I’ve had enough of this silly feud going on between Surduslaw and Deaf GA. What was originally just a simple post on a personal blog about an audio amplification system at the Utah Supreme Court has turned into a slanging match between Surduslaw and Deaf GA members. The original post can be seen here.

I have to say: “poor Mad!” When she posted she never expected the comments to become what it has! It just goes to show that even though the feud between Surduslaw and Deaf GA rarely comes to a head, when it does, all the bitterness and old feelings emerge once again.

Now, I have to inform you that I have had nothing to do whatsoever with this feud – it happened before I joined SL. I joined Deaf GA for a while after joining SL, and got embroiled in some debate or another, and for some reason, I tended to side with the SLers, and then experienced the uppity attitude of Deaf GA first hand, which put me off them completely. What I don’t like about Deaf GA is this:

… we now have a four-tiered system:

• Attorney members who pay dues (currently just $12 USD annually) can access all areas of the forums.
• Law students have full access as well, but do not have to pay dues.
• Attorney members who do not pay dues cannot access any areas of the forums.
• Law school administrators have access only to the “Law School Administrators” section of the site, but do not have to pay dues.

(cough) You have to pay to join Deaf GA? No thanks! SL may be quieter and less active, but at least it’s free, and I happen to think that the guys on it are more supportive, nice and less uppity than the ones over at Deaf GA.

One of the most annoying comments posted in response to Mad’s entry is this one by Bernard Hurwitz:

Also, I understand you have been asking on SL about the May ABA National Conference on Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities. A complete agenda for this conference is available at www.deafattorneys.com. Several DGA members will be in attendance, and a couple will be speaking.

Talk about self-advertising!! The tactic being that: the owners of Deaf GA i.e. Kirstin, Albert and Bernard post comments attacking the SLers for being rude and obnoxious about Mad’s ‘condescending’ comment:

I much prefer audio amplification to real-time, but my client deserves to have an advocate who can hear and address everything the judges and opposing counsel have to say about his case.

and then advertising Deaf GA. Not very subtle, is it? They attack SL, make themselves look good, and then invite people to join DGA!

In a world where d/Deaf and HOH people face such discrimination, particularly within the legal profession, it is such a damn shame that there are two factions of Deaf lawyers who can’t work together nor come to a compromise. Surely by working together we can achieve so much more?