Comments on: The University http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:41:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Carrie http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92702 Carrie Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:49:25 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92702 Bert, wanna lay off the thesaurus a bit? No point in dressing up and gift wrapping "I think you're full of yourself and full of sh**." Stand proud and just say it. And if I read your comment correctly (pardon me while I use the thesaurus to translate your "question"), you are asking is Bobby's point of writing the blog and why does he seem anti-hearing? How about you read the blog again and try to read it without bias. Then you will see that Bobby is offering a perspective of the issues that are happening at Gallaudet and the potential solution to the problems. I, for one, wish more people would present problems with their suggestion for a solution rather than bitching and doing nothing about it. Just to be sure I'm being all-inclusive and everything, I have used my thesaurus and translated the sentence "Then you will see that Bobby is offering a perspective of the issues that are happening at Gallaudet and the potential solution to the problems" for you: ...you will glimpse that Bobby is offering an angle of the areas of dialogue that's happening at Gallaudet and the budding elucidation to the tribulations at hand. 'Kay? Bert, wanna lay off the thesaurus a bit? No point in dressing up and gift wrapping “I think you’re full of yourself and full of sh**.” Stand proud and just say it.

And if I read your comment correctly (pardon me while I use the thesaurus to translate your “question”), you are asking is Bobby’s point of writing the blog and why does he seem anti-hearing?

How about you read the blog again and try to read it without bias. Then you will see that Bobby is offering a perspective of the issues that are happening at Gallaudet and the potential solution to the problems. I, for one, wish more people would present problems with their suggestion for a solution rather than bitching and doing nothing about it.

Just to be sure I’m being all-inclusive and everything, I have used my thesaurus and translated the sentence “Then you will see that Bobby is offering a perspective of the issues that are happening at Gallaudet and the potential solution to the problems” for you: …you will glimpse that Bobby is offering an angle of the areas of dialogue that’s happening at Gallaudet and the budding elucidation to the tribulations at hand.

‘Kay?

]]> By: Michele Ketcham http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92619 Michele Ketcham Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:24:09 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92619 Bert, one wonders why you even spend time in www.deafdc.com at all and why you even bother posting. Obviously you missed the point Bobby is making with his article...he raises some very serious, valid points, and we are actually discussing these points in a logical, intelligent way. It's unfortunate that you see all of this as "rambling" and "incoherent", because that is far, far, far from the case. Bert, one wonders why you even spend time in http://www.deafdc.com at all and why you even bother posting.

Obviously you missed the point Bobby is making with his article…he raises some very serious, valid points, and we are actually discussing these points in a logical, intelligent way.

It’s unfortunate that you see all of this as “rambling” and “incoherent”, because that is far, far, far from the case.

]]> By: Michele Ketcham http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92618 Michele Ketcham Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:19:45 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92618 You're assuming that I'm hostile when I'm not. If I sounded "angry" about my experiences at Kennedy...hell yeah, my feelings are justified. Kennedy was a great experience, but at the same time, it was a draining experience for me. And sorry, I get pissed when I see unnecessary barriers being thrown around by some hearing people or some systems. Why? Because I *care* about Deaf people. I want to see all Deaf people do well. I want to see all Deaf people succeed. I'm Deaf myself, and it's personal for me. I cannot be neutral. I'm not a robot. Maybe you can be neutral, but unfortunately I cannot, because it's too close to home for me. If you don't want to call it a "fight"...that's your choice (although one wonders what you would call my experience with Kennedy--a spat? a disagreement? a struggle?). I know better, because I went through it, and it was a very intense, draining experience for me. I was just fortunate that it had a happy ending. And for the record, I'm not asking for blanket apology from hearing people or hearing society. What I want is for them to...for once, stop throwing out unnecessary barriers AND start bending A LITTLE...give Deaf people a fair CHANCE. All the constant barriers are a very effective way of keeping Deaf people down, and prevents them from ever finding out what they can do. In short, these barriers literally prevent Deaf people from fully extending their wings. You’re assuming that I’m hostile when I’m not.

If I sounded “angry” about my experiences at Kennedy…hell yeah, my feelings are justified. Kennedy was a great experience, but at the same time, it was a draining experience for me.

And sorry, I get pissed when I see unnecessary barriers being thrown around by some hearing people or some systems.

Why? Because I *care* about Deaf people. I want to see all Deaf people do well. I want to see all Deaf people succeed. I’m Deaf myself, and it’s personal for me. I cannot be neutral. I’m not a robot. Maybe you can be neutral, but unfortunately I cannot, because it’s too close to home for me.

If you don’t want to call it a “fight”…that’s your choice (although one wonders what you would call my experience with Kennedy–a spat? a disagreement? a struggle?).

I know better, because I went through it, and it was a very intense, draining experience for me. I was just fortunate that it had a happy ending.

And for the record, I’m not asking for blanket apology from hearing people or hearing society.

What I want is for them to…for once, stop throwing out unnecessary barriers AND start bending A LITTLE…give Deaf people a fair CHANCE.

