Archive through March 14, 2003
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Christy Smith (ARCHIVE):
Archive through March 14, 2003
Hermione69 | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 12:47 pm     Hey Tabby, my high school offers ASL as a foreign language alternative and many colleges and universities across the country are starting to accept it as a legitimate foreign language because the deaf community has its own unique culture, traditions, literature, grammar.... etc. I can't say I am surprised that some people in the deaf community are disappointed that she hasn't used this as more of an opportunity to showcase deaf culture, but I think they need to remember where she is and why. Adaptability is vitally important to survival. She was also with a group of women who appeared to be totally uninterested, if Christy had tried to force information on them, that wouldn't have gone over well. Just her talking about what it has been like for her on Survivor raises their eyebrows and makes them defensive. Heaven forbid she should have tried to broaden their horizons. The other thing is she *may* have shown them some signs and it could have gotten edited because it didn't fit the story MB wanted to weave. I would like to see her do some signing, but I am not holding it against her that she hasn't. I think she is absolutely amazing. We have a lot of parellels in our lives. I have hearing parents and grew up in the hearing world and am emracing deaf culture later in life also. I am so happy that Christy did it sooner than I did. It is lovely to have that feeling of belonging. |
Hermione69 | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 12:52 pm     Ann, don't be offended. Christy's mom said, "I know all this controversy about signing or not signing going on in the deaf community seems stupid to hearing people, but it's very real." It really is a big deal to many people in the deaf community. I have a very unique perspective having grown up in the hearing world, but really being and feeling deaf most of my life. I can truly see both sides of that issue because I have lived both sides. BTW, if you think this is bad, never raise the issue of cochlear implants in the deaf community. THAT really raises hackles. Paging LANZEEEEE!!! Lanzee! Where are ya? |
Tabbyking | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:00 pm     hermi, i think it's wonderful that your high school --and hopefully, others--offer sign language! i can't see anyone holding anything christy does on survivor against her--this is a game that is not a 'game', if you get my meaning. christy is not there to champion a cause-- even if WE do want to make her our heroine!!!--and i think of her as 'spunky' before i think of her as 'hearing impaired' or 'deaf'. christy is there to play the game. she happens to have a disability...but to my mind, it's not half so 'debilitating' as being 'dumb blonde' (heidi) or 'just can't go on'(shawna-of-the-miraculous-oh-my-heck-there's-a-man-in-my camp-cure). |
Pamy | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:01 pm     GO CHRISTY!!! I am so glad ROger and Butch are treating her with the respect she deserves. Maybe she has taught some of them some words in sign language and they haven't shown us yet. |
Texannie | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:15 pm     I didn't get to see last night, and haven't read all the posts, but did she tell the guys she was deaf and was she outed? |
Alaginger | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:21 pm     She told the guys that were left on Tambaqui (Dave, Roger and Butch) and was welcomed with opened arms. She was grinning like a banshee!!! And openly spoke her appreciation of the acceptance she had received there......and no she was not outed, she told it openly.....unless you mean booted, in which case, Jeanne got booted. |
Hermione69 | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:22 pm     Texannie, she told them immediately after the switch. They handled it very well. |
Texannie | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:28 pm     Great. For some reason I thought the other girls had "told" on her to somehow use it against her. Did the guys talk about it in the one on one interviews? Glad to know she was accepted. |
Tabbyking | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:33 pm     did anyone else notice the 'look' on jeanne's face when christy talked of how appreciated and accepted she felt by the guys in the 'new' tribe? she was right to feel 'guilty' about how the all-gal tribe 'tolerated' christy, and did not fully accept her as one of them. it's almost as if some people feel a disability makes someone .8 of a person or something! which is laughable, except that it's partly true that some people see others that way! gosh, i guess that made helen keller only .4 of a person, if we have to take off .2 each for her being deaf, unable to speak, and blind. whew, good thing we can give her a .4 for being able to touch and taste! yes, i am being facetious, but i feel some people really do see people as less if they don't have all 5 senses! almost as if they feel they are missing some brain 'sense', or are somehow not as bright! |
Tabbyking | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:34 pm     tex, yes, one of the guys (butch, i think) talked about it. said he had no idea during all the challenges! he was impressed with christy. |
Seamonkey | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:45 pm     Hermi.. you beat me to the punch!! I know the cochlear implant controversy is heated, to say the least. One of my online friends has an implant, so I've learned of some of her issues.. she's working in customer service and she had to do her own research to figure out how to adapt the work equipment to work with her implant, but at least her company, while very marginal in working with her, did support her and she's still working there. I think her hearing loss was as an adult and I don't think she signs (but not sure) or is involved in the deaf community. I remember that the woman who was Miss America was roundly criticized when she chose to speak and not always sign. Seems to me that if a person can speak AND sign they can be quite versatile and flexible. On Survivor, anything that makes a person stand out can put a target on their back, so I can see why there is not a sign language interpreter (tho if I was one of the contestants it wouldn't bother me at all for instructions). I'm a little surprised that she doesn't seem to automatically sign .. I have a hearing friend who went through the classes and became certified in ASL and it was such a big part of her life (her job and passion) that she'd often sign without realizing it when she was speaking to all hearing people. I cannot IMAGINE if I was in a group with Christy, not wanting to learn some cool ways to interact with her.. My heart leapt up when Christy told the guys and they reacted as normal, accepting human beings. How nice (and reasonable) that they were impressed with how she managed in the situation instead of the way she was ignored in the all girl tribe. |
