge of sign) and i would be deaf of course.

She's asked me several times if we could do an outing together but if it's something that might show the Deaf community in a negative light, i'm not going to do it.

Opinions appreciated, thank you.

p.s.- my siad friend works with HOH children so she's picking up signs little by little. I believe her when she says she has respect for deaf/Deaf.

If you are going to do this--do it where no one knows you.
 
society's_child, that will give you the idea of the social implications of being deaf in a hearing world, but obviously not the perception aspect. You'll probably notice you won't be able to suppress the impulse to tense your muscles in response to a loud sound, or to turn around and look at something when you hear a sound behind you. Small things like this might cue people into realizing you're hearing.
 
society's_child, that will give you the idea of the social implications of being deaf in a hearing world, but obviously not the perception aspect. You'll probably notice you won't be able to suppress the impulse to tense your muscles in response to a loud sound, or to turn around and look at something when you hear a sound behind you. Small things like this might cue people into realizing you're hearing.

I've considered that. Very true.
 
also, only wear your earplugs when indoors. if you're going to a restaurant, put them in your ears when you go to the restroom. please do not wear them while driving or traveling outdoors.
 
I can understand that, society's_child. There is an ethical issue in question with feigning deafness. Plus if you by any chance run into any Deaf people, they will probably be able to tell right away you're hearing. If you go through with it, stay far, far away from Gallaudet. <laughs>
 
I can understand that, society's_child. There is an ethical issue in question with feigning deafness. Plus if you by any chance run into any Deaf people, they will probably be able to tell right away you're hearing. If you go through with it, stay far, far away from Gallaudet. <laughs>

Gally? Oh, no that would be the ULTIMATE death sentence. :shock:

I think you're on to something when you mention the ethical implications. I need to tell my friend that.
 
There is actually a group of people that feigns "disabilities" on a regular basis. They're known as pretenders. You can Google DPW's (which stands for Devotees, Pretenders, and Wannabes.) They do it because it gives them a sense of emotional/sexual fulfillment. They feign all sorts of "disabilities," including deafness, blindness, paraplegia, amputation, etc.
 
There is actually a group of people that feigns "disabilities" on a regular basis. They're known as pretenders. You can Google DPW's (which stands for Devotees, Pretenders, and Wannabes.) They do it because it gives them a sense of emotional/sexual fulfillment. They feign all sorts of "disabilities," including deafness, blindness, paraplegia, amputation, etc.

there's a group on yahoo called "deaf wannabes." i used to be on their e-mail list before i became so disgusted and left.
 
There is actually a group of people that feigns "disabilities" on a regular basis. They're known as pretenders. You can Google DPW's (which stands for Devotees, Pretenders, and Wannabes.) They do it because it gives them a sense of emotional/sexual fulfillment. They feign all sorts of "disabilities," including deafness, blindness, paraplegia, amputation, etc.

God lord, I've heard of those people. I do NOT want to be associated with them in any way, shape or form. :ugh:
 
Oh I'm sorry society's_child, I didn't mean to imply that you were associated with DPW's. I just wanted to mention that there are some folks that have invested a lot of time into faking disability. If you want to put a lot of energy into successfully passing, you could probably get good tips from browsing those forums. Of course your intentions are completely different from theirs.
 
Oh I'm sorry society's_child, I didn't mean to imply that you were associated with DPW's. I just wanted to mention that there are some folks that have invested a lot of time into faking disability. If you want to put a lot of energy into successfully passing, you could probably get good tips from browsing those forums. Of course your intentions are completely different from theirs.

That's alright, Nika. I knew what you were getting at.
 
this is kind of off-topic, but on some of the bipolar forums i participate on, i've seen people who actually WANT to have a dx of bipolar. i just do not understand that. i wouldn't wish bipolar on my worst enemy. sorry for the off-topic post.
 


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