Hood

I already know the slang for "hood" and it's certainly not the kind of word you want attached to your good name be it from a professional or personal  point of view.

From the Urban Dictionary, which of course is not the kind of dictionary you want to use in Scrabble for scrabblenoggers, on slangs has a few definitions for "hood":

1. The ghetto.
2. Someone who is from the ghetto.
3. Someone who acts like they are from the ghetto.
4. neighborhood; ghetto; project

In other words, having all this "hood" thing going on will certainly not make "deafhood" a more attractive concept nor would it make it any more understandable. Perception is everything and for people to make it appear more "darker" and even "gang-like" will certainly have people (parents, deaf, hh or hearing) questioning those behaviors, agendas, and motives by those not familiar with deaf culture. Nothing worse in trying to put a positive spin on a concept by making it even look more "cultish" (here and here) or have a club-like appeal where a certain sine non qua would be expected.

Those behaviors could easily be misconstrued as to mean something else when it's not by people not familiar with the whole movement and concept that involves specifically on deaf culture and "membership" and nothing about a personal journey. Doing the "hood" thing there is always the possibility for abuse used in such a way by "members" to harass or intimidate other people.  It is known that wearing certain colors or even specific clothing items are used to "self-identify" and even to "warn" others on who they belong to when that's the intention in the first place. Just look at some of the photos and you'll see some "members" posed in foreboding, dark or intimidating looks compared to those with a happy look that invites people.

Why the foreboding looks? What are the intentions behind that? Was it to appear more threatening? Menacing? A way to some how intimidate people who may not agree with you? A warning? Look around and you'll see what I mean.

But one thing for sure, I bet you anything that the president of Gallaudet wouldn't be doing that sort of thing and wear a hood. And I think you honestly would know why but won't admit it.

Hood? No thank you.