What is it so bad about CI?

SkullChick

SkullChick

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I can't help but wonder why is it so bad about CI?
What about it that considered an threat to Deaf Communty/Culture/Identity?
How is it different than hearing aid?
Why can't you be deaf and have CI? Why it have to be "you got ci? Ur not deaf anymore" or something that implied that we were trying to fix our hearing or to try to be hearing?
There's a lot of questions running around in my head. But I'll start with basics to see and maybe I'll understand or still confused about why CI is such a controversy and that it has to be single sided. And I see it all time "I don't need CI I'm proud to be deaf" or "I don't need CI I'm proud to be deaf and hearing aid is good enough" or anything related to it like it somehow cancel out the deafness in some sort.
Well please submit your opinion, explaination or whatever that might help me understand better.

And please be respectful in this thread and stay in calm manner to keep this from spinning out of control. :)
 
Well, many feel that CI is implying that deaf need to be 'fixed.'

It's a controversy. It is something that doesn't reach an agreement. What matters is your own opinion for yourself.
 
This is something I can never understand either. Never having been involved with Deaf culture I am entirely of the opinion that deafness is a lack of a physical sense .

I dont think you will ever get everyone to agree on this as so many have had bad experiences in the hearing world and they feel more at home amongst the Deaf, particularly signers. I guess it all gets back to what your personal experience has been.

I have wondered what would be the reaction of the blind if ever a "bionic eye" was invented, say something that could replace the eyeball with electrodes to the brain.........not being a scientist I have no idea how this would work (so dont start shouting at me )but at the rate technology is progressing who knows what the future holds. Would the blind shun this invention as the Deaf have shunned CI?
 
I'm going to go all out and say this - It is not a controversy, it is an invasion on personal choice.

In my personal life - work, school, home, activites - I have heard nothing, but positive remarks. Even from hoh/deaf people.

In the wonderful word of cybersystem - negative comments and deafism from some. The majority show support. It is less of a "hot" topic with adult implantees.

I have learned to go with the flow of things. I just go out and live my life. It is less about "oh, I can hear." "oh, listen to this" and more about my quality of my chosen life. It also means less time in a negative environment. If you are around people that you have to justify your CIs then get away from them. You can't do that. Just get out and enjoy your life. There are others who understand this and do not place judgement.

As for children with cochlear implants that is another topic all together. Since I am an adult and do not have a child with implants, I can't really figure it out.
 
There is nothing wrong with CI, Skullchick, when it is properly portrayed. What is wrong is the portrayal of CI as some sort of panacea that will automatically solve all of the educational, social, and linguistic needs of the deaf, and make full iontegration into hearing society as a hearing person possible. What is wrong is the attitude of using CI as an excuse to keep deaf children in an oral only atmosphere that continues to have a negative impact on their development. That has nothing to do with the devise itself.
 
The problem is there ARE people who think that CI's are genocide, or that they are evil, or even the result of Audism and that deaf people should shun them 100% and "stay deaf" or else they are traitors to the deaf community. I think that only with time and education will this attitude go away.
 
neecy said:
The problem is there ARE people who think that CI's are genocide, or that they are evil, or even the result of Audism and that deaf people should shun them 100% and "stay deaf" or else they are traitors to the deaf community. I think that only with time and education will this attitude go away.
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Agreed, neecy. There are still those Deaf militants out there, but they are becoming fewer and fewer by the day. There are still people out there that consider Blacks to be a threat to the white way of life, and that they are inferior as well. We just don't give them much credibility.:)
 
neecy said:
The problem is there ARE people who think that CI's are genocide, or that they are evil, or even the result of Audism and that deaf people should shun them 100% and "stay deaf" or else they are traitors to the deaf community. I think that only with time and education will this attitude go away.
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I see a much larger problem with people out there thinking ASL is genocide. Oral militants are in a serve need of education. I myself think that it's fair to say that CI is evil, the way it is used many places. The rest of what you say is myths about deaf signers, created by oralists and some oral deaf people.
 
