Do you guys embrace your hearing loss/deafness?!

DeafCaroline said:
The funny thing is that they are talking about two different things.

Audiofuzzy - we get it, the literal dictionary definition of the word normal stays the same no matter who says it. WriteAlex is saying it's the context in which the word normal was said or written that adds implied meaning and tone to the sentence, as well as the known history of the person who said it. And he used an excellent example, the phrase "hearing impaired."

I really don't get why you're being so argumentative. You're both right. Move on.
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I am not being argumentative,
I really don't.
It is just in my nature to be so very insistent, which I can understand may be irritating trait to many, sorry :wave:

but honestly I am not being this way to be mean or inciting or contrary
I just am.
I will keep EXPLAINING my pov to the death, because it is important to me that my point gets across and I understood.
It's just my nature.

But please believe me when I say I am not doing so out of spite or to be mean . Really.

Now, it is interesting you saying we are both right? W-Alex and I.
I am willing to agree to a degree we are both right if it pertain to
a grammatical use of the word, just the way you described.
but may I remind you it wasn't what I was talking about.
This subject was touched in the course of discussion.

From the beginning I was talking about how some people are allowed to use the term "normal" without any consequences EVER purely because they are considered Deaf,
whereas other will always be if not outright attacked then at least corrected on the use of "normal".

This is, I am hoping you can recognize it, an entirely different matter.

This is a BIASED treatment of the member/s based purely on how they are perceived as,
not the matter on what the word or the context is.


Because even the "audist" can use the word "normal" the right way and in the proper context
but still automatically be ostracized for using it not because the word was used wrongly
or in the bad hurtful context, but ONLY because of being the person who used it.

I hope now I explained myself pretty clear?

Fuzzy
 
Sunshine said:
I not only deaf person here tell you normal is slur word. Is not just my "very personal experience". Is entire deaf community basically.

Edit add - dictionary also say gay mean happy. And yes, gay mean happy. But how many people use this way anymore? Dictionary not keep up with common use.
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True, you are not the only one for whom the world "normal" have negative connotations but still,
it's a far cry from the "N" word and it's history.

Even Black people does not use "N" word to describe themselves just so -
because the "N" is a slang and derogatory word, still.
The way I learned it from literature, or media,
even the Black people avoid using describing themselves as "N"
unless there are special circumstances such as rap song poetry or rough comedy.
But I am not claiming to be expert on this, okay.

That it is derogatory term, dictionary clearly states here:
- Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary


Normal is not a slang word.


Suppose, from an 'official' pov, if there was ever a petition
for establishing "normal' as a slur word -I am not sure how it would be proved it is.


Gay - oh, but the dictionary has more than one official meaning of the word gay.
it has 4, actually:

Gay - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

I however am thinking about what you said about how "normal" become
a hurtful word for majority of the deaf because of the ACTIONS behind it.
And I think I am beginning to see why there is such a conflict on the use
on the word.

It's just unfortunate, because the word itself is not at fault.
The people's actions are :(

I see, and can imagine if I was constantly forced to sound "normal",
appear "normal", being told I am not "normal",
had no friends because I was not "normal" - I am sure I would become
to hate that word, too.

I see I was lucky I wasn't forced to speech therapy even if I lisped,
just encouraged to, but eventually it was my decision.
Nobody forced me to.
The few times I went, I went because I wanted to.
I was always told I am "normal" just as I am - hmmmmm.
In fact I finally rebelled against it and said no I am NOT normal! (lol).
I can't HEAR!

Definitely I see we associate words emotionally with our own experiences.

I suppose your painful experiences made you see the word "normal"
as something negative.
I had different experiences, neither positive nor negative so for me this word
doesn't inspire any emotion.

But it's neither negative nor positive a word, it is just an adjective
and sometimes a noun.
If used with "hearing", it just describe it according to the general international definition it has, is all.

But for you, because you were forced to appear "normal" it brings back
a lot of pain and anger.
So when I use this word you see;/feel all those people back then.
Well I am not those people Sunshine.
I am me.
When I say "normal hearing" all I mean is - "as average hearing people hear".
Same as Bebonang mean.

No need to kick me in the head for it.

Fuzzy
 
wow. people is have tunnel vision not see big picture. also i notice hypocrisy this thread. i agree other post, not need waste energy argue with close mind. walk away good idea.

