I would have been thrilled to see people signing in public! Would not have mattered one bit to me if they were Deaf or hearing.
I did encounter nasty responses from hearing people who see anybody signing.. One time, a friend of mine happened to meet a hearing person she knew.. she signed same time she talked to him so I wouldn't be left out.. he told her to stop, she said no, she was doing that for me.. his response? He placed his hand on her throat.....
Nice huh? 
