well, if u are worried about ur hearing boyfriend or girlfriend accidently tell a deaf person something private or whatever. and it spread throughout to deaf community, and stuff. u should sit down and talk to ur sweetheart, and let them know u'd like to keep ur life private... and that if they hear anything from other people, like a gossip. they should always go directly to you and ask if its true or not. instead of believing it and blame it on you. I know its hard. I try to do that. So I pretty much date hearing guys instead of deafies cuz of that. and I am not 100% active in deaf community I try to keep my life private. and try to get involve as much as I want and Im friend with some deafies that I trust with things I tell them, and what they see in my life... cuz I know they wouldnt spread a gossip abt me, or whatever. so far I dont really have much of plm... I'm still single, and looking to date someday... deaf or hearing.. it wouldnt matter to me, as long the guy know he can always come to me abt anything, whether he hear things abt me or what I did, etc. he should ask me directly b4 believing it or repeating it to other people.