All the constant barriers are a very effective way of keeping Deaf people down, and prevents them from ever finding out what they can do. In short, these barriers literally prevent Deaf people from fully extending their wings.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92614 anonymous Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:32:31 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92614 If I actually understood what you were asking, I would (not trying to be sarcastic, I really honestly don't understand your blurb) If I actually understood what you were asking, I would (not trying to be sarcastic, I really honestly don’t understand your blurb)

]]> By: anonymous http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92613 anonymous Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:31:35 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92613 Dear Michele, The fight is against the individual(s) that are beyond the title of "butthead," or other words that I'm sure have been thought or said, is reflecting a stereotype. I still think it is extreme of saying that it is a fight with hearinng people. If that were the case, than it would be valid for me to "fight" the Deaf community for the Deaf people who think sexual harassment is ok because it is Deaf culture (yes, true story). The hostility in your messages sends out the wrong message. I believe you have all the intentions of Deaf advocacy in a possitive way, but reading your articles does not give a sense of empowerment of Deaf culture, but more like you are angry about the situation (as you should be). Hearing people can't continually apologize for the rude or insensitive actions of others any more than the Deaf can constantly apologize for those who are rude or insensitive. Dear Michele,
The fight is against the individual(s) that are beyond the title of “butthead,” or other words that I’m sure have been thought or said, is reflecting a stereotype. I still think it is extreme of saying that it is a fight with hearinng people. If that were the case, than it would be valid for me to “fight” the Deaf community for the Deaf people who think sexual harassment is ok because it is Deaf culture (yes, true story). The hostility in your messages sends out the wrong message. I believe you have all the intentions of Deaf advocacy in a possitive way, but reading your articles does not give a sense of empowerment of Deaf culture, but more like you are angry about the situation (as you should be). Hearing people can’t continually apologize for the rude or insensitive actions of others any more than the Deaf can constantly apologize for those who are rude or insensitive.

]]> By: Chris Heuer http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92606 Chris Heuer Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:15:09 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92606 DP, don't get me wrong here, I understand what you're saying. But I don't see HOW you can attack "the system" without taking the fight to specific individuals within the system. As soon as you write a letter protesting something or demanding a change, you're "targeting" as soon as you address the envelope. Targeting and attacking are not the same thing. Attacking can certainly FOLLOW targeting, but it doesn't have to. Simply by seeking out the person who can help you, you're targeting. All I'm saying here and elsewhere is that you'll waste an enormous amount of energy going after an abstraction. For example, in this article Bobby is talking about "Gallaudet University." Well, I'M a part of Gallaudet University. Will it do you any good to come to me if you have a problem with how we spend our money on outreach? No, because I have no say in that, just as the secretary who runs the front desk at "The Alexander Graham Bell Assocation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" has no say in whether or not they'll agree to more actively promote ASL as an option for deaf children. It'd be utterly useless to approach the vast majority of all of the employees at A.G. Bell or Gallaudet or at the ______ State Education Department. If they can't--by virtue of their job description--actually DO whatever it is you want them to do, why bother with them? Unless it's a question of gaining allies within that system? Eventually you'll have to go to the person who can do whatever it is you're asking of him (though he may very well refuse, but that's another topic). And that's "targeting." If I'm wrong here, someone'll have to explain, but please make sure we don't end up talking about the same exact thing while calling it two different names. Remember I'm not talking about "attacking" here in this specific post. I'm talking about targeting only. DP, don’t get me wrong here, I understand what you’re saying. But I don’t see HOW you can attack “the system” without taking the fight to specific individuals within the system. As soon as you write a letter protesting something or demanding a change, you’re “targeting” as soon as you address the envelope. Targeting and attacking are not the same thing. Attacking can certainly FOLLOW targeting, but it doesn’t have to. Simply by seeking out the person who can help you, you’re targeting.

All I’m saying here and elsewhere is that you’ll waste an enormous amount of energy going after an abstraction. For example, in this article Bobby is talking about “Gallaudet University.” Well, I’M a part of Gallaudet University. Will it do you any good to come to me if you have a problem with how we spend our money on outreach? No, because I have no say in that, just as the secretary who runs the front desk at “The Alexander Graham Bell Assocation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing” has no say in whether or not they’ll agree to more actively promote ASL as an option for deaf children. It’d be utterly useless to approach the vast majority of all of the employees at A.G. Bell or Gallaudet or at the ______ State Education Department. If they can’t–by virtue of their job description–actually DO whatever it is you want them to do, why bother with them? Unless it’s a question of gaining allies within that system? Eventually you’ll have to go to the person who can do whatever it is you’re asking of him (though he may very well refuse, but that’s another topic).

And that’s “targeting.”

If I’m wrong here, someone’ll have to explain, but please make sure we don’t end up talking about the same exact thing while calling it two different names. Remember I’m not talking about “attacking” here in this specific post. I’m talking about targeting only.

]]> By: Bert Shaposka http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92604 Bert Shaposka Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:50:07 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92604 Does anyone want to answer my questions? Does anyone want to answer my questions?

]]> By: Bert Shaposka http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92603 Bert Shaposka Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:48:38 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92603 I asked the questions. Does anyone want to answer them? I asked the questions. Does anyone want to answer them?

]]> By: Anonymous Dude http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92598 Anonymous Dude Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:33:30 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92598 People never take kindly to strong hints that *they* may be self absorbed and that their pet causes are not automatically important to others. In my experience, using statements like "delusions of grandeur," and "incoherent, rambling conversation," usually results in reflexive hostility by the target and fails to generate a productive result. People never take kindly to strong hints that *they* may be self absorbed and that their pet causes are not automatically important to others. In my experience, using statements like “delusions of grandeur,” and “incoherent, rambling conversation,” usually results in reflexive hostility by the target and fails to generate a productive result.

]]> By: A Deaf Pundit http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92596 A Deaf Pundit Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:47:10 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2007-11-20/the-university/#comment-92596 Yeah. It can be both a state and a system. But often the state dept of Ed. is the system. So you do have to work with the state to overcome things. The individuals I was referring to wasn't directed to you ... it was from Chris' comment about targeting certain individuals within the system. Yeah. It can be both a state and a system. But often the state dept of Ed. is the system. So you do have to work with the state to overcome things.

The individuals I was referring to wasn’t directed to you … it was from Chris’ comment about targeting certain individuals within the system.

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