durtysox

Protip: You are allergic to pineapple. That doesn't happen normally. It's the digestive enzyme. Some people have their mouth blister, that's a reaction to the enzyme. You shouldn't eat them raw, you'll probably be fine with cooked and with dried.

I think this is Reddit's all time favorite "pay it forward" story. It's known as "Today you...tomorrow me." http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/elal2/have_you_ever_picked_up_a_hitchhiker/c18z0z2

Seven hours into your AMA, I checked on the workshop you were hoping to crowdfund, and found one solitary donation. This surprised me because of the outpouring of support, the 2400 upvotes, etc. I think perhaps it got lost in the shuffle of links and I'd like to encourage people who support your work to visit and make a contribution.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/resolving-conflict-non-violently-international-peace-event-sarajevo#home/share

I hope your episode made that raft company lose business. Because really, there is no excuse for making a faulty life raft! Next time hold up the label and say "This deadly moment is sponsored by ACME, who put me in this fucking situation."

I don't feel that way myself, but I think I can supply an explanation of why some might feel that way about cochlear implants. Theres a TL;DR at the bottom.

As a deaf person, you can live your whole life never meeting another deaf person, never knowing anyone who does not primarily communicate orally - or through writing which is also based on transcribing the sounds that make up spoken words. It is a world that was not made for you. It's not like the world should bend to you, but it's much easier to live in an environment where your needs are accommodated. Like the little people who get low counters installed instead of climbing on ladders just to chop an onion.

You can survive without a deaf culture, and you can make do in a hearing world, but it's not the same. Deaf culture is an actual living subculture, of people living lives that suit their circumstances, not just the needs of a dominant group. Deaf people in a hearing community are always wary, alert to looks, to body language, scanning other cars on the road because you don't hear honking. Spotting a hearing person with an expectant face is worrisome. Uh oh. Was I supposed to answer her? Did she speak to me? It can be a tremendous relief to be among people who know to only communicate in ways you will be able to notice.

This is why deaf people value deaf culture - because it's full of other people who understand, who have lived like you, talk like you do, and who get that you are cool. Living in only hearing culture, you never get that experience of relief. You're always communicating with people who only kind of get it.

Hearing people don't value deaf culture - why would they? They don't have to. So when they see deaf people signing, they often don't see the beauty of visual language, they see crutches. Hearing people see even the cool things about deaf culture as something to be wiped out and replaced with a world of hearing people.

Cochlear implants and the like, are seen as threats because they literally eliminate deaf people. Done well, you are no longer deaf. You don't need a flashing phone, you can tell if someone says your name without looking at you. You can go see plays and watch tv at friends houses without subtitles, you go to hearing parties and join in conversations. It's awesome. Why not do that?! But it can take you out of deaf culture. If your deaf friends want to hang out, you can't share those new improved experiences. You leave them out, you go out without them, you move away. You fall in love with a hearing guy and just drift out of the community you once relied upon.

And keep in mind - many people can't be cured by cochlear implants. I'm only deaf in one ear, so I consider myself a hearing person. But particular deafness can't be cured. If I had it in both ears I would be deaf, my friends would be getting these implants and I'd be left out. I can see how that would suck.

TL;DR Deaf culture is a real culture and community for the deaf. If you can't be cured of deafness, you will be left out of these miracles, and you may lose friends or lose your community. That's why some deaf people feel threatened - it eats away at their community