Dare to comment? Observe the rules!
Mike,
I am in COMPLETE agreement with you. Vlogs should be subtitled. Or at the VERY least a transcript or a summary should be offered.
Note: Google Video offers a 'CC' button at the lower right hand corner for people who want to turn off/on the subtitles. However, that requires using a subtitle program that needs to be uploaded by google rather than burning the subtitles on the vlog itself (via windows movie maker). It is an option though.
Deaf people...(all of them) have been left out for YEARS and yet they don't subtitle...I agree..that reeks of hypocristy to the nth degree...
Just my 2 cents...I also do subtitle my vlogs. However, I do not subtitle my video comments on deafvideo.tv because I am unable to do so.
Right, JJ. You can just smell the hypocrisy out there regarding ASL vlogs who don't want to for "purist" reasons. A bunch of BS. I understand that there are some technical aspects that people may find it daunting and that's fine. What I am after are those who DO KNOW how to use subtitle software, and DO HAVE the time and the means to put subtitles in their signing vlogs.
Sure, provide a transcript or at least a summary what's being talked about but then again, videos of all kinds (e.g. news, vlogs, movie clips, etc) can do the same thing...offer a transcript in place of captioned video. Not quite the same thing.
Either you rise above that and do it or wallow in your own hypocrisy and don't do it because they were denied access for so long. Dwelling on the past isn't going to help anyone here.
You spoke from your heart... I felt you standing up and speaking up for us... like a true advocate.
Thank you.
Mike, I am a little disturbed about your subtitles in regards to foreign Deaf immigrants who are here in America and cannot read English. They are the ones who could be at a disadvantage, because you subtitle it only in English. Why does everyone but the foreign Deaf immigrants have accessibility?
That's hypocrisy here, Mike. America is a nation of immigrants.
Interesting topic to discuss.... Use subtitles in video? I think it is useless because you can't read it in your pager, can't translate the words, hard to read it if you wear bright shirt, etc...
Transcript is much easy... you can change the fonts size, translate in different languages, can read texts in your pager, etc...
What do you think?
That's something I do not understand about the vloggers that are not entitle the subtitling.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Mike. It's about the hypocrisy and hypocritical.
I feel that Seek Geo is our hero. He subtitled every words he signs. His grammars are not the structural language, however, his communication methods that supports the subtitling.
Everybody understand Seek Geo's.
Overall, his grammars are exceptional.
I realize that working on subtitles is not that hard.
I wholeheartedly respect the deaf and blind people as well as the late deafened people.
Mike, I have seen you saying, "uh..uh..uh" 
fookem, the cell phone technology is always changing and there are companies who are addressing those needs for the future. Would have you figured 5 years ago you'd have a cell phone with the technology to watch videos on it?
It's here already. So, other technical issues are already being addressed for cell phone users.
Also, Fookem, many have computers to access the internet rather than cell phones because of the various limitation. So, it is not useless. You can see people are constantly downloading YouTube videos with caption all the time. Let's not think up excuses for not having caption on vlogs or videos but promote the idea for better improvements in these areas.
White Ghost, my "uhs" will get less over time. These things are discussed at the spur of the moment and I do that. No rehearsal. *shrugs*
You get the point, Mike. 
John, any legal immigrants coming to America should know that learning English would be essential to their survival, however rudimentary it is. So, yeah, you are "disturbed" that I put out English in my subtitles as opposed to talking and not subtitle at all. Yeah, verily so, quite, quite disturbing.
*shrugs* over the uhs....that's *still* so cute.
Hey Mike!
Ha.. welcome to Seekies Group! I'm not sure if these people realized that it can make the different in our Deaf community if they want to reach out to educate the rest of hearing people.
For instance: I talked about "Relay Pranks Must Stop!" a few weeks ago and one person named Sean saw it in the youtube so he e-mailed me at youtube saying he happened to find my video and wanted to say that it has made a big impact on him so he deleted two of his relay prank videos and apologized to me and to everyone.
