"many advancements in the area of technology are made at the expense of deaf people.  this collection demonstrates how dependent society is on sound, putting deaf people at a disadvantage. "

"You pull up to a self-service gas station.  You proceed to pump gas in your car, unaware that the cashier had asked you over the loudspeaker to wait.  You wonder why you get a dirty look when you approach the window."

"You do not hear your dryer beep at the end of the cycle.  You find your clothes all wrinkled because you left them in the dryer far too long."

"You find it frustrating to shop at stores where there are sophisticated computerized cash registers.  Many of them do not have screen displays for cusomers, making it diffuclt for you to figure out the exact cost of your purchase."

"You drive to a self-storage place to store your things.  You find out that you must communicate through the intercom system to go through the gates.  What makes it worse is having several cars behind you waiting for you to give the password."

"you are the first deaf person in town to have a car phone.  You are also the first person in town having to pull to the side of the road each time you want to make a TTY call from your car."

"Your car begins to stall in the middle of the night on a freeway.  You pull over to a call box on the side of the road.  Finding yourself unable to use the phone, you are left stranded for a long time.  Because of budget cutbacks, the highway patrol does not make routine rounds as it used to and responds to emergencies only when people call on the box."

"You do not realize that machines have manners-and voices-nowadays.  For example, when purchasing a can of Coke from the machine, it might say something like, 'Have a great COKE day.'"

In order to serve customers more efficiently at a fast-food restaurant, you are given a number for your order.  Instead of waiting for your turn in line, you now strain your eyes on the caller for your order."

"Many cars now come with option packages that include fance stero systems.  You have no choice but to pay a fortune for it if you want a well-equipt car."

Again, let me know what you think of these, because I've got an entire book full of them.  Thanks.....

Whilst I'm fully in favour of eveyone finding out about all of these things, I've got to say a couple of things though -

It's not always a bad thing not hearing these dreadful machines telling you in a bland, insencere voice, 'Have a great COKE day.'  My personal rule is never trust a machine that talks back.

Also, I'm guessing a Deaf Person doesn't have to work too hard to ignore all these horrible Tele-Marketers phoning up, trying to sell stuff that no-one in their right mind would want to buy in the first place.

Fax machines are definitely a blessing, only if you can figure out the beeps.  you have no way of knowing if the line is busy, since most fax machines do not have light signals for these beeps.

you recently purchased top-of-the-line hearing aids.  they are fully computerized and can be adjusted to fit your specific hearing needs.  to your disappointment, people still give you a dirty look each time your aids whistle.

you are proud of your new expensive watch that has all the latest features.  you can program it so that it will beep at specific times.  unfortunately, you never know when it beeps. 

you are taping yourself doing an original poem in ASL about love and peace to enter in a nationwide contest. you do not realize the camcorder is also picking up the sounds from your television on a special program about the Holocaust.

even though you have installed an elaborate cordless doorbell light system, the pizza delivery man uses the knocker at the door.  you wonder why your pizza has not been delivered.

you just purchased a new camcorder.  you place your child in the prettiest part of your house so that you can tape your child's first walk for your parents, who live on the other side of the country.  you do not realize that dogs were barking in the other room and the televsion was on with the sound blaring. 

you don't know if the computer is porcessing the data after you have pushed the save button.  you resort to feeling the terminal to see if the drive is running.

you just bought a new fancey personal computer.  the only printed instruction that comes with your computer is: "Congratulations!  You have purchased the finest piece of technology in the world.  Please listen to the audiotape for instructions on how to assemble and use the equipment."

you are driving in the country in the middle of the night.  you need to withdraw some money from an ATM machine so that you can purchase some gas.  the machine does not recognize your password and refuses to return your card.  this message appears on the screen: "Please use the phone on your right and call for assistance."  You now are stuck in the middle of nowhere with no cash for gas.

beep beep beep beep.  you don't realize you have pushed the wrong button an dthe computer is trying to alert you to the fact.

you rent a videotape to watch with your hearing date.  after the movie you rewind the tape as the closing credits begin.  you do not realize that a popular romantic theme song was accompanying the credits.  you lose a chance to be romantic with your date for the moment.

you are nota ble to enjoy the convenience of the drive through window at your favorite fast food restaurant unless you have the audacity to get in the line, bypassing the speaker, and drive up to the window to give your order.  sometimes, you receive someon else's food.

the computer is down at your company.  the last time it was down, it took two hours before it came back on.  you loaf around, not realizing that the computer was repaired within five minutes and everyone is back to work except you.

these hazards are excerpted from "Silence Is Golden, Sometimes" and are among the most populaar ones from the orgical Hazards of Deafness.

Driving in a caar full of hearing buddies, everyone is laughing and telling jokes.  you are the driver and don't dare take your eyes off the road to "listen," so you miss out.  Later, you ask your friends to repeat the jokes, but they either have forgotten them or tell them in a consdensed way, and the jokes don't seem to be funny at all.  this also happens when there is a hearing driver in a car full of deaf buddies. 

