Celebration of Our Realm
At the end of 2005, Ricky Taylor set up on his initiative the Deaf Blog Awards. While there were some charges of self-promotion and a lack of impartiality, I thought it was a neat idea. At the very least, it exposed me to a number of blogs I wasn’t aware of, and an opportunity to re-evaluate those that I already knew of. To his credit, once the voting had ended and the results were posted, Ridor promised to find a more neutral host for the following year. Well, guess what? It’s that time of year again.
The Deaf Blog Awards are now hosted by DeafRead, and Tayler Mayer made the initial announcement of this year’s retrospective look at the deaf blogosphere of 2006 at his individual editor’s blog at DeafRead, then subsequently crossposted on the new Deaf Blog Awards page. Underhill, over at Roblog, followed up by announcing this year’s edition. I’m simply joining the crowd at this point.
While I think we’re all important and have valid opinions in our own ways, I’m looking forward to this year’s awards, mostly because it’ll afford me the opportunity to explore even further what DeafBlogLand has to offer. When I started blogging, there were a few deaf and hard-of-hearing bloggers around, and I dutifully joined the masses in reading the “big names.” But there was no inclination for me to seek out smaller platforms with people who just might be equally good, if not better, than the “premier names.” As I started my own blog, and friends and friends of friends started sending me the URLs to their own corners of cyberspace, my horizons broadened. I started reading more and more, and became enthralled. I added a small list of blogs that I read on a daily basis to my original site.
By the time this blog switched addresses, I was actively monitoring more than a dozen blogs (and vlogs!). If I listed all of them, it’d resemble a carbon copy of the list over at DeafRead. I weeded out a few, added several, and posted my new blogroll. But that certainly doesn’t cover half of what I read. My latest “find” is “Simply Saunière,” a blog that seems to have stopped (temporarily?) in its tracks, but showed promise in its third entry. I re-discovered the blog of a close friend, who re-launched her blog and has started 2007 with some good posts. Adam Stone smoothly segued from both DeafDC and his personal blog to a new site chronicling his adventures in Sri Lanka, and Found in Ceylon has been a must-read since.
This doesn’t even include the number of more personal blogs, whose addresses I won’t list here, that are geared to friends and family, yet contain wonderful and interesting posts by talented folks. There’s also a bevy of smaller blogs that have yet to break into the “big time,” for one reason or another, such as Journey to Deaf Identity. Yet they too are part of the Teeming Tens of Thousands (sorry, couldn’t resist! *grin*).
The Tent City Protest spawned countless blogs, some of which have served their purpose (Bay Area Perspective on Gally is one example), and others that will most likely inspire renewed purpose (such as Andrea Shettle’s ReunifyGally). It also gave birth to several vlogs– while most of you are already familiar with Joey Baer and his work (and Amy Cohen-Efron, who has continued her participation in such forums from her days as ABCDE at Gally to her fascinating vlogs), there’s also ToddE over at Triomphe L’oeil, and quite a few of you checked out Teri Sentelle’s postings at DeafDish, which I have since discovered. The proliferation of vlogs (and cartoonists! Dan McClintock is a great example) leads me to wonder if maybe DeafRead needs to spin off a sister page at some point, solely devoted to vlogs/cartoonists– it could be called DeafView. *grin*
The categories this year look good, and I’ve already submitted most of my nominations. I’ll miss some categories, though. I’m sure the folks at DeafRead thought it was best, but I was just waiting for the moment I could submit my nomination for the most Narcisstic blog, for example (and no, my nomination isn’t necessarily that obvious. Even at this point, it’s still a tossup!). But perhaps it’s for the best.
That’s not even the end of it. I could go on and on, but these and many other sites have conspired to keep me glued to my computer far more than I’ve ever planned. I’m looking forward to how this year’s awards turn out, and I’m sure by 2008 my reflections (and possibly my blogroll!) will have expanded even more, as more and more people join DeafBlogLand.