I thought it was awesome! That's the thing how we need to educate people, imagine if I did not provide captions, would he even understand my video? Nope, because he did thank me for the captions.
Sure, if some vloggers don't want to add captions or transcripts, that is fine, no biggie, it is their choice. But they have to remember that if they want to educate hearing people on some topics like you explained then it won't reach everyone to educate them.
One thing I do not get it is why they feel the need to attack others who provides captions, let them run how the way they want to do with their own sites.
-SG
*difference -- sorry for the typo!
-SG
I do subtitle my vlogs, but what some people may not realize is that they are not a word-for-word translation.
The thing is, ASL classifiers can be tricky to translate at times. The expression, "A picture is worth a thousand words." It's like that with ASL classifiers sometimes, so I end up having to put in more details in the subtitles.
The reason why that is a problem is because subtitles are limited to 2 lines, so I always try to find some way to describe it in as few words as possible and still be understood.
I'm not complaining, but it's one little part that some people will find to be difficult to deal with.
I have no problem with working with subtitles on my vlogs. Most of my vlogs are captioned, but there are a few that I still have to caption. Maybe I will get around to it this week.
I use a OS X freeware, "Subs Factory." It is the Mac version of the popular PC freeware, "Subtitle Workshop."
The interface is a little different, but relatively easy to work with. I would recommend it to anyone and it works with Google Video.
http://www.traintrain-software.c...ctory&
langue=en
I must command Mike on his dedication to subtitle his vlogs since his intentions are to reach a wider audience. For everybody, it is an option to add subtitles especially if they are interested in reaching a wider audience.
You have a big heart for Patty. I like that.
Good post! I agree completely with you about the hypocrisy.
Also, what about foriegn deaf people who do not know ASL? But . . . they may have studied English as part of the curriculum. All the more reason to have captioning there.
Banjo, thank you for the info about the OS X program!
Mike, you really believe that foreign Deaf immigrants who know ASL can really read English well? You're limiting your audience to the college level Deaf immigrants who has English as a 2nd language. What about those who have been here only 2 or 3 years and struggle with English as a 2nd language?
You should be able to reach out to everyone. Mostly Deaf immigrants have a easier time using ASL than learning English as a 2nd language.
Honestly this country is a country of Immigrants. That's the American way of life.
Lot of deaf people can't write in proper english and are very shameful. ASL are only their language to communicated. So are you saying we can't be in the blog if we can't write? Don't you relized some hearing people are the same way by using the video instead of writing to prevent themselve being embarrassed as well. I do enjoyed your blog and keep it up, man!
Again, John, any legal immigrants coming to America will need to know the English language. Some learn very quickly, others take years to learn the English language. This is no different from any other legal immigrants who want to immigrate to another country will need to learn that country's language in order to survive and even prosper whether they're deaf or not. But here in the U.S. we have subtitled/captioned shows in English all the time. Before you complain about my vlog and subtitles, you might want to talk to the networks that what they're doing are not enough for these Deaf legal immigrants.
The thing is, John, I am not targeting just the Deaf audience but deaf, hard of hearing and hearing audience since after all hearing loss range from mild to profound where millions of people in the United States enjoy the services of captioned/subtitled TVs and DVD movies.
There is a late-deafened librarian at a local library and she told me about how helpful the captioning had been to her when she was losing her hearing. The majority of cause of hearing loss will soon be due to age, especially with baby boom coming of old age. So I can imagine how helpful the subtitles in videos could be for ANY people... English, ASL, French, Spanish, etc. The point Mike is making... be considerate of the wider audience. Also, my husband does not have excellent eyesight so larger and colorful fonts help with reading.
Immigrants... well, when they come here to America, they have to learn English. That is American life.
