Monday, July 18, 2011

Maligned for hate sake

What is really odd is how one person makes the claim that by "pushing" (e.g. making it personal by calling Gina "GAS" as in YouTube's "GAS in the flesh" subject line instead of calling by her proper name) against Gina would ensure that "unity" will somehow magically occur in the Deaf community. It is certainly surreal to suggest that "unity" would work by outing people by harassing them, making online threats or expose their physical or online identities. It wouldn't make any sense to say that "pushing" will work for the sake of "unity." Rather, I see all this "pushing" as an excise in grudge mongering and a bit of hate in the process. Nothing more. All it was is that ASLeslie found a video of Gina in Fookembug's YouTube channel that was 2 years old and decided to parade it around and expose Gina's physical identity. That was the goal.  Even knowing after the fact that her employer was contacted in the effort to out Gina's identity and hoping to harm her employment. It was nothing more than an example of a bit of hate mongering by making it personal towards an individual he or she doesn't like. To say it any other way would be disingenuous and dishonest.

I've read Gina's blogs and saw no indication of her putting down the Deaf community or even ASL given the fact that she was born deaf and into a culturally deaf family. She is in fact a part of the Deaf community. I see her as having strong opinions on a variety of subjects or issues that can evoke strong feelings among many Deaf people (e.g. the AB2072 bill). Many confuse having a strong opinion on a particular Deaf-related topic as "putting down the Deaf community" whenever Gina opines or notes the discrepancies based on her observations as a culturally deaf person. Many Deaf people have agreed with her, many didn't.

The same goes for ASL.

I saw nothing of the sort from Gina of her "putting down ASL." In fact, even DonG admitted that he does tend to sign in English word order ("PSE") and not in the ASL sense which was Gina's point all along in one of her blog and nothing about putting ASL down. Instead she gave examples of why ASL is not ASL whenever people make the claim of signing in ASL. DonG is a perfect example of signing in English word order. So is my signing. And many others who in the same boat as we are. That's not putting down ASL or labeling but about making observations about ASL and those who sign.

For a person to make online claims without showing any examples of what Gina said or wrote does not strengthen an argument but rather it weakens a claim considerably. It makes the person look even more petty. And people will see that as nothing but hot air. All in all I say it's pretty odd and strange for those who say that by "pushing" others in order for them to "come clean" by twisting and lying will ensure "unity" in a Deaf community. I'm sure it won't. And it certainly won't help in the deaf and hard of hearing community either by any stretch of the imagination.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

The chitter chats under that youtube video comments made me think of...

A bunch of elementary bullies razzing, bellowing and hissing.


Sad.

Mike said...

Is that a Dr. Seuss phrase? Razzing, bellowing and hissing? :p

J.J. said...

Yup, that was going waaayy too far. What happens on the Internet, stays on the Internet. This crap embarrasses me as a deaf person and is probably why the level of discourse is not very high. Stuff like that will stop people from coming online to express their opinions.

Mike said...

JJ,

They are not doing anybody a favor by acting like that.

Mike said...

Anony,

I got your comment and forwarded it to the appropriate people. But I won't publish what you said for now.

Ann said...

Golly, so GAS is ASLeslie's prob?

That's a lot of hot air for nothing.

:P

Ann_C

Mike said...

To a recent anonymous, I'm not particular into allowing someone's physical features be discussed in here. It'd be best to discuss on the action or attitude itself.

Karen Mayes said...

Yeah, Candy is one of the most misunderstood bloggers. She has thorough research and analytical skills and I highly respect her.

Anonymous said...

I've long admired Candy (and you too, Mike) for having the guts and the courage to put your opinions out there in public. It's really sad that good people are being attacked in this manner by members of their own community who must have been absent from kindergarten on the day that courtesy and respect were being discussed. And make no mistake, Candy and Mike ARE members of the deaf community. That they are being abused like this by ASLeslie and her ilk reflects poorly on the so-called "unity" that Deafhooders claim to promote. I hope they're paying attention.
Yet Another Anonymous

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I saw ASLeslie 's vlog. I keep wondering why she had to do that? Same old deafhooders's strategic method.
I quit to make vlogs because of those people. You and other are brave and continue to express the opinions. I admire about but my life is so preserve and protected from harm way by those narrow-minded people.
anonymous ( of course)

Candy said...

LOL, Ann_C GAS is a problem for everyone. lol There is a solution, ya know? Zantac does wonders if taken before consuming anything (food or words??).

Mike, thanks.

I sincerely hope no one has to be subjected to some personal attack in the future. We do need more people feeling comfortable showing up online and participating in online discussions without worrying about whether or not someone will disagree with them and eventually attack them.

We need folks stop being enablers to personal attacks.

Karen Mayes said...

Yeah, one of the reasons why I don't blog nor comment that much lately... I am tired of the lack of maturity that is exhibited by certain people who choose to focus on people than the topics.

Ann said...

Yah, if only some ppl would take Beano (prudence)and exercise (their brains by practicing due diligence) before hitting the submit button...

then they wouldn't explode.

Ahem, just being tongue-in-cheek. ;)

Ann_C

Anonymous said...

Hey Candy!

Do you need a beano? This medicine could save you.

Enjoy!

;-)

White Ghost

Anonymous said...

Geez...Ann_C and I just had an aura. Obviously, we were both doctors in what? Gastroenterology. We treat you good, Candy!

LOL.

White Ghost

Ann said...

OMG, WG, PH.D's in GAS, LOL!!!!!!

Whoo, just outdid ourselves with initials there. :)

Ann_C

Candy said...

Ann & White Ghost, LOL

Actually, I never tried Beano...

Anonymous said...

@Candy, Beano doesn't work, FYI.

please continue to be GASsy!

hehe

Another Anonymous

Candy said...

Another Anonymous..

lol

As you wish.. ;o)