The rest of what I say is myths? What part is a myth, flip?
 
jillio said:
There is nothing wrong with CI, Skullchick, when it is properly portrayed. What is wrong is the portrayal of CI as some sort of panacea that will automatically solve all of the educational, social, and linguistic needs of the deaf, and make full iontegration into hearing society as a hearing person possible. What is wrong is the attitude of using CI as an excuse to keep deaf children in an oral only atmosphere that continues to have a negative impact on their development. That has nothing to do with the devise itself.
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Yeah young children I understand but older child, teenager and adult? I'm adult and I went with CI and I lost majority of my deaf friends from my home state, Oregon because of that. My parents were originally against idea of CI but I went with it cuz its my own personal choice and now they're happy and support me for it. And I sometimes get random dirty attitude toward me about CI from people and I'll see other people attitude and comment about CI I'm just tired of it I just want people to realized I'm same person and I'm starting to hang out with hearing people more often since CI because I feel rejected from majority of deaf people in Oregon. I didn't do anything, I still haven't tried hang out with Maryland/Delaware deaf people yet because I've been too chicken to go there since I got enough bad experience from other people.
 
neecy said:
The rest of what I say is myths? What part is a myth, flip?
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CI's are genocide, ......... , or even the result of Audism and that deaf people should shun them 100% and "stay deaf" or else they are traitors to the deaf community.

I know no deaf people that are against adults getting CI. I am the most extreme anti-CI'er I know, and what you describe is far more extreme than what I belive in. It's a myth you find so many rabid opponents like this in the deaf culture, it's a problem. ASL pride and CI can coexists, and do.
 
flip said:
CI's are genocide, ......... , or even the result of Audism and that deaf people should shun them 100% and "stay deaf" or else they are traitors to the deaf community.

I know no deaf people that are against adults getting CI. I am the most extreme anti-CI'er I know, and what you describe is far more extreme than what I belive in. It's a myth you find so many rabid opponents like this in the deaf culture, it's a problem. ASL pride and CI can coexists, and do.
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I'm sorry to inform you but there are extremists who have opinions even stronger than yours. Case in point - this comment that I am going to post below, was written by Erick Ketcham, who posted on Adam Stone's blog DeafDC Blog » Deaf Identity, Interrupted

His comment was:

The reason why cochlear implants exist (I do have one, but have stopped using it years ago) because of audism.

Cochlear implants were invented because doctors felt the need to CURE or FIX Deaf people. A large number of Deaf people in the USA has been brainwashed by hearing people.

Now, those brainwashed Deaf people aren’t Deaf at all. They are Victims of Audism, and continue to be members of the hearing community.

This is comparable to the Judenrat in Nazi Germany. The Nazis had Jews working for them to maintain control of the remainder of the Jewish population. Those Judenrat workers were most disgusting and most despisable, and are of the lowest scum of earth. They betrayed their fellow Jewish brothers and sisters by saving their own arse and not thinking of what their jobs truly represented.

Now that is comparable to the Deaf world. Cochlear implant users and oralists fit in that Judenrat category. They are the lowlifes of the Deaf community.

Naturally, we must learn to pity them too. Why? They are a result & the byproduct of audism.

A lot of Deaf people are fighting about what it means to be Deaf. I am not talking about the protest. That’s retarded. I’m talking about the USA Deaf population.

What angers me & disgust me the most… Are weak deaf people (cochlear implant users, Signed English users, Cued speech users, and Oralists) try to be a part of the Deaf community, yet they shun them by wearing the tools of audism. What’s wrong with these people? You either belong in one group, not both!

So, people like you have to make a choice: Do you want to be Deaf and a part of the Deaf community? Then throw away your cochlear implant like I did.

If you want to wear the cochlear implant, then you are a member of the hearing community, period. In that case, get out of the Deaf community.