Steve, to answer your question, it's "No." You don't have to write. And I am aware that many Deaf people are unsure of their English skills to even include subtitles in the ASL vlogs and that's understandable. What I am targeting are those who do have a good command of the English language, knows how to do subtitling, and they have the means and the time to do it. But the disingenuousness lies in those people who do not want to add subtitles because it supposedly "ruins" the ASL vloggings, even to the face of people who are Deaf-Blind and need the additional captioning information on ASL vlogs. But that's only one example.
Steve, thank you for the compliments, too.
Uh, there was, um, one thing you failed to mention, uh, and that is, um, subtitling ASL requires translation, which (ahem) can be difficult. Subtitling spoken English is straightforward.
Mike, I completely agree with you on this issue. I do not understand the fuss about adding subtitles to your vlog if you have the capacity to do so. You will reach such a wide audience if you do that.
And nor do I understand why this person said, 'Have someone else subtitle your vlog if you're gonna have it there.'
Why? You know exactly what you want to convey. It's a good way to practice bilingualism, and like you, I find it extremely hypocritical that those people are yelling for it, but refuse to practice it themselves. You said it very well when you said we have to rise above the hearing who won't give us equal communication access.
I plan onto eventually vlogging, and I *will* be adding subtitles, personally. To the heck with those flamers.
ML, ahem, you didn't watch the whole thing did ya?
Two things, if you're doing the ASL vlog and adding in the subtitles (good command of the English language) you know what words you want to put down that expresses most accurately with your signs and what you want to say.
But to let some else to add in the subtitles is only paraphrasing what the signer is saying. Not translating but paraphrasing.
Agreed about the ironic part, we deafies complain about the lack of CC on tv programs but SCOLD anyone who put subtitles on their vlogs.
Good for ya, DP!
Adding subtitles do not "dilute" the ASL message at all in a vlog. Rather, it invites more people to your ASL vlogs they will more than likely get them interested in ASL!
People need not to make it sound like it's an exclusive club.
What better way than open communication access by all deaf for all deaf to show the hearing world that if we d/Deaf can do it, then the hearing world doesn't have any excuses left to NOT provide communication access for the d/Deaf.
Guess I wasn't clear. When I sign in ASL and then try to write in English what I had just signed, it takes a while to translate everything even though it was me who signed the whole thing. This is because I don't think in English when I sign in ASL (when I do, it messes up my signs). When I speak in English, writing what I just spoke is easy and straightforward, because there's no translation required (everything's verbatim).
Suggestion: wear solid colors in your vlogs. It'll be eaiser to read the subtitles that way. And it'll help me refrain from starting with the Al Borland jokes.
Mike, you need to realize that Deaf immigrants had poor education in third world countries and are way behind. It's not their fault. Although I am an American citizen and am caucasian, since this nation was founded on immigrants, we have to be sympathetic to their Deaf immigrant's illiteracy problem with English. It's a fact of life. Deaf Americans are not illiterate but the Deaf foreigners could be illiterate with the English language, especially if they moved here just a few years ago.
To make my point, I feel that Deaf immigrants are different than hearing immigrants. Maybe the Deaf immigrants didn't even have the ability to write in their own language, due to poor educational standards in some countries. The literacy skills of Deaf immigrants are much lower than the literacy skills of the Deaf American born citizen, which is more on par with hearing literacy level.
Mike has proved his only oral language and only English.
Keyword is "legal" immigrant and that my audience is aimed at the adults, and not kids. Secondly, we have immigrants that have varying degrees of hearing loss and not all are "Deaf" as you put it but either Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing unless you are specifically talking about culturally deaf/hh immigrants. Thirdly, whatever their literacy skill is for English they will need the time to improve their English language skill if they are to survive in America. That's pretty much a fact in many cases just as one would need to learn another country's language if he's to live and survive over there.
I've chosen my audience, and that's the English using/speaking audience whether they're Deaf, deaf, hh or hearing. Sorry if I cannot placate your wish for me to absolutely all-inclusive when I made very clear of preferance and that is to speak.
