Offended by ASL students?

TheWriteAlex said:
BTW, I'm going to play devil advocate's here and say there are certain situations where I'd be offended by hearing people using ASL. That would be if they are acting like idiots and being goofy, not showing respect to the language and treating ASL like it's some sort of system of miming and inordinate gesturing. I have seen that before, and yes, it does offend me.

I would take the same offense to a native French speaker treating English the same way. Being d/Deaf has nothing to do with it.
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I agree with you on that situation. That is just being a jerk.
 
jillio said:
I agree with you on that situation. That is just being a jerk.
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And we don't have enough information based on the original post that was referenced to know what the ASL students were really doing and why that offended the deaf man or his daughter.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
And we don't have enough information based on the original post that was referenced to know what the ASL students were really doing and why that offended the deaf man or his daughter.
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True. And I find there is always something missing in these stories that has an influence on the reaction that was received.
 
And try to remember, we all tell the truth the way we see it.
 
jillio said:
A better than average chance the speculation was arrived at as the result of a past experience that influences perceptions. Add projection to the mix.
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psychobabble. :rofl: You are truly a piece of work.
 
Wirelessly posted

rockdrummer said:
jillio said:
A better than average chance the speculation was arrived at as the result of a past experience that influences perceptions. Add projection to the mix.
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psychobabble. :rofl: You are truly a piece of work.
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What is your problem? You've been bitter lately
 
Wirelessly posted

No... you have been acting strange before that. Sometimes it trigger the attack.
 
Megan8987 said:
I havent taken any formal ASL classes....just one online course, everything else I've got from books, online, and DVDs. I teach ASL vocab to a hearing toddler, I love the language, but I don't have anyone to sign with except my family...and their vocab is really limited right now (but they're trying) :giggle:

I read online somewhere that two ASL students were walking through Walmart signing to eachother. A girl came up to them and told them that her Dad was deaf and was offended that they were signing to eachother because they were hearing.

After reading that I tend to get really nervous signing to my fiance or kids in public. Granted I'm still learning and my grammar and syntex is completely off...but if I need to start somewhere.

I also don't want to go to Borders where they hold Deaf get togethers because some people posted that they get upset by new signers being there. They dont want to feel like they have to "teach" and are there to get to know and talk to other Deaf people. Which I understand.

So where does that leave me and other ASL students? Would you be offended if you saw me signing to my hearing Fiance and you know I'm hearing? What about if I came to Borders. If I can't practice then my signing wont get better. But offending people is definitely not something I want to do either.

Thanks for the advice in advance! :ty:
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Sounds to me you're dealing with a rogue deaf individual that has a biased opinion towards the hearing community in general. There's a handful of haters from among the deaf community that really hates hearing people with a passion.

It's called "passive aggressive".

Yiz
 
yizuman said:
Sounds to me you're dealing with a rogue deaf individual that has a biased opinion towards the hearing community in general. There's a handful of haters from among the deaf community that really hates hearing people with a passion.

It's called "passive aggressive".

Yiz
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Nope. That isn't passive agressive. It's just agressive.
 
DeafCaroline said:
I've only been offended once by an ASL student and that was back in high school. She made a point of signing to me and greatly exaggerating her speech only when she had an audience as if to show off while completely disregarding the fact that I don't even know ASL.
Other than that, I think it's wonderful for anyone to learn a new language and to practice it, be it oral or sign.
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That was quite offensive and I'd be angry if that happened to me.
 
I went to a Deaf happy hour in my area to get some "Deaf community hours" in for a paper I had to do for my ASL class. I had so much fun and made a bunch of Deaf friends that I just kept going! Even though my signing isn't very good yet, I still get along with everyone and am able to have a good time. I dont think anyone is offended by me because I am hearing and still learning ASL. They actually help me out a lot. I learn so many new words every time I go! It also helps me get used to the grammar and syntax. I don't think its possible to become fluent in sign language without spending a lot of time with some actual Deafies. I asked my teacher if it was ok that I keep going to them over winter break even though the semester is ending (they are once a month), and she was like "Of course! They would be sad if you didnt come back next month!"
 
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