Before I begin, I want to announce a one-stop center for people who are upset with the nosedive that DeafRead has taken. You may leave comments here, so the editors can go to one place to hear your/our collective voice instead of going all over the Deaf blog-o-sphere.
I'm upset for many reasons. But right now I'm upset because I want to blog about a few internal community issues, and I feel muzzled. I feel like I need to be careful because I don't want to alienate hearing parents. We're ALREADY doing more than enough damage control, no thanks to AGB, AVI, Cochlear Americas, and other for-profit corporations scaring parents by telling them that being deaf is isolating, it's not normal, and that sound is a freaking miracle, for fuck's sake. I don't want to have to do even more by airing community issues out in public. What happened to our safe zone? Our ONLY safe zone on the Internet?
I am completely fed up with DeafRead allowing anything under the sun (and moon!) to invade its hallowed portals. I'm sympathetic to Tayler Mayer, because anyone with half a brain can tell that starting and operating DeafRead has to be a huge task. I have to believe that the only people that would've done such a thankless job have to be community-oriented. He, Jared Evans, and the Human Editors are to be commended for taking on this responsibility. All the personal attacks are completely uncalled for. Before I continue, THANK YOU to Tayler, Jared, and the Human Editors!
But I am going to freely criticize their choices. Tayler and Jared, you have got to take a stand. You just have to. NAD did. Why can't you? People are talking about how bad it's gotten and encouraging others to stop reading. I'm about to stop reading, and I'm not alone. I've already set up my RSS feed to go directly to blogs I enjoy and I'm very close to deleting DeafRead's RSS feed. It is NAUSEATING to have to read an endless parade of propaganda about so-called "success stories" and more. Why should stories like "Deafness Sucks," "Deaf Militants," and "New Processor, New Places, and New Sounds" be on DeafRead's front page? Why isn't that in Extra? DeafRead needs to STOP pandering to the lowest common denominator and whoring itself at the expense of being a true cultural center, representative of an organic, beautiful community. Close those legs, DeafRead, and be more selective of what goes on the main page!
I'll allow comments this time, but only those who want DeafRead to go back to being Deaf-centered. And I will not tolerate any personal attacks against the founders, editors, nor any individuals.
2.08.2008
2.04.2008
Where's the respect?
Melissa, the hearing mom behind Cochlear Implant Online, wrote a comment on Jodi Del Dottore's post here (http://rallycapsdotnet.blogspot.com/208/02/pepsi-letter-screamed-show
-me-money.html), which compelled me to respond. I'm not saying she chose wrongly for her children. I'm saying that she seems to hate culturally Deaf people for some reason, and I'm tired of it.
(start comment)
Jodi, thank you! This is why I like you so much. You are open to Deaf culture, even though you've made different choices for your son.
Melissa, not all deaf children will succeed with the path you've chosen for your children. Your children were "lucky." Cochlear implants don't work for everyone, and neither does AVT. That's the way it is.
Truth is, your message is already out there loud and clear via countless media stories and there are very few deaf characters in the TV and movies who do not speak. Ours is getting swept under the rug. So I do NOT appreciate your constant efforts to sweep us aside. You're doing far more than simply ensuring that people get all their options. Pepsi is doing a great public service in bringing some of the balance back to the equation.
If AGB gets sponsorship from Pepsi or Pepsi recants in any way, I will hold you personally responsible, at least in part.
Jodi, I don't mean to hijack your blog this way. Thank you for being an ally.
(No comments allowed again. I apologize.)
-me-money.html), which compelled me to respond. I'm not saying she chose wrongly for her children. I'm saying that she seems to hate culturally Deaf people for some reason, and I'm tired of it.
(start comment)
Jodi, thank you! This is why I like you so much. You are open to Deaf culture, even though you've made different choices for your son.
Melissa, not all deaf children will succeed with the path you've chosen for your children. Your children were "lucky." Cochlear implants don't work for everyone, and neither does AVT. That's the way it is.
Truth is, your message is already out there loud and clear via countless media stories and there are very few deaf characters in the TV and movies who do not speak. Ours is getting swept under the rug. So I do NOT appreciate your constant efforts to sweep us aside. You're doing far more than simply ensuring that people get all their options. Pepsi is doing a great public service in bringing some of the balance back to the equation.
If AGB gets sponsorship from Pepsi or Pepsi recants in any way, I will hold you personally responsible, at least in part.
Jodi, I don't mean to hijack your blog this way. Thank you for being an ally.
(No comments allowed again. I apologize.)