At the airport, everyone is waiting for the boarding call.  Finally, the announce that people in rows 25 to 36 can board the plane.  your seat row is 7.  the man at the boarding gate wonders what kind of trick you are trying to pull when you attempt to go in with the first group.

On the plane, you are seated next to a blind man.  your speech is unintelligible.  He keeps talking and you keep nodding, making for an unusual conversation.

At a full-service gas station, the attendant asks ifyou want him to "fill 'er up," and you reply "yes."  Then he asks if you want him to check the oil, and you reply "yes."  "Water?" "yes." Then he says something you don't quite catch, but it has something to do with the tires and so you assume he wants to check the air.  You reply "yes," hoping he hasn't just asked if you want four new tires or want to buy his filling station so he can retire.

En route to California the plane runs into trouble and is rerouted to Las Vegas.  After landing, the passengers are let out for a two hour wait.  Since you didn't hear the announcement, you are quite surprised to see how much California has changed with all the slot machines and casinos. 

Finally, you arrive at your destination and check into your hotel.  on the first sight-seeing tour, much to your dismay, there are tapes that have been prepared to explain interesting facts about the beautiful place you are visiting an dtour guides who speak from behind a microphone, preventing you from understanding one bit. 

A flight attendant comes down the aisle and asks if you would like a magazine to read.  you want anything except Time, butit's the only one you can pronounce clearly enough to be understood.  Guess which magazine you end up with?

these hazards are excerpted from "Silence Is Golden, Sometimes" and are among the most populaar ones from the orgical Hazards of Deafness.

Driving in a caar full of hearing buddies, everyone is laughing and telling jokes.  you are the driver and don't dare take your eyes off the road to "listen," so you miss out.  Later, you ask your friends to repeat the jokes, but they either have forgotten them or tell them in a consdensed way, and the jokes don't seem to be funny at all.  this also happens when there is a hearing driver in a car full of deaf buddies. 

At the airport, everyone is waiting for the boarding call.  Finally, the announce that people in rows 25 to 36 can board the plane.  your seat row is 7.  the man at the boarding gate wonders what kind of trick you are trying to pull when you attempt to go in with the first group.

On the plane, you are seated next to a blind man.  your speech is unintelligible.  He keeps talking and you keep nodding, making for an unusual conversation.

At a full-service gas station, the attendant asks ifyou want him to "fill 'er up," and you reply "yes."  Then he asks if you want him to check the oil, and you reply "yes."  "Water?" "yes." Then he says something you don't quite catch, but it has something to do with the tires and so you assume he wants to check the air.  You reply "yes," hoping he hasn't just asked if you want four new tires or want to buy his filling station so he can retire.

En route to California the plane runs into trouble and is rerouted to Las Vegas.  After landing, the passengers are let out for a two hour wait.  Since you didn't hear the announcement, you are quite surprised to see how much California has changed with all the slot machines and casinos. 

Finally, you arrive at your destination and check into your hotel.  on the first sight-seeing tour, much to your dismay, there are tapes that have been prepared to explain interesting facts about the beautiful place you are visiting an dtour guides who speak from behind a microphone, preventing you from understanding one bit. 

A flight attendant comes down the aisle and asks if you would like a magazine to read.  you want anything except Time, butit's the only one you can pronounce clearly enough to be understood.  Guess which magazine you end up with?

Please do excuse the redudancy as I find it formidable to recall which ones have been posted and which ones not....I'll do my best.

"Deaf people have a unique culture, one that is based on sight, rather than sound.  Consequently, our way of behaving and thinking usually revolves around sight.  This collection provides a glimpse of how deaf people function in a society dependent on sound."

"You go to a movie theater with a group of friends.  In the middle of the movie, you need to go to the restroom.  Upon your return, you cannot find your seat.  YOu stand for a few moments and look for heads that are constantly shifting toward each other.  You start heading in that direction since you know they are your friends-only deaf people would sign to each other constantly throughout the movie as they try to help each other figure out the plot of the movie. 

you usually walk facing traffic in order to keep everything within your eyesight.

you are confused about whether or not people can hear bodily noises.  you just can't figure out when the grumblings in your stomach are loud enough for people to hear and whether you are breathing loudly as well as hard. 

you call a friend.  you let the phone ring more than ten times, since you know that it is possible for your friend to be home but not see the lights flash.

when waiting in a busy doctor's office, you sit in a strategic location where you can easily lipread the caller and be as visible as possible so that you will not miss your turn.

you are a dedicated parent who wants your young child to learn the English words for various objects in the house.  you put all signs all over the house with the correct word for each object.  One day, you forget to turn off the stove after using it.  You decide to make a sign with the word "STOVE" on it and put it on the kitchen door to help you remember to turn off the stove each time you leave the kitchen.  your child sees the sign and says, "No, no, wrong, wrong, it's not a stove, it's a door."

