I’ve been meaning to comment on Don Grushkin’s post, Why I’m walking out of DVTV (and DeafRead). There were a couple of other well thought out articles, that I have since lost the references for.
Apparently there has been a bit of a hoo ha about Don’s admission that he, with a team of Deafies, is working on an aggregator. The aggregator’s sole focus is on Deaf People, as opposed to deaf people.
DeafRead has been rather quite on this issue, but apparently there has been a lot more noise going on offline, or in other corners of cyberspace. Much of if the usual crap about lack of diversity [meaning no deaf issues, whatever they are, will be included], and how we should be banding together to support DeafRead and each other, amongst other points of views.
It’s a forgone conclusion that neither DeafRead or deaf village do much in the way of encouraging blogging talent. Their editorial criteria works against the spirit of blogging, by, you know how. More than this, the nature of DeafRead has changed since its inception. What started out as a space for Deaf people and their perspectives, has devolved into am aggregator that tries to cater for all perspectives of deafness.
That is all very well, but it is hard to escape the shrill din of implants, hearing aids, aural methods, oral methods, developments in genetics, and blah, blah, blah, on DeafRead. There are plenty of websites that pander to the entire range of deaf perspectives.
I’ve said all this before, but nobody is listening. Instead we are treated to accusations of undermining diversity and that we are becoming exclusive rather than inclusive. I’m thinking WTF? deafies and the hard of hearing passing off accusations of undermining diversity, where they, ironically enough, preach diversity by writing and commenting about the same bloody thing: implants, hearing aids, aural methods, oral methods, developments in genetics, and blah, blah, blah.
We need an aggregator that encourages Deaf people to write, film and blog, as Deaf people. We need an aggregator that doe snot impose any editorial or stylistic rules, about how and what we can write about. In fact, we need an aggregator that knows that the people who register with it are Deaf, and that bloggers and writers do not need to write in a way that continually states that they are writing stuff that is relevant to the Deaf or that we even have to write about Deaf issues.
Don and his team are proposing just the one aggregator that serves up Deaf talent! In one nice stream of updates.
deafies need to get a life, and accept that Deafies want a space of their own, where they do not have to put up with the shrill din implants, hearing aids, aural methods, oral methods, developments in genetics, and blah, blah, blah. Do not parade your ignorance, by throwing accusations of exclusivity and lack of diversity around. It’s bullshit, and you know it.
We are a diverse bunch of people, us Deafies. We can write about a range of things. We are aware of the usefulness of technology to aid hearing, but we are not driven to sing Hosanna to every latest development!
Last but not least, I am one of the people who has been working with Don to get this aggregator off the ground. And all the way from Australia too!
Powered by Zoundry Raven
Hey Tony!
A thought just occurred to me while reading your article: they bitch about us not supporting “diversity”, but it is ironic in their shilling for CI, signed English, and all other Hearing-centered Ways, that they are ultimately arguing for a homogeneity — being as like Hearing people as possible. Eh?
Deafread.com got ruined when McConnell said
My plan is working flawlessly…..
*rubs hands*
heh heh…..
And invited all the ci bloggers, oral bloggers and then Mishka Zena also invited the ci ideology people to come in and have their opinions and then MZ and Amy Efron let Barry S. on their blog site to destroy DBC and Deaf people’s self-esteems.
Tayler Mayer knows damn well what was going on but Amy, MZ, B.S., etc dominate Tayler Mayer’s integrity to disrespect the Deaf community’s desire to get back their Civil Rights as a Deaf Human Being.
So it is time to develop a genuine Deaf aggregator with a true blood Deaf Human Being owner.
Welcome back, teammate!
Your Aussie touch has been missed those long months!
There are plenty of places for people to discuss hearing loss, CI, etc on the Internet, as we all know. Do we need more places to discuss those same topics? Nope.
It will be nice to have an aggregator where we can celebrate being Deaf , our sign languages used in different countries, and explore our possibilities and broaden our writing and vlogging to include a variety of topics.
As for diversity, we are also already diverse by ourselves. We come from different backgrounds and countries. The Internet itself is a very diverse place, far more diverse than DeafRead and DeafVillage. If that isn’t diverse enough, I don’t know what is.
Since the Internet is a diverse place, we are allowed a home of our own, to set up, decorate any way we want.
HOME SWEET HOME!
Good to see you all fired up, Tony!
I am sick and tired of being accused that whoever wants to discuss Deaf centric issues, it automatically means one rejects the idea of diversity. Right, wtf that!
That’s why we have specialized magazines and TV channels that people tend to subscribe to fit their interests. For those who chooses BET (black music entertainment) over MTV (music entertainment of all) doesn’t make them intolerant of others who are not black. It goes the same for us who have a preference in specialized choice but it doesn’t make us resenting diversity but promoting Deaf centric values. We do have diversity in color, sex preference, hearing level, natural sign language skiiled/unskilled users, etc. who share the value of Deaf centric issues.
The upcoming Deaf centered blog aggregator is featured to represent the true face of what it is all about to a Deaf person who values Deaf culture and natural signed language not about how they can gain their hearing or anything relating to physical functioning issues. Most of us have been stuck to deal with this indirect direction that we have been thrown in a chow mix of pathological and medical views and “Oh I can hear” views that have become a clash to our values.
Good blog! I am so looking forward for our new home!
I find those audio-centric blogs just as irritating as you do. However, playing devil’s advocate, I believe DeafRead’s open policy to all deaf subjects including aids and CI’s has had one beneficial effect: many culturally Deaf people are more accepting of those who wear them.
Also, many culturally Deaf have become more accepting of parents who have CI-implanted children. How did this happen? Because we read them and saw their viewpoints. Heaven help us all if we never communicated and they still appeared to be evil ones on the other side of the fence.
Yes, I wish for a more cultural showplace of Deaf writings and thoughts and less prominient CI discussions. Perhaps we will finally arrive at a place where all d/Deaf people can engage in healthy give-and-take discourse as individuals and rarely hear of success being falsely ascribed to aids or CI’s.
You da man! The article hits the right note all the way to the bank!
R-
Tony, I don’t know if you know this, but DeafRead now has a Dashboard that you can use to hide the bloggers/vloggers you don’t want to see. I use it frequently. I still always read your blogs, though, because you usually have something interesting to say. I’ve visited that other aggregator. good luck to them.
Blinkers may prevent you seeing things, it will not stop them still happening. Those who ignore can just get more and more driven to marginalisation, it is a head in the sand approach. You tackle what bugs you, or concede to it.
Anonymous,
What other aggregator? You’re funny. The aggregator isn’t up and running yet. How can you say you’ve visited it? Man, talk about not giving people a chance, rushing to judgment, and lying about it. Sheesh.
oh, I’ve seen it. maybe there’s more than one? whatever. wasn’t impressed. that other aggregator was nowhere near the quality of DR.
I don’t get it. Won’t another aggregator be any different than what DR/DVTV is being accused of? There’s room enough for everyone in one place and that also makes us stronger.
If Deaf people set up their own aggregator, specifically to promote Deaf Culture, they will get accused of all sorts. For the simple reason people can’t stand Deaf people having their own space. They feel everything Deaf people do has to be opened up to include deaf people.
The issues with DR/DTV are broader than just beign a Deaf aggregator.