RSSReflection
Jul 11
Yes I know. I had a blogging spurt recently and then it just went nowhere and I ain’t posted for a few weeks.
There are two reasons for my apparent quietness.
Firstly, Rachel, Corey, Bump and I upped sticks from our 3-bedroom terraced house in Oakdale to a 4-bedroom new-build detached house in Abercarn.
Moving house is something I would not want to repeat. While the move in itself went well, it was a mammoth task as it took 5 trips in a Transit-sized van as well as 4 cars making several trips to move all our stuff, taking up a huge chunk of a day and an hour or so the next.
Needless to say, we love our new home and have been busy ever since putting our stamp on it. It’s so lovely to have the extra room.
The second reason is a shame. Following my post “Are there any Deaf left?”, someone took it upon themselves to contact my employer to complain about some of my comments.
Now, in hindsight I do understand that some of my comments in that post are somewhat controversial and that given my senior management post within RAD, I should have been more mindful of any implications this would have on RAD’s work and in particular the work of my colleagues on the senior management team. Lesson learnt.
What I was rather dismayed about was the fact that my comments about hard of hearing were seen as “discriminatory” and that hard of hearing people should think twice about coming to RAD/me for legal advice. I believe the two things (my views on hard of hearing people belonging to the Deaf community / their right to receive free legal advice) are completely separate. I have and do provide many hard of hearing individuals with legal advice, and have no qualms in doing so. This was rather a wake up call for me, and something I won’t be in a hurry to repeat, given my exposure to the Deaf community and the fact that hard of hearing people can access my services.
It’s a shame that my “voice” has to be stifled somewhat, but you know what? There’s more important things to concern myself with. There’s a lot more I can talk about than not without compromising my position as a senior manager and as a solicitor.
Let’s see what drivel I can come up with, eh? 
Jul 12, 2011 @ 09:08:39
“The second reason is a shame. Following my post “Are there any Deaf left?”, someone took it upon themselves to contact my employer to complain about some of my comments.”
That sounds like a vindictive thing to do.
Some people can’t cope with the fact that other people are entitled to hold controversial opinions and opinions different to theirs. They will treat that as ‘permission’ to be personally nasty.
Since comments on a blog have nothing to do with the work of RAD, I would guess that the motivation of this person had more to do with spite than to improve anybody’s lot.
If hoh people show an interest in learning about deaf culture and SL, I think they should be welcomed and encouraged – the more the merrier, I say!
Jul 19, 2011 @ 23:18:28
Rob,
that is really horrible – I forgot how petty some people can be in England i.e. causing trouble for you at your work, making a mountain out of a molehill
it is a nasty trick many deaf people have picked up 
Keep your chin up – there are thousands of things you can say – but at the same time you ll have to be conscious – it sucks that you ll have to look behind all the time to make sure you wont be trapped again.
Keep up with your blog. Don’t let the wee shites stop you!
Shane
Jul 22, 2011 @ 00:46:06
Goes to show that that person was losing the debate and got personal & spiteful.
Hopefully your wings are not too clipped. Does that include Twitter too as you’ve not been on it for a while either….
Feb 11, 2012 @ 19:30:17
It is true to say there is a certain amount of deaf arrogance about that puts people off, we cannot win the battle alone and HAVE to have hearing and HI onside, unless of course you couldn’t care less so long as deaf do OK. This ‘deaf first’ message alienates wider support straight away. The cliquey aspect of some deaf areas is also a total turn off in campaign and progress terms, unless we work together all the future holds is a constant state of internal warfare, I stopped blaming hearing years ago, and it is time you all stopped blaming everyone else for our shortcomings and moved on. Sh*t happens and always will just get on with it.
Feb 12, 2012 @ 11:15:54
Your Tweet…….”Is it just me or have I completely lost all patience with hearing pp these days? Just can’t with bothered with ignorant attitudes any more ?”
It’s not just you, and that’s the problem…. but why feed into it ?