Mygetaway | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 01:49 pm     My son is in ASL as his language requirement right now in High School. His best friend is deaf, but can hear slightly too. He doesn't sign much either. He chooses to read lips around us, and have us speak loudly. Neither of his parents are hearing impaired. I can understand Christy not even trying with her former tribe.. none of them seemed interested. I bet that Butch and Roger will though, it all depends on whether CBS will let us see it like someone else posted above. (Herm.. I was thinking about the cochlear implants debate too.) |
Twiggyish | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 02:17 pm     I think it's possible she doesn't want to stand out from the others right now. They might target her, especially if she used a translator. She's playing it smart right now. |
Gina8642 | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 02:20 pm     I think Christy is great and Christy needs to make decisions that Christy thinks are in her own best interest while playing the game. I'm hearing, and while I've had some deaf friends and co-workers, I'd say I really know very little of the deaf community other than what I read. For me, it makes no sense for Christy to be signing in a group of all hearing people out in the woods. Public figures who sign while they speaking at public events are speaking to both the hearing and deaf audiences. Christy is living out in the woods 24/7. The idea of reality TV is to see people living their lives as they actually would. Why should she speak another language 24/7 when no one there understands it? Yes, we are watching her on TV, but they aren't supposed to be playing to the camera 24/7. (A parallel example - If my native language was spanish, I wouldn't translate everything I said every moment of the day to a bunch of people who didn't speak spanish if I was living out in the woods with them. However, if I was accepting an award on national TV, I'd probably throw in some english and some spanish.) I'm not sure if I'm making myself clear or not. I know from reading about the debate in the deaf community around signing or not and about implants or not that Christy is pretty much in a 'damned if you do, and damned if you don't' position. She's seems like a pretty strong person and I hope she won't let the critizism get to her. Anyway, I think she's been great. I don't think she has tried to hide her deafness whatsoever. BTW - I'm sure some tribe members have asked her for info on signs. I know I have anytime I've hung out with people who can sign. While it is facinating to learn, I don't think it will make riviting television. They might show some down the line as a 'bonding' moment for editing purposes. |
Lycanthrope | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 02:51 pm     Since I am a hearing person, I have no clue about this debate in the deaf community. I'll go along with pretty much anything Hermi has to say on the matter. I'm making my dislikes/likes decisions on my perception of personality + strength of game playing, and right now Christy is strong in both categories and that's why I like her best now. |
Whoami | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:31 pm     I too think it's silly to expect Christy to sign in a group of people who don't know sign language. If a Spanish/English speaking person were on Survivor, would they choose to speak Spanish the whole time, and demand an interpreter while in the game? No, cause they speak both languages fluently. Christy speaks two languages fluently. She uses the language she needs to use at the time to communicate. Hermione...I have a probably dumb question I'd like to address to you (or anyone else who can answer). Last night, they did a spot on the news on Christy (since she's from Colorado). One of the people they interviewed signed, while an interpreter spoke for her. The quoted speech was full of "like" and "you know" type interjections. Was this the intepreter interjection her own speech patterns into what she was interpreted? I can't imagine someone signing this pattern of speech, since the scant little I know of ASL is that there are many "short cut" type ways to sign things, and I can't imagine why you would want to sign "useless" words. If the interpreter was interjection her own speech patterns, isn't that a bit "unethical" so to speak? It just seems like it isn't a "true" interpretation that way. Don't know if I'm making any sense here or not! |
Fruitbat | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:33 pm     Do we know if she does sign? I know a deaf girl who does not, never learned it. It was the philosophy of the school she attended. She speaks so well I wonder if she did have hearing at one time. Herm? You can probably speak to that. |
Lancecrossfire | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:43 pm     I'd like to throw out an idea about the translator--I'm not sure she had that as an option. Jeff make it clear they didn't make any extra efforts for Christy--and it seems like a translator at TC woudl be something beyond what is normal. As far as folks facingher or making it possible for her toread their lips, that is at their choice to do or not do--but the show's production staff was not going to be doing anything different ofr her that they didn't do for anyone else. It seems if Christy didn't want her situation to impact the group and herself any more than she needed to, not signing would be her best chance. I don't believe it is her job to go on the show and represent any given situtaion--although I think it ends up happening because of how humans look at things. I think she is put in a position to be a role model, just as Heidi is put in a position to be a role model sinc she is a teacher. Yet for Heidi, is it really fair of us to hold her to a higher standard about making comments about looks being important or not inportant in context of the game? I ask because I end up doiing just that--but I'm not sure I have a right to. I also wonder if Christy is doing any signing to teach others--I'm guessing the rest don't sign or the show would hvae made a point to show us that to give the impression (true or false impression) Christy was aligning with someone because of the commality of being able to sign--just like two people speaking Chinese. I look forward to the next show. Considering the huge smile they showed up her in the previews and Butch's comment about rememering something that happened for the rest of his life, I think we may get to see something pretty good related to Christy. As a person who can hear, I will say that I have appreciated her approach to playing this game to begin with, not asking anymore from anyone than facing her when they speak, and doing her best not to make others fit into her world, as much as she would probabl love it if someone took an interest in lereaning signing. She has chosen not to push things on others--and I will always respect that. Herm, I won't bring up the implant. In terms of the game, and the editing such that we get to see only certain things, I am sure impressed with Christy so far. |
