...bucket of live crabs: whenever one crab attempts to escape the bucket by climbing out of it, the others reach up and pull it back down. The result, of course, is that no crab succeeds in escaping the bucket. Crab theory is more widespread in the deaf communities than any other minority groups.
Why is it that?
Now, I applaud any person, Deaf, deaf or hard of hearing who have successfully worked hard to get where he or she is today. Whenever hard work, discipline, and sweat equity pays off, then that person has every right to feel good about him or herself. Whether it's exercising to lose weight and eat more healthier foods, studying hard to get good grades and go to college or graduate school, successfully work in a dangerous occupation, running a blogsite or website, or even a discussion forum, to become skilled and adept with musical instruments, or to work hard to help the less fortunate people. The list goes on and on. Successes are yours and yours alone. But with "Crab Theory" these people simply try and drag you down simply because of either who you are, what you do or how you do things.
Right now, there are a few blogsites where "Crab Theory" is running amok. And it's sad to see these things happen. It is disheartening to see how some Deaf/deaf people who are willing to give deaf communities a bad name by constantly and continously perpetuate the myths that they do not want to see successes in other deaf or hard of hearing people. Hence, the "Crab Theory" problem.
Now, I applaud creativity, hard work, discipline and successes of deaf and hard of hearing people. I would like nothing more than to see deaf people succeed. It's not about Deaf culture but about overcoming adversity and become more independent than ever. Successes are harder to come by for those who must deal with their hearing losses while going head to head with the hearing world. It ain't easy. It's a dog eat dog world. Technology has given us so much to overcome these barriers allowing us great accomplishments. We will still see much more accomplishments in the future while at the same time deaf people gain greater and greater independence requiring no human intervention. Accomplishments should be noted rather than disparaged and mocked, especially within the deaf communities. But unfortunately it still all goes back to this "Crab Theory" problem. Seems like there are people who simply do not like achievers and yet refuse to see all the hard work or the long hours they had to do in order to get where they are today and make a few extra notches in this world. Those who practice "Crab Theory" would rather succumb or fall into a trap by following the leads of others who make snide and cruel remarks than to publicly acknowledge those who have worked hard to get where they are, and applaud them for that effort.
Now, recently I have found out that my blogsite, Kokonut Pundits, was nominated for this so-called "Deaf Weblog Awards" in the politics category that was recently set up. I am flattered by those who choose to nominate my blogsite for best politics blog. I have not nominated myself but people who read my blogs have nominated my blogsite on their own iniatives. It was their decision to nominate me. Not mine. However, I seriously question the legitimacy of this "Deaf Weblog Awards" blogsite simply because of how the author conducts himself by continuing to disparage and hurl names at those who nominates their favorite blogsites. This is not keeping up with the spirit weblog awards. There is no neutral or unbiased setting of a Weblog Award if the author is free to bash those he disagrees with and uses such language and attitude towards those he despises in their attempt to nominate their favorite deaf/hh blogsites. The author failed to hold any sense of professional decorum in the attempt to pass off a Weblog Awards blogsite as a legitimate one. In my opinion, it is not a legitimat weblog awards blogsite. If an author cannot keep his/her own politics and hate out of his/her own Weblog Awards, then how can you expect an honest result? Something akin in letting a fox in a hen house to count the chickens. Only time will tell. Honesty is in the balance here.
I sincerely hope great success to those who do set up these types of weblog awards. However, if any authors of Weblog Awards who attempt to interject their own harsh and uncalled for opinions against people who nominate their favorite blogs will seriously jeopardize the legitimacy and sincerity of his/her own Weblog Awards blogsite/website.
It doesn't matter whether I get this "award" or not. I enjoy what I do here and that's to blog. I enjoy the fact that there are people out there, Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people, who appreciate and enjoy reading my blogs. This is what counts the most. However, I do appreciate those who have nominated my blogsite but considering what I have seen so far I wish to have no affiliation with any awards coming from this author's blogsite. If I win, I win which is like winning an award from Scientology and not feeling very Tom Cruise-like. If not, then so be it. "Crab Theory" is an ugly process to observe even when it comes down to awarding best deaf weblogs, unfortunately.
Whether I get the award or not is not my concern here. People can continue to nominate my blogsite if they wish. But my only concern is how I can continue to do my blogging and enjoy it. And how other people recognizes my blogs by linking to them. Such a case like Michelle Malkin's who linked to my blogsite, again, netting over 600 hits in one day. Things like that offer proof that people do value and enjoy my blogs. No need for a weblog award to tell me this. Especially coming from that is not a legitimate one. But if deaf people want to run Deaf Weblog Awards, they are more than welcomed to do so. Just need to be careful how to go about it.
Thank you Kevin McCaul for being the first person to nominate my blogsite in the politics category. Thank you to the many others who have stopped by to nominate my blogsite. It is clear that the people have spoken.
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