Like any good scientists we like to examine things analytically but there is a time when things go a bit overboard tossing around little understood words like “deficit thinking,” “deficit thinker,” “colonialism” or, heaven forbid, “dysconscious” in the hope to examine on what is “missing” when it comes to discussing deaf-related issues. It’s even worse when people use those words as a lance or spear against people or a group thinking they are in the wrong or perhaps use them simply because they are looking for a weapon to use against them for whatever reasons. Oftentimes people use such words within a context in such an accusatory tone is enough to question their motives. Sometimes it’s enough to make them look like imbeciles. It’s bad enough to resort to psycho-babble talks using those words thinking enlightenment will ensue but somehow it seems to work in the opposite direction at times. I’m talking in general terms and aiming at no one person here.
Words like “deficit” and the prefix “dys” are tinged with negative connotations. The prefix “dys” comes from "dus" (bad) spoken by people of Greece starting about 1000 B.C where "bad" modifies the word. And, of course, deficit means “inadequate” or “insufficient.”
It’s easy to toss those words around when you have lived only from one perspective while growing up. No one perspective is the same with each person. People have different viewpoints, perspectives, and life experiences whose own reasoning may be just as valid as the next person’s. Just to be fair, I believe everybody has a bit of a “deficit thinking” in themselves, including Deaf people, depending on the subject, of course. You see, it’s easy to call somebody a “deficit thinker” but then again that person may be exhibiting that very same “deficit thinking” as well. It may be even worse! Sort of like when a person accuses somebody by pointing a finger at him and in response you get 20 fingers pointing back at the accuser. I’d just be careful to use those words the next time. Better yet, don’t use them at all. To me, those words are meaningless psychobabble and are worthy enough to have them drop kicked over a football field goal when it comes to deaf-related discussions. It simply doesn’t help the situation. I have no need to use those words at all. It's full of generalities and solves nothing. And so it stops here for me.
Each blogger or vlogger has a way of expressing their opinion based on their personality, life experiences, educational background, and such that lead them to their own preferred communication style. It is what suits the blogger rather than to try and suit the audience. Though it's amazing and amusing that people continue to whine or complain over something they have no control over the contents of other people blogs. Sometimes they complain because they don't understand what was written. Or complain because they misconstrue or misinterpret. Though people are not forced to read other people blogs. And if so happens you don’t like what’s being said or how it’s being said then don’t go to that blogsite again. A simple solution for a simple mind.
Now, I have no qualms if people choose not to read my blogs. It is their right. It doesn’t affect me or how I write my blogs or the topic I choose to write. My blog is geared towards both deaf and hearing audience. What I write is enough to encourage people to come over and read my blogs. My audience (hearing, hard of hearing and deaf) continues to grow regardless if one decides not to read my blogs anymore since I cover a lot of topics (deaf and non-deaf) when it comes to blogging. I write because I enjoy writing. I write because it forces me to learn new things by doing tons of research, mostly in the science and technology arena. What I write also helps inform and educate many others. The internet is my library when it comes to academic learning. It's a great and handy tool to have because it's a big world out there. Life isn't so simple nowadays.
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