# Ok, you're deaf, why be an asshole about it? (Gallaudet) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 30, 2006, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378 "2006-10-30T00:21:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/21 "2006-10-30T01:39:36Z")
Excuse the hijack, but now I’m wondering about my memories. I lived in DC from 81-93. I wasn’t working in public radio after 85, so my on-campus experience was earlier than the 88 event. I remember a lot of press back sometime in that era about large parts of the deaf community opposing implants and me thinking that was crazy. I’m sure the campus must have been prominent in that story as well, because it was a local and radical and therefore better place to get “hot” quotes. Eh… [/leaves scratching my head] ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/22 "2006-10-30T01:40:53Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Why in hell would a “good sound or better sound” conference be booked at such a school? Kind of in their face, no? [/QUOTE] I can guess. Gallaudet is in kind of a run-down neighborhood, but the buildings on-campus are nice, and it’s near a metro station. You can probably get conveniently located housing there for less than you’d pay from, say, GW or American. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/23 "2006-10-30T01:50:07Z")
I think its valid. If students feel that someone in charge does not completely understand their cultural perspective by living in it, they should be able to say so. I’m not saying the Board has to roll over evey time, but they should listen to the students. Being black and growing up in an Asian neighborhood will never make you “Asian enough” for some people. Being Asian and growing up in a white neighborhood will make you too white to be Asian for some people. Without knowing the president personally, the students could have used these kinds of attitudes to change how they thought about the situation. Its not that irrational. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/24 "2006-10-30T01:50:46Z")
Good christ, and we as tax payers are paying for this shit. Assholes! ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/25 "2006-10-30T01:51:52Z")
[QUOTE=hawksgirl] I think its valid. If students feel that someone in charge does not completely understand their cultural perspective by living in it, they should be able to say so. I’m not saying the Board has to roll over evey time, but they should listen to the students. Being black and growing up in an Asian neighborhood will never make you “Asian enough” for some people. Being Asian and growing up in a white neighborhood will make you too white to be Asian for some people. Without knowing the president personally, the students could have used these kinds of attitudes to change how they thought about the situation. Its not that irrational. [/QUOTE] Well, how about being deaf and growing up in a deaf culture? Does that square it? Read her bio. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Willow\_Plate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c2a13f/32.png) [@Blue\_Willow\_Plate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Willow_Plate)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/26 "2006-10-30T01:53:14Z")
My analogy is, apparently, off. My apologies. But the last bit - the part about who is paying tuition - speaks directly to this: [QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Of course, you are correct, which is my point, the student body is apparently comprised of idiots. [/QUOTE] So my question is: How, exactly, does the deaf culture not liking its new president affect you? Are you deaf? A Galludet student/alumni? In close contact with the deaf community? Will this affect you in any way, shape, or form? Do you actually know anyone who is deaf? Do you know anyone who is deaf who has an opinion on this? If someone hadn’t started a thread on a message board in an internet backwater, would you even have known about or had an opinion about this? There are a lot of topics in which one could have vested interest, even tangentially. I’m not sure this particular topic is anything more than “Ooh, look at the weird people over there!” ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/27 "2006-10-30T01:56:40Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Well, how about being deaf and growing up in a deaf culture? Does that square it? Read her bio. [/QUOTE] I’m not saying that this is the exact situation. But, **if that is what the students perceive it as,** then they should be allowed to voice their concerns without being called assholes for it. ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/28 "2006-10-30T01:57:23Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Not part of _deaf culture_? Have you not read her wiki [bio?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Fernandes) What does she have to do to become a part of it? [/QUOTE] On reread, I should have said “not _enough_ part of deaf culture.” Or a better phrased comment with the same meaning. Of course, your logical follow up would then become “What does she have to do to become deaf cultured ‘enough’?” To which my answer would be _shrug_🙂 I don’t claim that level of understanding. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/29 "2006-10-30T01:57:32Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Excellent] I can guess. Gallaudet is in kind of a run-down neighborhood, but the buildings on-campus are nice, and it’s near a metro station. You can probably get conveniently located housing there for less than you’d pay from, say, GW or American. [/QUOTE] Sorry, **eleanorigby** , didn’t see your question until **Mr. Excellent** answered it. And answered pretty much correctly, because it was real cheap. No onw gave a thought to the idea that students might resent us. There were lots of people attending who were college age themselves. I suppose the school administration might have anbticipated some hard feelings, but their conference center sales person surely wouldn’t bring it up. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/30 "2006-10-30T02:02:26Z")
