People overhear other people, right?
Well, sometimes I happen to catch what someone says via lipreading just like I would if I could overhear them without really paying attention.
Most of the time I literally turn a deaf ear to them because I simply don’t want to deal with it. I have caught so many people talking trash about me because I’m deaf or because I’m signing.
Every once in a while I can’t let it slide.
I was visiting New York City and was taking the subway from Grand Central to Times Square with a couple of other deaf travel buddies.
A big group of high school girls who were all dressed up and were obviously tourists boarded the subway. They were also getting on other passenger’s nerves with all their chattering and gossiping.
I happened to stand in front of one girl (literally just inches away from her).
Everyone has talked about people behind their back. Fine, whatever…. However, I do not like when people try to take advantage of me not being able to hear and think it’s okay to talk about me when I’m right in front of them….not cool.
It didn’t help that I had just walked 15 miles that day around the city on a few hours of sleep.
I happened to catch this particular high school girl yell to someone at the other end. If she had been whispering to the person next to her, fine…whatever…that’s a different story even thought it’s still not cool. That was a big hint that there was a lot of buzz going on around us about the fact we were signing and they were *gasp*….like….omg, do you see the DEAF people, totally, omg!
High school girl #1: ”They’re signing!!!!” I’m pretty sure every single person heard her.
Me: *Trying to bite my tongue while this person just a few inches away from me is talking about me*
High school girl #1: ”THEY’RE LOOKING AT ME!” Yeah, she made sure every single person on that subway heard her.
Me: *Thinking to myself, really?!?* This is where attempting to breathe and counting to 10 failed….
Me: ”We can lipread you (I was gesturing this)”
High school girl #1: ”Whatttt (it was obvious she understood what I said but was trying to pull the innocent card)”
High school girl #2: ” *^%$#@ (she caught on very quickly)
Me: ”We can lipread you”
High school girl #1: ”Whattttttttttt”
Me: *groans, steps off the subway*
Thankfully it was a short subway ride!
It’s amazing how people think they can get away with talking about deaf people in front of them because they think we won’t hear them. Honestly,we let it slide most of the time because sometimes it’s simply not worth the time and energy. Then again, is it our responsibility to educate them?