Anonymous,
And? So what? I have two language. English and ASL (and a wee bit of French). I choose to speak the English language in my vlogs. Respect my personal choices and be grateful of the fact that I take the effort (and lots of time) to include subtitles in my vlogs....unlike most people out there.
Great Vlog!
Hey, Mike, I agree with you, and I'm a liberal lefty! You made excellent points, the same points that should be made to news organizations that don't subtitle (or otherwise text) their podcasts.
GOOD POINT!
Mike,
From the bottom of my heart, I truly want to thank you so much for being an advocate for subtitling. Advocating for this opens bridges of communication not only for the DeafBlind community but for others.
We will truly reap benefits from this amazing experience. I thank you once again, Mike.
Tactile smile with love,
Patty ox
It's so LOUSY how some people are so AGAINST subtitles. I mean they may make up all the excuses they want, but if you really look at it the practical and realistic view, they're reasoning behind it is totally SUPERFICIAL and IMMATURE. (Some) People, GROW UP! Subtitles or not.
Mike, you should check out this vlog:
http://thewattsworld.blogspot.co...sm-and-
asl.html
It's just a preview what oralism with subtitles look like, without any ASL.
Moi, haven't you realized that some people don't have time to subtitle their vlogs even if it is easy to do?
And have you realized that translating ASL into the English with correct grammar can be difficult sometimes?
Some have school studies (homework) to do, and others have families to pay attention to, others have more vlogs to be making.
Simply ASL provides a way for instant access to communication. But for oralism, people have to painstakingly create subtitles with everything in context, and spend more time away from family, friends, their jobs, and school just for that-
At the expense of hearing people or oralists who refuse to learn sign language "because they don't need to."
Well we don't need to subtitle, either, "because we don't need to."
Spending time with our families and friends are more important.
Make any sense?
It's simple, John. Either you do it or you don't when it comes to subtitles. It's a personal decision but it's better to do it without the hypocrisy and excuses beforehand. And when it comes to the audience, the one common language is, in fact, English.
Face it, John. You have not even accepted my personal decision to use my voice in my vlogs along with subtitles to them. Your writings betray you. The majority of the people who came in here and left their comments either agreed or respected my decision on how I do this. You, however, continue to needle me (ie imply) about the need for me to sign in ASL. And what's really ironic is that you suggested earlier:
"Your aim should be to reach the full audience. Signing in a vlog with captions will reach the full audience. Talking in a vlog, with captions doesn't reach the full audience."
http://www.haloscan.com/comments...7951242/
#504456
And then go on just now about how we neglect other things if we try and add subtitles to ASL vlogs:
"Simply ASL provides a way for instant access to communication. But for oralism, people have to painstakingly create subtitles with everything in context, and spend more time away from family, friends, their jobs, and school just for that."
...and
"Spending time with our families and friends are more important."
And it's funny because I work, I do my research on the environment, hydrology, and fire reading peer-reviewed scientific journals, I do my online studies, go out in the field to collect data, I go home spend time with my kids til they go off to bed, be with my wife, and little down time before I go to bed from 9 to 12 to do my own little writing and reading (got 5 books lined up to read), get up in the morning and start all over even though I took a 1/2 day off today. And then the weekend with my kids to the park or kite flying, or whatever in store for that day.
Really, it's about managing your time properly if you decide to do it. Some people just simply cannot do that. Either you do it or you don't, John.
It's not "painstaking" for me. I enjoy doing it. You have to like what you're doing, John.
John, of course I realize that some people do not have time for subtitles. I have a toddler, and if I were to make a Vlog, I would not make subtitles. But its so absurd that some people would be so ADAMANTLY against subtitles. Their reasoning? Completely superficial, immature, and INSECURE. Not only that, but it HURTS the deaf community. Hopefully they will get out of their panties soon.
I correct my statement: I would add subtitles to some Vlogs, when I felt that my debate/discussion or opinion would be important to reach a larger audience.
This is Patty of Patty81's Blog, not Patty of The Expatriate.
