How do you sign "ARREST?"

[Reba]

Yeah, Reba. I had a run-in with a couple cops yesterday evening. They stopped me for having a brake light out and I will spare you the details, but it escalated until they fortunately let me go on my way. I told my hearing friends about the incident, and one thing bothered me...When they said "You are lucky you weren't arrested!" they used a sign of pointing a gun at me while saying "arrested," only they used all four fingers instead of a single trigger finger. They obviously were referring to being tazered. So being tazered is synonymous with being arrested nowadays???? Sigh.

I'm sorry you had such a rough time last night.

I'm afraid the taser is too easily used these days. Ironically, they were first introduced as a less lethal "safer" substitute for officers using their guns. Instead, tasers have become substitutes for even less lethal safer methods that the police used to practice, such as calming down the situation or other tactics that relied more on personal skills and common sense. Sure, a taser is quicker than talking someone down from an emotional confrontation but that isn't why they were developed.

 

[Barbaro]

I would use whichever sign is more accepted by the group with whom I'm signing, as long as no one in the crowd is offended. When in doubt, ask.


Still, you have to be prepared to recognize it when you meet older deaf people. Elderly deaf people like to hang onto "their" signs as much as elderly hearing people like to hang onto "their" terms and sayings. My grandmother continued to say "icebox" instead of refrigerator until she died. Unless they sign something totally offensive to someone else just grin and bear it.

My late grandma used to say icebox when I was a kid. As I got older, she started saying refrigerator. However, her first language is German. I always have respect for elderly deaf people, and their old signs are so fascinated. I have learned several old signs like antique wall telephone. I am always open to learning variety of old and new sign language.

The problem with the crowd is I have seen that when one is new in the crowd, and look at your signing skills while you talk to your old friends simultaneously, then reject you immediately without knowing you first. I know the other one who who refuses to be friend with anyone who uses SEE or PSE.

 

[Reba]

My late grandma used to say icebox when I was a kid. As I got older, she started saying refrigerator. However, her first language is German. I always have respect for elderly deaf people, and their old signs are so fascinated. I have learned several old signs like antique wall telephone. I am always open to learning variety of old and new sign language.

I always thought the old "phone" sign was cool.

The problem with the crowd is I have seen that when one is new in the crowd, and look at your signing skills while you talk to your old friends simultaneously, then reject you immediately without knowing you first. I know the other one who who refuses to be friend with anyone who uses SEE or PSE.

That is pitiful.