It’s one thing or another. A black man can’t say he’s white & black. He is either black or white. Don’t be a Michael Jackson. If you are going to be Deaf, be proud of it and stick to it.

Erick Ketcham
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I read this just over a year ago, and was so saddened by this kind of attitude,
 
SkullChick said:
Yeah young children I understand but older child, teenager and adult? I'm adult and I went with CI and I lost majority of my deaf friends from my home state, Oregon because of that. My parents were originally against idea of CI but I went with it cuz its my own personal choice and now they're happy and support me for it. And I sometimes get random dirty attitude toward me about CI from people and I'll see other people attitude and comment about CI I'm just tired of it I just want people to realized I'm same person and I'm starting to hang out with hearing people more often since CI because I feel rejected from majority of deaf people in Oregon. I didn't do anything, I still haven't tried hang out with Maryland/Delaware deaf people yet because I've been too chicken to go there since I got enough bad experience from other people.
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Wow, there must be some fierce resistance against CI I haven't seen in the states? My friends with CI enjoy themselves in the deaf communities in europe.

Don't want to put away your experiences, but sure it's not another reasons? Have other people experienced the same as you? Hope you sort this out, and it's sad if you can't stay with other deaf people when you want.
 
flip said:
I see a much larger problem with people out there thinking ASL is genocide. Oral militants are in a serve need of education. I myself think that it's fair to say that CI is evil, the way it is used many places. The rest of what you say is myths about deaf signers, created by oralists and some oral deaf people.
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No its not fair to say CI is evil. Because I'm totally nice person, I was actively participate with community much as I can, and I'm ASL user. I'm not oralist or any of it. But I still get dirty attitude like I'm traitor or terrorist to deaf community when I'm totally 100% same person only difference about me is I can hear again and its still nowhere near perfect normal hearing. Sure its great and crisp and wonderful help to me but its simply a hearing device and that doesn't change any of who I am. What did I do to deserve this disrespect?
 
neecy said:
I'm sorry to inform you but there are extremists who have opinions even stronger than yours. Case in point - this comment that I am going to post below, was written by Erick Ketcham, who posted on Adam Stone's blog DeafDC Blog » Deaf Identity, Interrupted

His comment was:



I read this just over a year ago, and was so saddened by this kind of attitude,
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OMG! *jaw dropped to the floor*
 
neecy said:
I'm sorry to inform you but there are extremists who have opinions even stronger than yours. Case in point - this comment that I am going to post below, was written by Erick Ketcham, who posted on Adam Stone's blog DeafDC Blog » Deaf Identity, Interrupted

His comment was:



I read this just over a year ago, and was so saddened by this kind of attitude,
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I did not say they do not exists, but they are so rare, even I don't know them. Look at the comments to this post, looks like one agree on this poster?
 
Rare, but its still out there. I simply said in my initial post that there are people who think that way, and that's true, as sad as it may be.
 
flip said:
Wow, there must be some fierce resistance against CI I haven't seen in the states? My friends with CI enjoy themselves in the deaf communities in europe.

Don't want to put away your experiences, but sure it's not another reasons? Have other people experienced the same as you? Hope you sort this out, and it's sad if you can't stay with other deaf people when you want.
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I don't know, what other reasons it could be? And nope I know 3 deaf people with CI but they're accepted in deaf community and treat them the same as non-CI-er people. But for no reason they attack on me and disrespect me only for having CI done. I didn't do anything all I did was saying hi and they said bye and signed off and few of them yelled at me in IM for having CI and at the beginning of CI candidacy process I had plenty people got angry at me and one said "*bleep* CI *bleep* you, you want to be hearing!" and so much drama it just suck and some of them were ok but act totally awkward and ask me same questions over and over again like they're waiting for me to say something "wrong" so they can attack me like "Do you still considered urself deaf?" or will make comment like "ok good for you, I'm proud to be deaf so screw CI, not for me, no thanks I prefer stay involved with deaf community and deaf power!" but they have hearing aids!
 
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