Translating nuances, tones, emotions, expressions, the demeanor of the signer, etc, etc. into concise words can be very difficult and harrowing for Deaf/ASL subtitlers.
I don't think we're hypocritical for refusing to subtitle our ASL vlogs...it's that we're in a very unique position due to our greatly varying writing/reading/comprehension skills.
Great discussion, though.
John Critser-- There's a large immigrant population who frequents the library I work. We hold Citizenship and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for them. They often borrow movies for the captioning because it helps them to learn English. I have a friend who teaches ESL. Because I was surprised that so many people were checking out captioned movies I asked her about it. She said that people learning English can often read it better than speak it.
Additionally a friend who works in the library system had moved here from Yugoslavia. She spoke five languages fluently and could read seven. When I asked her about this she said after you learn so many languages, it's sometimes easy to figure out the meanings of words when reading a foreign language because the words may be similar in other languages one is fluent in.
Finally John-- I have seen this first hand in my own experience of dealing with people from other countries. They are frequently unable to communicate what they want clearly until you give them pen and paper.
Does this help you understand how a Deaf immigrant may benefit from captioned videos? Especially if that person is late-deafened?
You're just wrong. Sorry.
Again, Patty and everyone else, I explained in my vlog that for those who have the means and knowledge to do the subtitling (ie. the ability to do it and grasp of English, perhaps) but refuse to do it but at the same time demand that other vlogs, movies, news, etc be captioned is, in my view, hypocritical. Not everyone want or can subtitle but the crux of all this is that if they scream in protest about the lack of captioning elsewhere but refuse to add subtitle to their vlogs or berate those who have done that is another story here.
If Seek Geo and Patty (The Expatriate) can do it, so can others. Providing caption/subtitle to ASL vlogs does not "dilute" the ASL signing. It's either you do it, or you don't. But people shouldn't complain about the lack of captioning elsewhere while condemning those who do in their own ASL vlogs. That's just being plain hypocritical.
Bravo! I support every single character that you said!
Kim- you said:
"There's a large immigrant population who frequents the library I work. We hold Citizenship and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for them. They often borrow movies for the captioning because it helps them to learn English. I have a friend who teaches ESL. Because I was surprised that so many people were checking out captioned movies I asked her about it. She said that people learning English can often read it better than speak it.
Additionally a friend who works in the library system had moved here from Yugoslavia. She spoke five languages fluently and could read seven. When I asked her about this she said after you learn so many languages, it's sometimes easy to figure out the meanings of words when reading a foreign language because the words may be similar in other languages one is fluent in."
Are you talking about hearing immigrants or Deaf immigrants here? If you're talking about hearing immigrants, how does it apply to Deaf immigrants? What does hearing immigrants have to do with this discussion or with Deaf immigrants? Especially since their educational backgrounds are so different?
Of course Deaf immigrants will benefit from captioned DVD movies because sometimes, the captioned dvds will have subtitles in their language, or in English, which certainly can improve their English, I can agree with that.
Mike, it's not really about managing our time. We simply sometimes don't have the time to subtitles because of other priorities and compatibility in using ASL as our primary language and leaving it at that.
I am not against subtitles! I support the idea as long the vlogger wants to do it. It can be distracting to me to see the ASL signs and captions at the time time, though.
John, I said,
"...it's about managing your time properly if you decide to do it." Since it does takes a little extra time and effort to do it. You can do short 30 second vlogs if it comes to that. Or 1 minute ones. Or 5 minutes. Whatever. Patty did hers under 30 seconds which doesn't take long to put in subtitles. But only as long as vloggers feel like it's worth doing it.
Mike, I especially liked your "rise above" comment. You're a guy of great character and it is evident in every one of your vlogs and blog posts.
John,
What exactly are you trying to say here? That there's no point in accommodating ANYONE with because hypothetically **some** foreign Deaf people might possibly be left out?
