How Do You Tell A Deaf Person to BE QUIET?
By lifeluver
@lifeluver (743)
Canada
August 28, 2007 5:57pm CST
Ok, normally I'm a very tolerant person and non discriminatory but right now, I really want to punch the person next to me.
I'm sitting at the liberary at a public computer access site so there's lots of other people here. It just so happens that the person beside me is deaf (she's very well known here - very demanding!) That's cool...I don't mind deaf people, I've got a couple of friends who are deaf or close to it. The problem I'm having is, she is talking - er, signing - to her friend and while she's signing, she is making noises vocally as well. And not quiet ones either. OK, so I realize that she can't hear the noise she's making so how on earth do I tell her to shut up without insulting her? Any ideas folks?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@dreamy1 (3811)
• United States
29 Aug 07
If I were you I'd learn the sign for please be a little more quiet. Yeah if she is completely deaf she can't hear she's making noise. Maybe she can hear a little because she is able to make sounds I really don't though. I took a short sign language class and the signs aren't that hard to learn. Or maybe you could just move to another part of the library where it's quieter.
2 people like this
@lifeluver (743)
• Canada
29 Aug 07
Taking sigh language is a good idea. I do know some signs from my deaf friends but I don't know a whole lot. Thanks for sharing.
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@michaeldadona (5684)
• Malaysia
29 Aug 07
If that sign language does not works for her, I think you better persuade her by comforting her to the waiting chair. Maybe she like to be managed that way.
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@lifeluver (743)
• Canada
29 Aug 07
An interesting idea. I'm sure if I approach her kindly, she will respond positively - at least I hope so. Thanks for sharing!
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@AmbiePam (91942)
• United States
29 Aug 07
Well, that IS tricky. My first thought is sympathy towards her, but that doesn't mean she isn't annoying. We all have to be aware in the library, of scraping chairs, coughing...so I understand she would need to be made conscious of that too. I'm sure you'll get some people railing against you at all for making this post. But a problem is a problem, and disabled people are not immune. I would first pass her a note conveying how loud she is. If that didn't work, I'd get her attention and do the sshh motion. You know where you put a finger over your mouth and make the sshh motion with your mouth. If that didn't work, I'd ask someone who works there to try to fix the problem. Good luck!
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@lifeluver (743)
• Canada
29 Aug 07
Hmmm....I defanetly like the note idea. I've tried to be sympathetic with her but it's been getting harder lately (she's here every day). Being deaf, I'm sure she doesn't realize how loud she's being but, trust me, coughing and squeeking chairs don't even come close ;) Thanks for sharing!
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