Fanny | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 03:52 pm     Lance, if all we did was come into a thread and say "what Lance said" this would be a boring board. So I try not to do that. But I have to say, what you just printed really resonated with me. Thank you for articulating so nicely exactly what I think. I'm so awed by Christy and how she's managed her stay thus far. This kid is one tough cookie. |
Seamonkey | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 04:22 pm     Bat, I know I'm not Hermi, but since Christy went to Galludet, I'd bet substantial money that she signs..I think signing is a huge part of the culture there. I guess what I meant is that if I was there and Christy was there, I'd learn at least a few things like Hi and if there was a situation that would have involved clapping, especially if the clapping was for something Christy did, then I'd clap, but also catch her eye and do the hand-revolving gesture that some deaf people use for clapping.. just for solidarity, I suppose. |
Happymom | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 06:26 pm     re:'Survivor' contestant splits deaf community By Tanya Barrientos Inquirer Staff Writer ...........and the mention of an interpreter, she sure doesn't seem like she needs one at all. She is doing great! Re: the mentioned criticisms of her lack of signing, first of all, those critical of her obviously have forgotten that this show is edited, so, she may be signing some and we just don't see it. This article really infuriates me! She is a person playing a game in a game show for a million dollars! She has no obligation to the deaf community to do or not do anything in this GAME SHOW! I wouldn't think she would sign on purpose or teach anyone else to sign unless they asked her specifically to do that. Strategically, she may think that drawing any extra attention to her deafness may not be good for her chances to win the game, which is the goal of every contestant! I am just steamed! She is being picked on so unfairly! |
Gina8642 | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 06:42 pm     I don't remember where I read it (SS board?), but I know Christy does sign. (This information came from her parents I believe) It said she grew up in a rural area of Colorado where she went to main stream schools up to her sophmore year. She did not sign up to that point and was 'mainstreamed' and read lips to get by. At that point she got unhappy and asked her parents to send her somewhere else to school. She then when to a high school for the deaf that is associated with Galludet (which I think is in DC?). After high school she attended Galludet. She supposedly signed through all her audition tapes for the show. I think Christy is fantastic role model for deaf kids. She speaks up for herself and asks for people to treat her with enough respect to attempt to communicate with her clearly. Aside from all that, she is a real trooper, a hard worker, she has a really funny sense of humor that I'm hugely enjoying. In my real life I've known some really annoying people who were deaf, I've also known some really fantastic people. When it comes down to it, I don't think Christy's deafness is why I'm enjoying her so much on this show. I think she is just a neat person. How she has dealt with this issue in her life, just speaks to what a neat person she it. |
Hermione69 | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 06:59 pm     Pretty funny that I just got home from a Silent Dinner, which is a weekly event for the deaf community in my area (and many other areas) and I have a couple of Christy questions directed my way. Whoami, I would have to see the signing to know whether the interpreter interjected the "likes" and the "you knows" herself. There is a deaf student who comes by the library during her lunch period and we always "talk." She doesn't say "like" or "you know", but she says, "Oh my God" all the time, LOL. Interjections can certainly be used in ASL just as they are in the hearing world. Maybe this person was pausing to collect his/her thoughts? Lanzee could answer this one better. I don't think it is as common for "likes" and "you knows" to be used in ASL as they are in spoken English, but certainly possible. I would really have to see the person signing. As far as the ethics thing goes, interpreters are given flexibility because going from ASL to English is a lot more complicated that you'd think. One ASL sign can have many different English meanings and the interpreter would have to use some subjectivity in translating. Think of how many adjectives there are for the word big. There is not a different sign for every one of those adjectives. Instead it has to be conveyed with gesture and facial expression. I will say it seems odd that the interpreter would use interjections such as "like" and "you know" unless the person either signed them or the interpreter was trying to figure the best way to translate the message into English that a general audience would get. Does that make sense? Fruitbat, apparently she was born with a substantial hearing loss that was discovered when she was a baby, but her parents are hearing and she grew up in the hearing world until she was in high school when she came home one day and announced that she wasn't going back there. I think she was put in a deaf school then and she went to Gallaudet like Seamonkey said, which is a deaf college, and there is no way on God's green earth she made it through Gallaudet without learning to sign fluently. She is shown in some preshow videos signing as well. Did I forget anyone's question? <Gina, I was working on this when you posted yours!> |
Hermione69 | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 07:00 pm     Seamonkey, that is SO COOL to me that you know how deaf people clap!!!!!! |
Seamonkey | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 08:18 pm     I think it is SO COOL to KNOW it I just love to know things about people; people are my passion (old psych major talking) |
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