# Most Sob-worthy Story from Reader's Digest **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-sob-worthy-story-from-readers-digest/789342 "2017-06-19T00:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2018, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-sob-worthy-story-from-readers-digest/789342/41 "2018-01-13T08:56:13Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > It may have been a story about this; it happened in Quebec in 1971. > > [Saint-Jean-Vianney - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Jean-Vianney) Excellent guess. The story is a good match with what I remember. (I was a bit older than 8 in 1971, but close enough!) ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-sob-worthy-story-from-readers-digest/789342/42 "2018-01-15T20:20:35Z")
> [@Newtosite](#): > > I remember one about a four-year old hearing-impaired boy who was signing to his parents at bedtime. > They slapped his hands as they’d been taught by a professional to discourage signing. > The child burst into tears. The parents later learned that he’d been signing “I love you” to them. That’s making me cry right now! (Why on earth would you _discourage_ a child from signing?!) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-sob-worthy-story-from-readers-digest/789342/43 "2018-01-15T22:14:13Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > That’s making me cry right now! > > (Why on earth would you _discourage_ a child from signing?!) My question would be if the parents are not allowing him to sign who is teaching him to do it? He’s a four-year old, he’s not driving across town to the local institute for the deaf, is he? The whole story stinks on ice. ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-sob-worthy-story-from-readers-digest/789342/44 "2018-01-16T09:43:41Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > That’s making me cry right now! > > (Why on earth would you _discourage_ a child from signing?!) It is very, very common. The thinking is that it will interfere with them learning English (or whatever the majority language is). ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-sob-worthy-story-from-readers-digest/789342/45 "2018-01-17T16:04:31Z")
My mom recalls being told by the doctors to discourage my sister (who was born Deaf), from using non-verbal communication. “She has to learn to get along in a Hearing world” was the argument given. Thank goodness that is not the current recommended guideline! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-sob-worthy-story-from-readers-digest/789342.md?page=2)