To prevent forgetting to turn off the stove fan, you automatically turn on the stove light as a reminder every time you need to use the fan.

you feel the dashboard of your brand-new car to make sure it has started

in response to new parents of a deaf infant who ask you if you felt cheated by your deafness, you say no, but the oral education you received cheated you.

when running downstairs to put clothes in the dryer, you also grab your infant to keep her within your sight.  otherwise, the house could become a wreck during your few minutes of absence.

when inserting coins in a soda machine, you put your hand on the machine to feel the coins drop before making the selection.  experience tells you that the machine won't cooperate until the coins have dropped completely. 

when visiting a deaf friend at his home, you go through a specific routine if there is no answer at the door.  first you ring the doorbell long enough to make sure there is no possibility that your friend overlooked the lights.  then you check the door to see if it is unlocked.  if it is locked, you walk around the building and take a look through the windows and in the yard.  if it is unlocked, you ring the doorbell once again before entering.  you flick the hallway light and continue your entry into the living room.  after all these fail, you write a note.  otherwise, your friend will accuse you of not waiting long enough or trying hard enough to make sure he is not home.

Many hazards that were listed in the original Hazards of Deafness are no longer true, thanks to advancements in technology and enlightened sensitivity among people in today's society.  the following collection is selected from the book, each with an explanation why it is no longer a hazard.

you buy a TTY.  You find your phone bill a lot higher than the neighbor's because you can't type as fast as they can talk.  In some states, TTY users receive a discount for this very reason. 

you only half-close your car door and don't notice until you are on the freeway doing eighty.  Now, with the light warning system on many cars, you are immediately alerted if the door is not closed right.

In the hospital, you can't call your loved ones, but neither can the bill collectors call you.  Thanks to Section 504 of the Rehabilitative Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992, hospitals are bound to provide equal access to deaf patients, including the provision of TTYs.

A news bulletin logo crosses your TV screen.  Dialogue you cannot hear follows.  You imagine all kinds of things happening, from Martha Raye winning a beauty contest to Martians invading New York City.  You must wait until you read the next day's paper to find out what really happened.   With an increasing number of news programs being captioned, deaf people now have equal access to information on TV.

You wait all year for Santa Claus to come, and then when he does, you can't tell when he asks if you have been good, since his beard and whiskers make lipreading impossible.   It is now possible for you to tell Santa Claus that you have been good.  Many places have special times for a signing Santa to make an appearance.

you spend half your life going to the post office to pick up captioned films or parcels that the postman wouldn't leave because he couldn't make you hear to come to the door.    Captioned films were a popular form of entertainment before decoders were available.  Deaf people would often congregate at a friend's home to watch captioned films.  trips to the post office were frequent to pick up and return films.

you are an acress who gives a super performance that brings down the house, but you fail to hear one single word of praise or applause.    Visible applause such as handwaving is now popular.

Your tour group visits Washington, D.C.  You visit many historical places- the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Capitol, and many other sites.  The guides are very busy explaining about each one.  Since your tax dollars built them, you just wish that you could get a little more from your tax money by being able to understand what is being said.  Interpreters are routinely provided for many tourist attractions with advance notice. You can enjoy those national treasures as much as others.

You can't phone friends to wish them a happy birthday or invite them to a poker party.  But then, neither can anyone phone you when you're in the bathroom.  With TTYs, nationwide telephone relay service, and hearing dogs, your privacy in the bathroom is no longer assured!

You watch a football game for ages wondering what the score is before it is finally flashed on the screen. With the decoder, you are able to enjoy the play-by-play comments by the TV sportscaster.

you apply for a job and have to impress your prospective employer with looks and manners rather than the spoken word.  Actions speak louder than words, and it is possible to land something good if you play your cards right.  Thanks to the ADA, deaf people cannot be discriminated against based on their inability to hear.

you arrive at the airport to go to some far-off destination.  No last words can you telephone to your loved ones.  you have to suffer in silence as you watch others make calls.  Now you can suffer and battle along with your fellow travelers in trying to find an available phone.

A friend who left her address book at home is passing through your city and has no way of locating you since you have no phone and your name is not listed in the telephone directory.  it is obvious that the deaf community has undergone a major transformation since the advent of TTYs.

you pay the full price for a TV set when you don't need the sound system.  you don't mind this too much when the Miss America contest is on.  Now that the ADA fully in place, all new television sets are sold with decoders built in. 

you have a neighbor who loves to talk call your doctor for you.  soon the entire neighborhood knows your medical history, and then some.  privacy is now assured with the telephone relay service. 

These posts have helped me beyond measure.

Peace, Love, Harmony, Kindliness & Health, to All Sentient Beings, Everywhere ... Forever

Sapan Rinpoche, aka, Lone Hawk Watcher ... Lyons, Colorado