Here's an actual discussion about "deafhood" that took place on a forum a few years back in 2011. See line below where the discussion begins. Notice how people tried to define what my journey should or ought to be instead of saying, "Certainly, it's your journey." But they continue to define what it should be for me and how mine cannot possibly be a special one. It's the whole "deafhoodism" trappings because in reality it becomes a fantasy that anyone with a hearing loss will be embraced. No politics, politicization or political correct. Honest Injun!. But it's actually voodoo deafhoodism. Only because they say since your journey is a personal but, but!, you have to understand something else first in order validate your own special journey as Paddy Ladd once emphasized.
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koko: I see XX as a forum for deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people who deal with hearing loss. There is no rule requiring deaf and hard of hearing people who must embrace "deafhood" in order to participate. A bunch of bs using the same "why are you here?" spiel. Sounds pretty darned territorial. Reason why I have no need for labels of that sort. I accept my hearing loss. I acknowledge it. What more do YOU want? I simply accept people with hearing loss for who they are. I don't need to bring a microscope for each one of them to see if they "qualify." I'd say, hell with that, let's just go to a sports bar and enjoy the company.
>G: a Classic mainstreamed denial.
>>M: Koko still doesn't get it. Again, Deafhood is not a GROUP. It is a personal journey...
(note from koko - I never said it was a group and have been saying for years since 2006 it's a personal journey without the need for a label to define what my journey is supposed to be).
>>>T: Actually I think Koko gets it and pretty much agrees with you. I think the issue he is stating is that some tend to pervert that journey into something akin to deaf culture. Koko is certainly choosing to live with his hearing loss his way. I don't think there is any question he has accepted is and coped with it. It is just a different path than many others took.
>>>>J: nope. He does not like the "Deafhood's" label and its political ideology and group think. no one's journey is same anyway. His journey is nothing more or less unique than ours. I dunno but it sounds like he thinks his journey is "special."
>>>>>T: As for thinking his journey is special.....I would hope he thinks that.
>>>>>>M: I think J meant that his (koko) journey is not unique...everyone's journey is special.
>>>>>>>koko: Fine but I say my journey is unique. Think of it as a thumbprint. It's unique but they all may seem identical but when you look at it closely it is definitely unique. Your journey is unique.
>>>>>>>>B: I personally think you are rejecting the quality of Deafhood as a part of you because you are rejecting the journey. Therefore you insult it by calling it a label.
>>>>>>>>>koko: When it becomes an ideological and politicization labeling game then I have no need for it. I prefer to keep it simple. My journey is a deeply personal one yet there is no rejecting my own journey. You've attempted to define what my journey should be.
>>>>>>>>>>B: I'm (sic) not commented on what your journey should be, I'm simply saying I don't think you taking one. I think you are sitting on the crossroads refusing to budge.
>>>>>>>>>>>koko: Yes, you've attempted to define what my journey should be when you said this - "I personally think you are rejecting the quality of Deafhood as part of you because you are rejecting the journey."
>>>>>>>>>>>>T to B: Seems to me he (koko) is on that journey..... You don't have to be part of the crowd to experience a personal journey. Koko seems to accept his deafness and cope with it quite well. Of course that is actually wrong for me to say too as I am judging his journey as well....even if it is in the positive. How about we let Koko decide for himself and we decide for ourselves about OUR journeys? I think that is the best idea.
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Indeed. And that, my friends, is what I've been saying for years. My own journey is unique and special. It's also private. In their ego they attempt to judge my journey. This is what some deaf people do by telling what my journey should or should not be, and that my journey cannot possibly be a special one. Sure it is. Each of our own journey is personal, private, special and unique. No two are the same. Just like the whorls on our fingerprints. Just get rid of the ugly politics and idiotic deaf political correctness.
The concept of colonialism is central to understanding Deafhood, to understanding what has been done to us. And both also helps us point us towards some models of what to do and what to avoid.I see this "us" as generally those belonging to a class of people with greater hearing loss versus those with less hearing loss. One class of people may feel that oppression is indeed real and does occur (or have occurred or continue to occur) to them while others may see little or no oppression issues. It probably has to do with the ability and ease to communicate with the hearing society.
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koko: I see XX as a forum for deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people who deal with hearing loss. There is no rule requiring deaf and hard of hearing people who must embrace "deafhood" in order to participate. A bunch of bs using the same "why are you here?" spiel. Sounds pretty darned territorial. Reason why I have no need for labels of that sort. I accept my hearing loss. I acknowledge it. What more do YOU want? I simply accept people with hearing loss for who they are. I don't need to bring a microscope for each one of them to see if they "qualify." I'd say, hell with that, let's just go to a sports bar and enjoy the company.
>G: a Classic mainstreamed denial.
>>M: Koko still doesn't get it. Again, Deafhood is not a GROUP. It is a personal journey...
(note from koko - I never said it was a group and have been saying for years since 2006 it's a personal journey without the need for a label to define what my journey is supposed to be).
>>>T: Actually I think Koko gets it and pretty much agrees with you. I think the issue he is stating is that some tend to pervert that journey into something akin to deaf culture. Koko is certainly choosing to live with his hearing loss his way. I don't think there is any question he has accepted is and coped with it. It is just a different path than many others took.
>>>>J: nope. He does not like the "Deafhood's" label and its political ideology and group think. no one's journey is same anyway. His journey is nothing more or less unique than ours. I dunno but it sounds like he thinks his journey is "special."
>>>>>T: As for thinking his journey is special.....I would hope he thinks that.
>>>>>>M: I think J meant that his (koko) journey is not unique...everyone's journey is special.
>>>>>>>koko: Fine but I say my journey is unique. Think of it as a thumbprint. It's unique but they all may seem identical but when you look at it closely it is definitely unique. Your journey is unique.
>>>>>>>>B: I personally think you are rejecting the quality of Deafhood as a part of you because you are rejecting the journey. Therefore you insult it by calling it a label.
>>>>>>>>>koko: When it becomes an ideological and politicization labeling game then I have no need for it. I prefer to keep it simple. My journey is a deeply personal one yet there is no rejecting my own journey. You've attempted to define what my journey should be.
>>>>>>>>>>B: I'm (sic) not commented on what your journey should be, I'm simply saying I don't think you taking one. I think you are sitting on the crossroads refusing to budge.
>>>>>>>>>>>koko: Yes, you've attempted to define what my journey should be when you said this - "I personally think you are rejecting the quality of Deafhood as part of you because you are rejecting the journey."
>>>>>>>>>>>>T to B: Seems to me he (koko) is on that journey..... You don't have to be part of the crowd to experience a personal journey. Koko seems to accept his deafness and cope with it quite well. Of course that is actually wrong for me to say too as I am judging his journey as well....even if it is in the positive. How about we let Koko decide for himself and we decide for ourselves about OUR journeys? I think that is the best idea.
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Indeed. And that, my friends, is what I've been saying for years. My own journey is unique and special. It's also private. In their ego they attempt to judge my journey. This is what some deaf people do by telling what my journey should or should not be, and that my journey cannot possibly be a special one. Sure it is. Each of our own journey is personal, private, special and unique. No two are the same. Just like the whorls on our fingerprints. Just get rid of the ugly politics and idiotic deaf political correctness.