[QUOTE=Blue Willow Plate] My analogy is, apparently, off. My apologies. But the last bit - the part about who is paying tuition - speaks directly to this: So my question is: How, exactly, does the deaf culture not liking its new president affect you? Are you deaf? A Galludet student/alumni? In close contact with the deaf community? Will this affect you in any way, shape, or form? Do you actually know anyone who is deaf? Do you know anyone who is deaf who has an opinion on this? If someone hadn’t started a thread on a message board in an internet backwater, would you even have known about or had an opinion about this? There are a lot of topics in which one could have vested interest, even tangentially. I’m not sure this particular topic is anything more than “Ooh, look at the weird people over there!” [/QUOTE] [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=394151) is how it affects _us._ ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/31 "2006-10-30T02:04:39Z")
[QUOTE=hawksgirl] I’m not saying that this is the exact situation. But, **if that is what the students perceive it as,** then they should be allowed to voice their concerns without being called assholes for it. [/QUOTE] Why should they be treated differently than other students? ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/32 "2006-10-30T02:08:04Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Why should they be treated differently than other students? [/QUOTE] All students who protest what they feel is a legitimate complaint within their university are assholes? ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Willow\_Plate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c2a13f/32.png) [@Blue\_Willow\_Plate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Willow_Plate)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/33 "2006-10-30T02:09:13Z")
$100 million in federal funds a year. Divided by an American population of 750 million. Give me a moment while I do the math… Ok. Since this particular topic seems to incense you, Mr. Ripper, please be so kind as to send me your snail mail address so that I may post you one dime and four pennies in order to ease your mind over the inordinate tax dollars being spent on one of the few universities in the entire country that caters to the deaf. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/34 "2006-10-30T02:10:08Z")
[QUOTE=hawksgirl] All students who protest what they feel is a legitimate complaint within their university are assholes? [/QUOTE] Sigh. No, please research the topic. They were protesting their formerly incoming president was not deaf enough. That makes them assholes. Christ. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/35 "2006-10-30T02:11:45Z")
[QUOTE=Blue Willow Plate] $100 million in federal funds a year. Divided by an American population of 750 million. Give me a moment while I do the math… Ok. Since this particular topic seems to incense you, Mr. Ripper, please be so kind as to send me your snail mail address so that I may post you one dime and four pennies in order to ease your mind over the inordinate tax dollars being spent on one of the few universities in the entire country that caters to the deaf. [/QUOTE] That is the best rebuttal you have? How often has “spend money on it” worked? Address the subject please. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/36 "2006-10-30T02:12:09Z")
Gotta go with **Ripper** on this one. Fuck’em. They want to go to that university, then they have to deal with the president and the board. They have zero say in who gets chosen. Especially if they are there on any kind of scholarship. If they don’t like it, leave. There are plenty of other colleges out there. Vote with your money, assholes. What’s that? You aren’t paying for your education yourselves? Yet you still want a say in how things are run? Then get into a time-machine and set it for the 60’s, cuz those days are long gone. My taxes pay for your education, so STFU and learn. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/37 "2006-10-30T02:12:58Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Sigh. No, please research the topic. They were protesting their formerly incoming president was not deaf enough. That makes them assholes. Christ. [/QUOTE] I _know_ that. I was responding your response to me. I’m trying to figure out what you meant by that. ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/38 "2006-10-30T02:13:47Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=394151) is how it affects _us._ [/QUOTE] I don’t really have a dog in this fight (despite my participation in this thread,) but I disagree with this line of reasoning, **Ripper**. Though the school accepts Federal funds, it doesn’t follow that the student body doesn’t have a right to protest the boards selection of school president. It doesn’t even mean that the students are wasting Federal money by staging their protests - that’s reading into it waaay too much. On the other hand, \*\*Blue Willow Plate’s \*\* assertions don’t hold water either. Just because you don’t have a connection to Gallaudet doesn’t mean you’re not entitiled to your opinion. Everybody clear now? What the hell was my point again? Never mind. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/39 "2006-10-30T02:13:52Z")
[QUOTE=Blue Willow Plate] … one of the few universities in the entire country that caters to the deaf. [/QUOTE] If only it were a catering service for the deaf. The customer would always be right!. :drumroll: /sneaks away/ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378/40 "2006-10-30T02:27:20Z")
[QUOTE=Blue Willow Plate] $100 million in federal funds a year. Divided by an American population of 750 million. Give me a moment while I do the math… [/QUOTE] Yikes. It only hit 300 million people just this past week. Malthus was _right_! WE’RE ALL GONNA DIIIIEEEE!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-youre-deaf-why-be-an-asshole-about-it-gallaudet/378378.md?page=3)