wts made a video about masturbation IN SIGN LANGUAGE, WITH GESTURES

by rebel8 293 Replies latest members adult

• 

  Lady Lee

  My soapbox comment of the day:

  many of the Deaf don't know English words because they are two completely different languages

  People born deaf are not normally accustomed to English in writing, so it would not be understandable.

  I am dumbfounded at comments like this. Deaf people can't read English?

  • Then how on earth did they read all the WT publications that got them to the point of being baptized?
  • How do they follow along in the WT study and answer the questions?
  • How do they read and respond to answers in the Book Studies?
  • How do they go door to door hawking WT literature?
  • For decades the deaf have been using tty and then computer for communicating with other people both hearing and deaf. (A tty machine is attached to a phone and a call is made to another tty machine and people write in English (or whatever language they have been taught) and they read the responses they get. I used to have a tty machine and I remember that the words were spelled right but the grammar was more ASL than English.

  Good grief we have deaf people in here reading and writing in English - not broken English but proper English both in words used and grammar.

  I met a man who was deaf and was an aerospace engineer and he had worked on the Canada Arm. I know others who are teachers, computer specialists. They all had to go to college and university and they had to use real books with real English. They had to write exams and papers on a wide range of topics.

  I worked for a while as an interpreter for college students who were taking college level courses in physics, sociology, and philosophy. They weren't using special books and there wasn't anything special about the education they got although they did go to the school for the deaf at McKay Centre in Montreal.

  They all learned to read English.

  Saying that the deaf can't read English is an insult to them.

  ---getting off my soapbox---
• 

  blondie

  Thanks Lee. I was waiting with someone with the VOICE of experience to respond. I work too with deaf people who have high level professional jobs and could only get there by reading English. I schedule interpreters of all kinds for court hearings including ASL. (I also learned that lip reading is a talent not something all can do).

  So we have the facts folks, time to adjust our thinking.
• 

  Broken Promises

  The video's still funny, though!
• 

  Lady Lee

  What bugs me about it Blondie is that I hear this comment mostly from people who are deaf! And they are typing in English to do it.
• 

  jeanpicard

  "I am dumbfounded at comments like this. Deaf people can't read English?

  • Then how on earth did they read all the WT publications that got them to the point of being baptized?
  • How do they follow along in the WT study and answer the questions?
  • How do they read and respond to answers in the Book Studies?
  • How do they go door to door hawking WT literature?
  • For decades the deaf have been using tty and then computer for communicating with other people both hearing and deaf. (A tty machine is attached to a phone and a call is made to another tty machine and people write in English (or whatever language they have been taught) and they read the responses they get. I used to have a tty machine and I remember that the words were spelled right but the grammar was more ASL than English."

  Lady Lee,

  Many deaf people can't read English, at least not well. English and ASL are two entirely different languages.

  To answer your questions: the Society translates nearly all of their publications into sign languge, including the Watchtower. There are hundreds of congregations that speak only sign language at their meetings and use only sign language videos--no English publications. The same goes for circuit assemblies and disctirct conventions. There is no interpreting, no English whatsoever. The talks are all delivered in ASL from the platform. They comment in ASL. Everyone there, including the hearing, use ASL. In service, these congregations seek out only the Deaf and present these videos on DVD.

  Take a look at the new JW.org site under "Publications" and you'll see a section devoted entirely to sign language. The Watchtower is there in ASL. The Hebrew Scriptures are there in ASL. Most books and brochures are there in ASL.

  Regardless of the Society's doctrinal views or policies, they really do understand Deaf culture, while many on this thread, it seems, aren't even willing to try to understand Deaf culture.
• 

  Broken Promises

  The quote was

  People born deaf are not normally accustomed to English in writing, so it would not be understandable.

  As they said, they're not accustomed to writing in English, they didn't say it was impossible!

  I've noticed that the grammar of deaf ppl in a written medium such as the internet is often wrong, simply because in every day life they don't need to use the same style of grammar as written/spoken English does. Unless they have constant exposure to written English.
• 

  MC RubberMallet

  I was in ASL. I know MANY deaf ones. I am no expert, but I am no dummy to it either.

  1) I did say MOST of the ones I have personally known, just so you would understand I wasn't speaking in behalf of ALL deaf people who ever lived.

  2) Even then, I was specific in speaking of those who were BORN deaf. I know ones born deaf that have intense jobs and education, but it was certainly a small portion. When I asked, that is the answer I was given by secular teachers and the ASL congo teachers. For a hearing child to learn English, it takes YEARS to grasp it (or any language). And they HEAR words being read, they sound it out, etc. It's all a part of learning to speak/read properly. Without being able to HEAR from birth, imagine how much more difficult!

  BP and jeanpicard - Exactly!
• 

  MC RubberMallet

  Everything ASL does NOW is visual. They even go door to doo with mobile DVD players! Even though this is relatively new, it's made possible because of technology. Previously, they had 'deaf' literature. The friends used it the best way they could, but overall it was pointless. It's so much cheaper to produce an English tract than an ASL DVD to hand out in service, but the DVD is so much more effective in recruiting new ones. So they switched over.

  The 'signers' in the DVD's are all deaf. They live in Patterson. Their only job is to produce and improve the product. In order to make work life in bethel, yes, they need to know to at least read English. I wasn't discrediting ALL deaf from that.
• 

  rebel8

  I think it is in bad taste to make a religious video with masturbation demonstrations, period.

  The fact that it's in sign language is the reason but it's not an excuse.

  The fact that it's in sign language makes the content more graphic. That is a side effect of ASL, I get it, but that means more care should be taken, not less. Taking less care is demeaning to deaf people, not the other way around. They were careless about this side effect and now look what happened. It is a perfect parody of a sexually perverted religion, courtesy of ASL.

  The only right option would have been to not make the video at all.

  They chose to not only make it but to publish it on the www on a religious website, frequented by virgins, children, grannies with heart conditions, and anyone in the entire world. It's fair game for critique; they shown the spotlight on themselves.

  Critique is not in poor taste just because people with a disability were the main intended audience.
• 

  frankiespeakin

  Rebel,

  We can look at it as the WT using soft religious porn to attract people to their web site, I'm sure they have a counter in place to see which ones get the most hits. Probably all those sexually repressed feelings that are banging around in the GB psyche are trying to get out, because they can't even touch themselves without feeling dirty or unclean.

  I'm sure many GBs are watching these videos with a clean consceince,, and using the slowdown and pause buttons.