This thread has been made out of sheer curiosity, and probably my ignorance of deaf culture or whatever you want to call it. Hopefully, none shall take offense from this thread -- as that was not its intention.
I just have to ask. I mean, I grew up in the "hearing world" as you all call it. Grew up in a public school, and being the only person in my town who had a hearing loss, as far as I was concerned, I was the only "deaf" person in the state (not literally of course!)
I grew up with a love of music. I can listen, appreciate, and respect any type of music, with a few exceptions (Country music, for example, I have never been able to enjoy). Rarely, will anyone find me WITHOUT my music. Be it my discman, or my radio in my car cranked up, or me listening to MTV, chilling in my room -- but not without my CD player of course, or even me just strumming away on my Bass Guitar.
However, when I transfered to ISD (Indiana) in 8th grade, I was expecting utter quiet from everyone, being as (as far as I knew) no one could hear, and there would be no point of them making an noise, or listening to any music whatsoever. More or less, I was correct, with a few exceptions. There were a few kids who, constantly, like myself, never turned their music off. Hell, I even saw a few discman's/walkman's around! I was shocked, and tried to get closer to these few people. I quickly learned that most of these (no offense to anyone) were fucking retarded. I mean that literally, these were the "special" students, and I quickly stopped getting to know these people, not because they were "special" but just because they were dull, boring, and whatever.
I dunno. It's just that all through high school, it seemd to me that anyone I met at ISD who actually listened to (whether they enjoyed it or not) music of any sort, seemd to be a little. . . well, stupid.
It annoyed the hell out of me. Sure, I found other friends with other interests, but my biggest intrest, music, seemed to be shunned by anyone half-way interesting there.
I was honestly, furious. I couldn't see how these people, some of which who could hear better than I, couldn't enjoy music for what it was. And the ones who did listen to music, and actually seemed to enjoy it, were more or less, putting in an old Vanilla Ice CD, and setting it to repeat one song, over, and over, and over all day and night.
I dunno, maybe it was just how I grew up. I mean, where I came from, music was everything. The music you listened to defined whether or not you were "cool". The music you listened to decided whether or not you got beat up. The music you listened to determined who your friends where. And if you didn't listen to music? You simply didn't exist. You were a loner, no one liked you, and such.
I don't even know what my question really is. I guess it all comes down to this --
Why is it that, in the deaf culture, music is not generally appreciated?
I can see how this would not apply to people born 100% deaf, I'm mainly refering to the hard-of-hearing students, like myself, who grew up surrounded by deaf students, unlike myself.
Or this may just be a dumb question, and a useless thread, full of nothing but my unorganized rants and raves.
I just have to ask. I mean, I grew up in the "hearing world" as you all call it. Grew up in a public school, and being the only person in my town who had a hearing loss, as far as I was concerned, I was the only "deaf" person in the state (not literally of course!)
I grew up with a love of music. I can listen, appreciate, and respect any type of music, with a few exceptions (Country music, for example, I have never been able to enjoy). Rarely, will anyone find me WITHOUT my music. Be it my discman, or my radio in my car cranked up, or me listening to MTV, chilling in my room -- but not without my CD player of course, or even me just strumming away on my Bass Guitar.
However, when I transfered to ISD (Indiana) in 8th grade, I was expecting utter quiet from everyone, being as (as far as I knew) no one could hear, and there would be no point of them making an noise, or listening to any music whatsoever. More or less, I was correct, with a few exceptions. There were a few kids who, constantly, like myself, never turned their music off. Hell, I even saw a few discman's/walkman's around! I was shocked, and tried to get closer to these few people. I quickly learned that most of these (no offense to anyone) were fucking retarded. I mean that literally, these were the "special" students, and I quickly stopped getting to know these people, not because they were "special" but just because they were dull, boring, and whatever.
I dunno. It's just that all through high school, it seemd to me that anyone I met at ISD who actually listened to (whether they enjoyed it or not) music of any sort, seemd to be a little. . . well, stupid.
It annoyed the hell out of me. Sure, I found other friends with other interests, but my biggest intrest, music, seemed to be shunned by anyone half-way interesting there.
I was honestly, furious. I couldn't see how these people, some of which who could hear better than I, couldn't enjoy music for what it was. And the ones who did listen to music, and actually seemed to enjoy it, were more or less, putting in an old Vanilla Ice CD, and setting it to repeat one song, over, and over, and over all day and night.
I dunno, maybe it was just how I grew up. I mean, where I came from, music was everything. The music you listened to defined whether or not you were "cool". The music you listened to decided whether or not you got beat up. The music you listened to determined who your friends where. And if you didn't listen to music? You simply didn't exist. You were a loner, no one liked you, and such.
I don't even know what my question really is. I guess it all comes down to this --
Why is it that, in the deaf culture, music is not generally appreciated?
I can see how this would not apply to people born 100% deaf, I'm mainly refering to the hard-of-hearing students, like myself, who grew up surrounded by deaf students, unlike myself.
Or this may just be a dumb question, and a useless thread, full of nothing but my unorganized rants and raves.
they have NO meaning whatsoever IMO -- maybe i will post the lyrics to a Skid Row song i most identified with when i was younger (thats only if ppl asks me to post i will do so LOL)
miss my wild teenage days :-x hahaha
I have gone to concerts by No Doubt, Green Day, Blink 182, and Jimmy Eats World. Of course, pure ASL interpreter is available, too! If you ever decide to visit Utah while there is a concert, let me know and I'll hook you up with a great interpreter and meet you there!! 