I’m not sure I agree with you that more and more people will join DeafBlogLand. I am starting to feel that it might be just a fad that will blow over in time. People may start to wonder just what we gain from all these millions of wasted words. Imagine if all these bloggers and commenters chose to invest their energies into writing grants and raising money to do actual projects that benefit the deaf community. Wouldn’t that be better than all this blah-blah-blah that goes on and on and doesn’t really seem to accomplish anything aside from puffing up the egos of the writers?
Tom, you may be right in that this is a passing fad. However, we as a community have not really had the opportunity for a long-term, sustained, high-level discourse on what it means to be deaf and our opinions on everything and anything that encompasses the deaf experience. DeafBlogLand is finally offering us that chance - and in two languages to boot! Before we fight, we need to agree on what we’re fighting for. Otherwise, we have embarrassing fiascoes such as two state schools in the same state taking different positions on state legislature and actively lobbying, thus confusing legislators, as has happened in California. I believe that this discourse is going to go a long way toward unifying us, and at least on the issues that we disagree on, we will have gained understanding and respect for other perspectives.
Then again, DeafBlogLand has given us the opportunity to fight with one another like never before! I just don’t know that all this fuss and bother is really accomplishing anything of substance.
Thank you for including me in your article, Mr. Sandman. I was startled to get some comments on my blog Journey to Deaf Identity, last night and this morning. I was used to getting no comments. Mind you, I am not complaining. For Tom Williard, you may be right that it may be a fad for some folks. Me, I have been writing my blog for more than 2 years, even before Gallaudet uproars. I write articles because it is fun, and there is always a chance that people may find it and use it as a reference/resource someday. I had always wanted to be a writer, so this is a good way to do and get feedback (friends do give feedback when they remember to check my blog- LOL.)
Thanks again!
Hey buddy,
You provided a wonderful means of discourse in this blog entry and look, we’ve already started to discuss how it is impacting the deaf community. Moi is right and on target with you, that DeafBlogLand is offering us a chance (and yeah, two languages!) to unify us continually even after the Gallaudet Unity fight. As for the fuss and gripes that are associated with this, I think it is left up to the person, what he wants to read and write about (and ultimately fuss about). Right now, Tom, you’re fussing about the irrelevance. Refocus your energy on what you did (do?) best as a newspaper editor. It may always be around like gossip magazines and snippets seen around the media - i.e. Rosie and Barbara Walters on their View show versus Trump with his letter saying blah blah blah. They will not go away, and we shall not either! The benefits of this blogging/ vlogging far outweigh the literature that “lack in substance”. Like I said in my blog, it all soon shall come to pass. Love ya, dude (to Mr. Sandman)!
Tom,
Lively debate over an issue, as long as participants use reason and logic and not resort to ad hominem attacks, leads to development of ideas and eventually a consensus over a course of action to take towards resolution of the issue.
If we were to keep quiet in name of unity and pretend as if we are of one opinion, we’d be robots. This is not unity; this is Borg mentality.
Unity is achieved when we of independent minds debate the issue, consider different solutions and methods, and come to a consensus. Unity does not mean merger; unity is a social agreement between diverse groups in a society. Of course, our passions and our values get in the way. This is our human nature. Debate helps to sharpen our minds.
Look at the law of physics: nothing is static. There’ll be always sparks and twirls as we evolve along.
See what I mean? All these words, and nothing accomplished.
Believe it or not, people were able to debate issues and come to a consensus long before the Internet and blogs were invented.
Type, type, type away on a blog and what gets accomplished? Type on a grant application and you might actually accomplish something.
Tom, such cynicism isn’t going to encourage the deaf blogsphere in developing in directions we can only begin to glimpse.
In old times ideas and decisions were hammered out in boardrooms and rooms off the clubrooms, behind closed doors away from the majority of deaf people. The blog brings out thinking and debate into the open and enables more minds to participate and to understand how these decisions come about, AND to jump in if things don’t go the way they should.
It brought more people into the fray with the recent Gallaudet crisis and the groundswell…well, you know what happened. Not only did blogging explode, it also became a form of news reporting.