How do foreign Deaf people who do NOT speak ASL benefit from your vlogging in ASL?
Your argument makes no sense. I won't waste my time discussing this anymore.
John just one more thing--
You said--
"I am not against subtitles! I support the idea as long the vlogger wants to do it. It can be distracting to me to see the ASL signs and captions at the time time, though."
That's exactly what many Hearing people say. Captioning "distracts" them. That's what Hollywood argued when the ADA was being written. "Hearing people would be distracted by captioning at the movies and so they wouldn't go."
This is why very, very few movie theaters caption their movies. Those that do only do it because they WANT to. It's their choice. Do you think it should be the movie theater's choice John because Hearing people find captioning distracting too?
After all Hearing people pay good money to see a movie. Why should they have to be "distracted" by captions on the screen?
Kim-
You are so ironically inaccurate, or should I say impeccably inaccurate. You don't understand a lot of things.
When I was talking about subtitles being distracting, I have NO problems watching subtitles or captions in a MOVIE. Because hearing people are SPEAKING, so no point in reading lips when they are always walking around. When I read lips, I read lips FACE TO FACE. AS for hearing people, they're lucky that not all movies are captioned, that it is a rarity and has a special schedule for selected theatres showing CC movies. We're the unfortunate ones.
But when an ASL vlog is involved, it can be distracting because I need to see the body language, the hands flying as it signs. So subtitles would be kind of distracting, because at times instead of reading the ASL signs I would find myself looking at the captions to make sure it was accurately translated in sync with the signs. It kind of took the fun out of watching an ASL vlog.
I believe that movie theatres should at least have one movie at each location with captions, for EQUAL ACCESS for ALL Americans.
John, in regards to your belief that movie theatres should have at least one movie at each location with captions for equal access for all Americans... but what about the foreign Deaf immigrants?
Paula, maybe I should rephrase my comment. Here it is:
"I believe that movie theatres should at least have one movie at each location with captions, for EQUAL ACCESS for ALL Americans, including foreign Deaf immigrants."
Does that work for you or are you asking what about equal access for foreign Deaf immigrants?
In regards to vlogs, if the vloggers subtitled them, I would hope for new technology that can translate the English captions into the foreign language of their choice. That'd be great.
Paula, some ASL vloggers don't feel there is the need for subtitles. My opinion is that they have the right to choose how to do the vlogs, just the same way Mike McConnell chose to do his vlogs-
I support both the pros and cons of doing subtitles on ASL vlogs. One of the pros I support is the fact some vlogs covers the currented and heated issues between the Deaf community and the Oral community, and the subtitles make it possible to clarify some things to those that don't know sign language and it invites the hearies to "listen in."
At the same time, as for the cons of doing subtitles on ASL vlogs, is that a subtitled ASL vlog is more accessible to everyone as opposed to a spoken vlog only in English subtitles which the foreign Deaf immigrants may not understand.
It might be an inclusive issue for everyone. I don't necessarily support the "too bad, the immigrants should learn English anyway," sentiment, because not everybody has the same ability in terms of learning a new language.
For example, my English is pretty sharp, articulate, and eloquent. But I haven't put myself up to learn Spanish, French, or German fluently. Could I? Due to my penchant for good comprehension of language, maybe I could. But do I desire enough to learn a 2nd spoken (and written)language, or have the time to? I am not sure. I always wanted to be fluent in a 2nd spoken/written language.
At least I do know a lot of British Sign Language, having many British Deaf friends. I know many Spanish phrases. What I want is FLUENCY.
Back to the point, some immigrants simply are too grounded into their home language to learn the English language fluently. Notice that many immigrants band together, run home businesses and they run restaurants with the whole family as staff? Look at the Chinese restaurants. All Chinese. Chinese waiters, Chinese cooks, even Chinese bus boys. All speak Mandarin, or Cantonese. They've managed to survive and even eat all they want at the restaurant.