2.01.2008
AGBell: PETTY
I am LIVID. No, make that BEYOND LIVID. PepsiCo decided to affirm natural signed languages by airing a 60-minute SuperBowl ad (found here: http://www.pepsi.com/bobshouse/) featuring ASL users looking for a friend’s house. I was thrilled to pieces, because there is so much media attention focused on “the miracle of cochlear implants” and on speaking deaf children. I thought to myself, “Finally! Some balance!” This post is not about whether implants are right or wrong. It is about balance in the media, so please do NOT insist that I’m some militant who hates implants, okay?
Well, it took AGBell all of one week to decide that they had to start an e-mail campaign objecting and urging its members to contact Pepsi to protest the “lack of diversity” and, in AGBell’s own words from the e-mail they sent out, “…to educate the public…and promote appreciation for those individuals that go above and beyond to overcome the absence of something many of us take for granted – the miracle of sound.” I am appalled and disgusted at AGBell and any members who support this absurd course of action.
I have never, ever, not once ever seen ASL advocates argue for ASL WITHOUT English. Everyone I’ve talked to who promotes ASL ….ALSO…. believes in the importance of the Deaf child acquiring English. We see TV shows and movies show Deaf characters/people speaking ALMOST EVERY TIME. We don’t start mass e-mails urging people to contact the sponsors of that show/movie to apologize for the lack of diversity, for perpetuating a myth (even though they do!), and to, twist their quote, promote appreciation for those individuals that go above and beyond to immerse themselves in a beautiful world and a beautiful language. (but, hey, maybe we should!)
I’m not going to sink to their level by calling them names or calling them wrong, even though AGBell’s argument is ridiculous. The message is already out there in many, many ways that there are deaf people who don’t sign. I’ll just let the facts speak for themselves and I’ll call for a more positive course of action.
This is a call for action for you to contact PepsiCo, thanking them for promoting diversity and for giving ASL the attention it rarely gets, and whatever else comes to mind.
Here is the URL: http://www.pepsiusa.com/help/help.php?or=
And let’s call on the NAD to take STRONG action: http://www.nad.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=2296273&en=dvJVK8PLKdLQJ2NMIfIZJaPOIfIZJfOTLoK1IhN3LuJ9KsK
I’d also like to call on signing AGBell members to speak up. Is this okay with you that your organization did this? I’m wondering whether you’re questioning the entity you’ve joined and supported? If you object, use your status as a member to speak up within AGBell.
(FYI – I’m too furious to allow comments at all. I just do not want to deal with hearing moms telling me I’m wrong, or deaf Uncle Toms telling me I need to be open to diversity. I am. I’m just objecting to AGBell’s action and to the general imbalance in the media about us. I apologize to anyone else who wants to comment and ask for your understanding.)
Well, it took AGBell all of one week to decide that they had to start an e-mail campaign objecting and urging its members to contact Pepsi to protest the “lack of diversity” and, in AGBell’s own words from the e-mail they sent out, “…to educate the public…and promote appreciation for those individuals that go above and beyond to overcome the absence of something many of us take for granted – the miracle of sound.” I am appalled and disgusted at AGBell and any members who support this absurd course of action.
I have never, ever, not once ever seen ASL advocates argue for ASL WITHOUT English. Everyone I’ve talked to who promotes ASL ….ALSO…. believes in the importance of the Deaf child acquiring English. We see TV shows and movies show Deaf characters/people speaking ALMOST EVERY TIME. We don’t start mass e-mails urging people to contact the sponsors of that show/movie to apologize for the lack of diversity, for perpetuating a myth (even though they do!), and to, twist their quote, promote appreciation for those individuals that go above and beyond to immerse themselves in a beautiful world and a beautiful language. (but, hey, maybe we should!)
I’m not going to sink to their level by calling them names or calling them wrong, even though AGBell’s argument is ridiculous. The message is already out there in many, many ways that there are deaf people who don’t sign. I’ll just let the facts speak for themselves and I’ll call for a more positive course of action.
This is a call for action for you to contact PepsiCo, thanking them for promoting diversity and for giving ASL the attention it rarely gets, and whatever else comes to mind.
Here is the URL: http://www.pepsiusa.com/help/help.php?or=
And let’s call on the NAD to take STRONG action: http://www.nad.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=2296273&en=dvJVK8PLKdLQJ2NMIfIZJaPOIfIZJfOTLoK1IhN3LuJ9KsK
I’d also like to call on signing AGBell members to speak up. Is this okay with you that your organization did this? I’m wondering whether you’re questioning the entity you’ve joined and supported? If you object, use your status as a member to speak up within AGBell.
(FYI – I’m too furious to allow comments at all. I just do not want to deal with hearing moms telling me I’m wrong, or deaf Uncle Toms telling me I need to be open to diversity. I am. I’m just objecting to AGBell’s action and to the general imbalance in the media about us. I apologize to anyone else who wants to comment and ask for your understanding.)
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