Blogging needs to be examined and taken more seriously. Make no mistake, this is more than a hobby. It’s a social movement.
Tom,
Where were you when the Gallaudet protests erupted? What would have happened to the Gallaudet protests if the deaf blogs didn’t exist? Would the public have believed the propaganda, lies & obsfuctations fed by the Gallaudet PR to the mainstream media if deaf blogs didn’t exist? Are you discounting the value of debate in a democracy or the impact deaf blogs had on public opinion towards the Gallaudet protests?
How would truth be exposed, ideas be expressed and solutions be found? Do you prefer we go back to the 1700s, when proclaimations were shout from unfolded scrolls?
If you feel deaf blogs are a waste of space, then close your website, pack up and join the Peace Corps. Or go out on the streets if you want to become an activist. Be a grantwriter, fine. Don’t just sit and whine - do something!
Sigh. It is not deafblogland as one wanted to coin it. Totally inappropriate. I prefer Deaf Blogosphere.
However, some charged that 2005 Deaf Blog Awards was biased. But someone had to start it — nobody did so I took the initiation.
Don’t like it, stop bitchin’.
At least, I’m doing something proactive and positive — how? I turned it to Tayler Mayer of DeafRead.com because I wanted it to succeed on behalf of Deaf Bloggers. What hearing bloggers had done, so can we.
Damn the “some charges of self-promotion and a lack of impartiality” comments. Was that necessary, Dave? I think not.
What did YOU do to contribute so far? I try to do things in a positive manner. Give me some credit, buddy.
R-
Citizen … I’m not sitting and whining. Stay tuned.
Jeez. Post a couple times, go away, and what happens?
I have some thoughts about all of your comments, but unfortunately, my body was only dormant. It’s in full rebellion again. Once it’s recognized my eternal superiority, I’ll be back.
Til then…
Ricky, I saw someone comment somewhere that she really did not plan to coin that word. She just used it for fun and was surprised when people started using it. I don’t remember where I saw that comment.
And I don’t understand why you don’t like it. I respect your opinion, but can you explain? Thank you.
Yada: ‘land’ refers to the concrete thing. Blogs are not. Blogosphere is acceptable term. DeafBlogLand sounds like a child’s game called “CandyLand”.
If you google ‘blogosphere’ — it pops up a lot. But DeafBlogland? Too childlike for me to handle.
R-
I don’t recommend having a fever for five days (among other things!) as a way to miss work and get behind with everything. But I guess we can’t completely avoid the bad side of life…
Some interesting thoughts in here. I want to take a good portion of this and discuss it further elsewhere. Too good (and important!) a topic to leave buried in the comments section (although someone once said the comments are where the real meat is…).
Ricky, that’s a well-known line of yours: “What did YOU do to contribute so far?” For now, my answer is, “Provide a place that isn’t named RidorLive for you to comment at.”
Seriously, I had no complaints (and still don’t!) about the Deaf Blog Awards. I thought it was a great idea, and as I said above, it was a smart move on your part to turn it over to a third party.
Yada, I agree with Ricky– I never particularly cared for the term “DeafBlogLand.” Moi originated the term at Random Thoughts and Musings, and it just took off like wildfire after that. I had a discussion with Moi about this, actually, and I referred to it in terms of Disney or something– not too far from Ridor’s thoughts about “CandyLand.” I’m using it more and more now, mostly cuz everyone else is, but my personal preference is, and always will be, “deaf blogosphere.”
Hmm… maybe instead of a battle of bloggers, we can have a battle of blog terms?
I’m curious how many prefer which term, and why?
Oh! Sending some love your way as well, Todos la Vie. *grin*
Man. Now I feel compelled to defend the term DeafBlogLand. *grin* Seriously, everyone, use whatever term you prefer.
Yada is right in that I had no intention of coining a new term. It took me by surprise when something I wrote just for me became so widespread. I don’t mind at all, but that wasn’t the plan. I have a lot of “moi-isms” when I write or sign, as people who know me know. I just figured this would be another one of my moi-isms.
