For those who don’t know, this v/blog post is prompted by my discussion with Ella Lentz under Aguabo’s vlog found here. In this vlog, she videotaped a videophone conversation with another DVTV’er, Russell Errigo. He did not know the phone conversation was being taped. She also vlogged their AIM conversations. I left a comment here, stating my dismay with the situation and asked why people couldn’t just block Russell E? I also mentioned that I felt this was a double standard, because of what happened in the past, and I found it extremely sad that the Deaf Community was being like this.
Ella Lentz disliked my last statement in my comment. She felt it was audistic, and I responded to her, reiterating my position on double standards. She made a final comment to me, challenging me to define audism. So I have accepted that challenge.
So, Ella. Let us continue our discussion, if you are willing. I first must clarify what I previously said in my first comment, because there seems to be misunderstandings on what I exactly meant.
When I stated that I thought this whole thing was sad, and that ‘the Deaf Community’s like this?’ in my first comment under Aguabo’s vlog, I was not sneering at my fellow Deaf because they’re Deaf. I was dismayed and quite frankly, disgusted at the lack of civility. There are no longer rules of engagement. No rules or boundaries for healthy debates and discourses. It’s become free for all. Where is the dignity? Where is the respect?
I see none. And when I don’t see that, then yes… I refuse to participate in a community like that. And make no mistake about it, DVTV is a community. It’s not THE Deaf Community, but it is the face of the Deaf Community on the internet, other than DeafRead. I think we all know how powerful public relations is, and like it or not, DVTV is a public relations machine for the community.
So you see, Ella… I was publicly disavowing what was happening, because I do not want to be associated with this kind of behavior.
Now, you not only challenged me to define audism and to examine what it is, but you also challenged me to do public self-introspection. And I’m sorry to say, but I am not going to do self-introspection here on my blog, or on DVTV for the entire world to see, and I resent the pressure from you and others to do so. This is my personal journey, and I only share these details with my trusted confidantes. In fact, I think I’ve said way too much about myself lately.
As for the definition of audism – my definition of audism is when you hold Deaf people to different rules and standards, whether it be better or worse, than there are for others, that is audism.
I also think it’s also audism when other Deaf people whose identity doesn’t fit other Deaf people’s view of what a Deaf identity should be, are forced to follow different rules. That’s exactly what happened with Aguabo’s vlog. She was praised for something that a person like me, another Deaf person, would get crucified for. Why? Because my Deaf identity doesn’t fit your criteria of what it should be.
Double standards based on Deaf identity politics and/or being Deaf. That is the essence of audism.
[ASL Version]
[English Version]
For those who don’t know, this v/blog post is prompted by my discussion with Ella Lentz under Aguabo’s vlog found here. In this vlog, she videotaped a videophone conversation with another DVTV’er, Russell Errigo. He did not know the phone conversation was being taped. She also vlogged their AIM conversations. I left a comment here, stating my dismay with the situation and asked why people couldn’t just block Russell E? I also mentioned that I felt this was a double standard, because of what happened in the past, and I found it extremely sad that the Deaf Community was being like this.
Ella Lentz disliked my last statement in my comment. She felt it was audistic, and I responded to her, reiterating my position on double standards. She made a final comment to me, challenging me to define audism. So I have accepted that challenge.
So, Ella. Let us continue our discussion, if you are willing. I first must clarify what I previously said in my first comment, because there seems to be misunderstandings on what I exactly meant.
When I stated that I thought this whole thing was sad, and that ‘the Deaf Community’s like this?’ in my first comment under Aguabo’s vlog, I was not sneering at my fellow Deaf because they’re Deaf. I was dismayed and quite frankly, disgusted at the lack of civility. There are no longer rules of engagement. No rules or boundaries for healthy debates and discourses. It’s become free for all. Where is the dignity? Where is the respect?
I see none. And when I don’t see that, then yes… I refuse to participate in a community like that. And make no mistake about it, DVTV is a community. It’s not THE Deaf Community, but it is the face of the Deaf Community on the internet, other than DeafRead. I think we all know how powerful public relations is, and like it or not, DVTV is a public relations machine for the community.
So you see, Ella… I was publicly disavowing what was happening, because I do not want to be associated with this kind of behavior.
Now, you not only challenged me to define audism and to examine what it is, but you also challenged me to do public self-introspection. And I’m sorry to say, but I am not going to do self-introspection here on my blog, or on DVTV for the entire world to see, and I resent the pressure from you and others to do so. This is my personal journey, and I only share these details with my trusted confidantes. In fact, I think I’ve said way too much about myself lately.
As for the definition of audism – my definition of audism is when you hold Deaf people to different rules and standards, whether it be better or worse, than there are for others, that is audism.
I also think it’s also audism when other Deaf people whose identity doesn’t fit other Deaf people’s view of what a Deaf identity should be, are forced to follow different rules. That’s exactly what happened with Aguabo’s vlog. She was praised for something that a person like me, another Deaf person, would get crucified for. Why? Because my Deaf identity doesn’t fit your criteria of what it should be.
Double standards based on Deaf identity politics and/or being Deaf. That is the essence of audism.