Mocking Hearing Inpaired

[ShockMe]

To be quite shocked that after a member of the public had posted that they had found a hearing aid and hoped to re-unite it with it's owner.. Our local school's SEN teacher commented 'Pardon?'

People actually identify as being deaf?!

Why?!!

Well, in brief, they identify as being part of a cultural and linguistic minority for whom BSL is their first or preferred language.

And for many hearing children, raised by deaf parents/families, BSL is their first language.

CleverNN Why the !! and face? If you are a Deaf person who uses sign language, you view yourself as a linguistic minority and identify with other signers, just like Welsh language speakers or any other linguistic community.

People identify themselves as belonging to many groups - I don't sign much but would increasingly say 'deaf' was as much of my identity as parent, Londoner, scientist... I hang out in deaf Facebook groups where we rant about people making the 'Pardon?' joke (one is even called 'Pardon?' !)

At least when the joke is done in writing it's mildly ironic, so I wouldn't complain in this instance, but probably respond "Yawn..."

i never thought of BSL being their first language

That is true I suppose.

I hang out in deaf Facebook groups where we rant about people making the 'Pardon?' joke (one is even called 'Pardon?' !)

I know the very one.

I wear hearing aids, it took me ages to realise how deaf I actually was. When I asked my best friends why they had never mentioned how crap my hearing was they said, "we tried to but you didn't hear us. " bastards. I laughed.

People actually identify as being deaf?!
It is bollocks though. You don't get to identify as being deaf when you can hear.

I kinda agree with NeedAnotherGlass with that

Ok you was raised with BSL as a first language but you CAN hear and you CAN speak so therefore you don't need to sign apart from with people who need it.

You are not deaf. You just choose to sign outside of when it's needed

I think it depends on who is saying it. If my DH said are you deaf or what to me, it would be done with affection and not hurt. The nurse who said it to me was irritated and telling me off - quite a different scenario.

I'm deaf and have to endure variations of this 'joke' all. the. fucking. time.

It's not funny and is very tedious, yet is considered socially acceptable when other forms of disabalism wouldn't be.

I would expect better from a SENCO.

There are a shocking number of dismissive comments on here. So we can joke about peoples disabilities now can we? Shame on you.

You can be a part of the deaf community without being deaf. That's how I always think of hearing people who can sign, but aren't necessarily deaf.

Just coz 'your granny laughs at it' doesn't actually make it aright does it? And if YOU were having the same 'larf' at someone in a wheelchair, would that be ok? According to some of u, yeh it would.

My problem at the moment is having posted on the original 'pardon' joke thread on FB that I wrote this thread about I have basically been flamed by community members that I have overreacted and it is funny. They are quoting their apparent 'deaf friends' saying they too only find it funny & there is nothing to be offended about. They are saying there are much more serious issues in the world and being totally dismissive of the fact that anyone could feel offended. They are saying that deaf people would get the joke and maintain a sense of perspective and it is wrong that her employment position has been taken into account as it has no relevance. There are 'hear, hear' comments and more 'pardon?'s being thrown in. Comments about it being a tongue in cheek joke and anyone who thinks otherwise is over-sensitive and bad humoured.

I despair. I don't even know what to say to these people. My community are really showing their true colours and I don't like it.

The original poster by the way has not made any further comment - nothing like 'sorry if she offended as didn't mean to' or anything similar. She has just 'liked' various comments people have made defending her joke.

This deserves a with bells on!

I wish I was surprised, but I'm not.

I wouldn't expect a community facebook group to be the kind of place where it would be possible to have a sensible discussion. (judging by the ones I belong to!)

What should I do? Quote a couple of comments from on here from 'my friends' that show exactly how offensive some deaf people find it? See if I can shame anyone into silence and a bit of respect for others feelings?

If this had been about someone who couldn't walk it would have been a totally different response.

Anyone fancy giving me a quote ?

And that was an arsehole, not a biscuit. They can have it again .

Or should I just stay quiet and let them feel they have shut me up?

Don't let them shut u up!!! They r bigots!

My dh is deaf in the speech range of hearing and really struggles, he often comes over as rude so I often tell people he's deaf. A surprising number say what or pardon which compounds the first thing they said and he hasn't heard so he replies with I'm sorry I'm deaf cue sniggering. Total failing to see the funny side of this especially from an SEN. To all those saying 'my grandad would have laughed etc' I think you'll find lots of people laugh to cover embarrassment, discomfort or the fact that they haven't heard doesn't make it funny.

I'd be inclined to ignore the FB thread, as you can't argue with stupid.

Maybe you should send the SEN teacher this...

www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/supporting-you/services-and-training-for-businesses/deaf-awareness-and-sign-language-training/in-house-training-courses/deaf-and-disability-awareness-training.aspx

It was very clever of you all to pile on me. I have no support, I hope that makes you happy.