I came up with it for a few reasons:
1. “Deaf blogosphere” got boring for me to write, yes, but the main limitation of the term was that it was a hearing term and implied that we were glomming onto their space/infrastructure and just carving out a small niche for ourselves. To me, this phenomenon, no matter what the term, is uniquely our own. Thus, “deaf blogosphere” doesn’t do it justice, imo, because it borrows a hearing term.
2. We as a people have never had one place that we can all call our own. (Personally, I think Gallaudet or the Paris school are great candidates, but some would dispute that. Nobody would dispute that DeafBlogLand is uniquely our own.) This realm is our nation - it’s there for deafies worldwide, just as Israel is there for the Jews scattered worldwide. So, Ricky, I respectfully disagree. A land/realm can be a concept as well as terra firma. It’s our very own space in the world, even if it’s virtual. Therefore it is a completely appropriate term, again simply in my opinion.
3. It is instantly clear what DeafBlogLand refers to - no misunderstandings nor confusion, as opposed to, say, DeafVirtualRealm, which could be construed to be a virtual reality game or something. Good writing is supposed to be clear.
I’m sorry you two don’t like it, but that’s what makes America great - the ability and permission to disagree with respect and reasoned dialogue. I think the fact that so many people have picked up on it shows that it resonates with a good number of people and “speaks” to them on a gut level, though not everyone uses it. That needs to be acknowledged.
In sum, I stand by DeafBlogLand because it represents the idea that we have our own place for worldwide deafies for the very first time and it is uniquely ours, regardless of what others choose to do or think, but I will not criticize those who use “deaf blogosphere” or who attempt to coin another term. I won’t accuse them of being “too hearing” or whatever. You are all free to use either term, according to your preferences.
I think “battle of terms” is silly. People choose to use Deaf Blogosphere. Other people choose to use DeafBlogLand. Leave alone.
No need to defend yourself, moi. *grin* Both terms are acceptable to me, and Ricky and I were just stating our preferences. But since you’ve posted your thoughts, I’d like to respond for a minute, if I may.
So if “blogosphere” is a hearing term, then none of us should refer to the blogosphere as a whole as “the blogosphere.” We should then, by your logic, call it “BlogLand.” Come to think of it, right now we’re writing in a “hearing” language– after all, English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic… all these languages and more were wholly oral languages to begin with, and did not assume written forms until later. There are quite a few indigenous languages that have never had a written form. By your logic, if we wanted to preserve something for ourselves as deaf people, we should stop using blogs and written English– our recourse then is to all start vlogging, in ASL. Only then would it be truly ours.
I agree with you on your second point– a land/realm can be a concept, as much as anything else, and I agree with you– I see the deaf blogosphere as our “home.”
As for the third point, I think “deaf blogosphere” is just as clear as “DeafBlogLand.” I doubt anyone would mistake the word “deaf” for “hearing.” *grin*
I’m glad to know that you won’t see me as being “too hearing” after all this.
Observer, I was being sort of silly. While I’m not actually advocating a “battle of terms,” I still am curious as to what people prefer and why, but not as a means to start a conflict, but more of a way to start a discussion. I knew Moi had coined the word, but until now, I’d never heard an explanation for why Moi came up with the term or the rationale Moi had for all of this. So it’s been fascinating, to say the least!
Hm. I beg to differ. My point was that DeafBlogLand is uniquely ours. Therefore, BlogLand isn’t necessarily how we should refer to the blogosphere. As for the rest of your argument connected to that, I’m not going there because it’s predicated on a flawed assumption.
As for the third point, yes, “deaf blogosphere” is just as clear, but it’s not unique.
Another thought - DeafBlogLand doesn’t have the misspelling issues blogosphere has. So many writers are writing it as “blogsphere” and a few are writing it as “blog-o-sphere.” No such issues with this term.
By the by, I notice you’ve changed your category term for this realm. Interesting. Glad you’re doing what you feel is right for you.
I’m dropping the matter after I click “submit.” Life’s too short.