So it is not quite necessary for some foreign immigrants to learn the English language in order to survive as McConnell maintains. Some are able to get around that.
That is why some Deaf foreign immigrants depend on ASL vlogs to understand what is being said, rather than depending on subtitles. Sign language is more universal. There are forms of sign language that do combine American and some European countries' signs together into one language. Even the Deaf Americans
John C.
(edited by Kokonut)..
We'd take you more seriously if you asked more thoughtful questions to us, that we could be happy to answer your questions. And keep your comments short and simple.
If you comment too long, you quickly lose the readers' interest, as I noticed in other blogs and in Mike's blog.
Think about the readership. Think about the audience. Not about yourself.
Thanks for your attention.
Bottom line, it's about giving everybody access. John, you are using the very same argument that hearing people have used about captioning in videos because it is "distracting." Yet Deaf people DEMAND! that movies and shows (or even hearing vlogs) ought to be captioned whether hearing people complain or not, to heck with them. But that's besides the point. It's all about providing as much access to everyone as possible. Technology at some point down the road will ensure that everybody get their wish on how communication is accessed and used. Right now, the best option is to do it ourselves and reach out as many people as possible with subtitled vlogs in English. This way it'll reach out to the greatest number of people in the audience watching their vlogs.
Karen Kay Mayes-
You are right about making comments too long. I need to have my own blog. Comments should be shorter. I agree with you 100%. I am a deep thinker.
First stop, complain to Christy Smith for putting out subtitles in her introductory vlog and explain to her that the subtitles are distracting and takes away from her and her companion's signing. Demand that she take her subtitles down!
http://www.discoveringdeafworlds...s.com/
index.php
Mike, even if subtitles can be distracting I won't ask anybody to remove it. It's their vlog, not mine. I don't seek to control others' vlogs. Maybe I can learn to live with it.
Watching Dave & Christy's video, that is something some of us should be grateful that the subtitles is provided because it's hard to see a few of their signs especially names since they are too far away from video.
So, having subtitles is a big plus after all.
-SG
McConnell, you are amazing...really, Jodi
I disagree with you, Mike.
Not only are you attempting to rule over Deaf people, who don't need subtitles, you're causing problems for those of us, who can use either subtitles or no subtitles.
It's a free country, pal. You can make all the demands you like and you'll find that people will tune you out.
Gary, let me make this very CLEAR, it's about choice and preferences. I have no power to force anyone into subtitling their own vlogs. If you actually believe that I can force people into captioning their vlogs then I have a bridge to sell you dirt cheap. If you decide to add subtitle for your vlog, great. If not, you have your reasons. I'm simply speaking my mind and opinions here.
But it's funny that I am "causing" problems for "you guys" only because I advocate greater communication access for everyone? Yet, I'm demonized for that because you feel a bit threatened? Now, if you have every confidence about ASL, vlogging and all that then you need not fear me. But to say I am "causing problems" tell lots about your fears. Either you are confident in what you believe or you are not.
Mike, I just started laughing out loud over your quote:
"then I have a bridge to sell you dirt cheap."
Where did you come up with this? I am not laughing against you or laughing for you, I am just laughing at the sheer soap opera usage of words..
Someday I am going to become a writer for some screenplay or movie...
Can I add that to the archives in case I want to use that now famous line in a movie?
I am not kidding. That movie won't be about you. But I'd like to borrow that line!
To be honest I wish everyone would stop picking on one another about the issue of subtitles. Man I never thought it would come to this. I never cease to be amazed.
People need to start extending an olive branch, nobody has to feel they have to come into "their world," but at least co-exist peacefully and respect one another.
As regards to culture, people do feel fiercely protective of their culture, that's understandable. I look towards to everyone becoming mindful of how to respect others even in the internet. It's better to publicly protest at conferences than to protest via the internet medium.
I would hope so. Yet, the internet provides a platform to address the issues. That is why attending the DeafRead conference is a good idea so everyone can exchange ideas on how to have a more healthy forum.
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