:locked: :roll:
 
Hey, people have said that I'm normal even though I cannot hear cars with turbocharged engine go VROOOOM!!!! I wish I would hear it go VROOM, but if people tell me that I'm normal, that is good enough for me.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
You basically prove my point with the examples of hurtful remarks. Those are good examples of how semantics shift depending on context and user, but what you are not realizing is that a term like "normal hearing" can be construed as hurtful in almost any instance. Again, it all depends on who is using it and who is listening. Who are you to decide if "normal hearing" is neutral? You don't.
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TheWriteAlex said:
Who are you to decide if "normal hearing" is neutral? You don't.
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Well, because indeed I do not- the dictionary does.

What I do not understand, though, is this - you say I gave you good examples of hurtful remarks. Thank you.
So how come you can't see what I am trying to relay?

Just to be clear - I know what YOU mean- you seem to think because the remarks are hurtful, the term is hurtful.
But that just it- it isn't! it only appear so!

Don't you see, in these remarks the term "normal hearing"
is still neutral.
It always be, because it just describes the hearing, nothing else.

What IS hurtful in the remark is the message it carries with it.
The INTENT of the message is what makes it hurtful, not the term.


If I was to use the comparison to describe what happened in these remarks, it would be this-

"killing the messenger" - know what I mean?

The term "normal hearing" is like a messenger who brings a bad news.
It is being killed for bringing the bad news while being completely innocent.


Fuzzy
 
MyNameIsNO said:
wow. people is have tunnel vision not see big picture. also i notice hypocrisy this thread. i agree other post, not need waste energy argue with close mind. walk away good idea.

:locked: :roll:
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I disagree.
For me this thread is very interesting, and valuable.
It offers me a lot if fresh insight into how the term is being viewed, and why.

Without this discussion, I would never know why it is so painful and hated by many.

I am learning a lot from this.

I also want to have MY pov be seen, as I don't think it is as of yet.


Why close something so valuable, something I can learn from,
just because YOU disagree with my POV?

Fuzzy
 
sorry but i not see point for people continue arguement with this. they already sick of it. arguement not go anywhere. they already point across.
 
MyNameIsNO said:
sorry but i not see point for people continue arguement with this. they already sick of it. arguement not go anywhere. they already point across.
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How generous of you :(

Perhaps this is not important to you, but it is for me - I want to learn something from all this.
I thought this forum, the point of having discussion is to learn.
I am here to learn.
I feel despite of the topic being hot, we are having very civilized discussion, still, and that is very nice.

And no, I don't feel MY point got across.
To me it feels like nobody gives a damn whether my opinion matter or not.
It is AD way or the highway.
Whether AD is right or wrong - who cares? Must be AD, or bust.

Fuzzy
 
Fuzzy, now I know why just about everyone on this entire board cannot stand you. You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. You are using the dictionary as a semantic source? What is that, a joke?

What linguistic training do you have? What educational background do you have that gives you the credibility to make outlandish claims about semantics and morphology? I'm guessing none, since anyone who has taken an introductory course in linguistics knows what you're posting is completely false. You really need to just keep quiet now.

Yet you just blabber on and on and on and . . .

You are impossible.
 
Audiofuzzy said:
How generous of you :(

Perhaps this is not important to you, but it is for me - I want to learn something from all this.
I thought this forum, the point of having discussion is to learn.
I am here to learn.
I feel despite of the topic being hot, we are having very civilized discussion, still, and that is very nice.

And no, I don't feel MY point got across.
To me it feels like nobody gives a damn whether my opinion matter or not.
It is AD way or the highway.
Whether AD is right or wrong - who cares? Must be AD, or bust.

Fuzzy
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This because your point direct contradict pretty much everyone else here.
 
I....Will....Not.....Post....What.....I.....Am.....Thinking........

But, I agree with others in saying that we need to get back to the original discussion and not the differences in EVERYONE's opinion of "normal".
 
audiofuzzy,

you not still understand point arguemnt. i not continue ok? bec waste time. you are manipulate try control our mind. we not stupid.
 
KristinaB said:
I....Will....Not.....Post....What.....I.....Am.....Thinking........

But, I agree with others in saying that we need to get back to the original discussion and not the differences in EVERYONE's opinion of "normal".
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I think that's a pretty normal reaction! :eek3:
 
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