Amy Cohen Efron and Barbara DiGiovanni, you both have my support!

May 26, 2009 10:41 pm

I typed up a comment which I felt deserved it’s own post. This is in reference to the furor that has developed over Deaf Pundit’s objection to a vlog by Bard DiGiovanni as well as Aidan’s response to Deaf Pundit.

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I think everyone needs to remember all the great things that both Amy and Barbara have done for us all. They have dedicated a lot of their personal time and energy as advocates for Deaf people, and especially Deaf children. They both care deeply about the Deaf community and in order to do that, they must be “out” there a lot of the time and speak out.

They both have to assume a more public role than many of us would in order to have greater effect on people. When they do that, they have to be brave enough to put themselves at a greater risk of criticism from others. Moreover, they are doing it using the new medium of vlogs, which is still in its infancy and not fully understood so they are blazing a trail when they push the envelope of poltiical vlogging.

Never forget that they both are humans and should be allowed to make mistakes now and then. They both should not be demonized for making minor mistakes and we must remember that these mistakes does not completely invalidate their hard work they have done nor their dedication to the Deaf community.

Looking at the big picture, it serves no good cause to pull either one of them down. Not in this time and age, where the relentless technology advances if not coupled with greater acceptance and understanding of Deaf culture, will lead to diminishing of the Deaf community. Stop looking at the small picture and nitpicking on minor and human mistakes.

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  • I can see that the same points are being rehashed again and again. I will be closing comments on this post. There are disagreements here that will not be resolved. It's time to move on.
  • Karen Mayes
    I hear you, DeafChip.

    The problem is that there is a low tolerance for anyone who disagree, so I often feel like I am in the elementary school's playground. That is why I take care to leave certain comments that would address any issues. That is my view, and you don't have to agree with me. :o)

    And, reality check... the problems we face in our community... they are age-old, happening in hearing communities too. So we are not unique. It is a matter of self-control.

    Have a nice summer.
  • White Ghost
    I agree, Karen.

    Remember this is small community, need to protect ourselves and serve the good role model and community for the parents' and children's sake. It's the welfare that must be protected.
  • JRT
    Shel and Jean

    Amy Cohen Efron was discussed because of double standards. Deafpundit went after Barb for her mooning video, but she did not go after Amy Cohen Efron for her video comment reacting to a disgusting porn video.

    Jared

    Sure, people should give them a break, but people should not give Deafpundit a break for doing an unbiased blog -- going after Barb, not Amy.
  • Deafchipmunk
    Karen,

    I want to emphasize that we all support freedom of speeches and expressions. We do not accept vlogs of DP and others that have put people and organizations based on cyberbully and cyberharressment based on public internet guidelines as well as laws. Their comments/vlogs should be removed.

    We all do not deserve cyberbully and cyberharressment that do not belong to our community.

    Deafchipmunk
  • Deafchipmunk
    Jared,

    I still find that your comment does not help at all. I think your comment has conflicted with R-List and public internet guidelines. I find that unacceptable that it is not DR's responsibility. I feel that DR and DVTV have ignored safety of Barb and anyone who are victims of cyberbullies and cyberharressment..

    Deafchipmunk
  • Karen Mayes
    Good blog, a well balanced argument about public figures... that they are also human beings that that we should not come down harder on them everytime they goof up just for the sake of being human beings.

    Hope we'd all learn something from this. :o)
  • deafchipmunk,

    The link has been removed due to copyright violation.

    The guidelines are applied to all the blog posts to the best of our abilities. For the vast majority of the posts, the team make the right decision. The team cannot make a determination about which information is public or not. That responsiblity lies with the blogger. You may talk with the blogger him/herself if this is an issue that you care about..
  • Jean,

    While you have the information slightly incorrect, Aidan brought up a similar fact in her post, which is why I addressed Amy in this post. Amy posted then later removed a short video clip of her reaction to a grotesque video clip. This video never showed up on DeafRead. This is the point i am trying to make- everyone makes minor mistakes now and then and it's important to not to lose our focus and keep our eyes on the big picture.
  • deafchipmunk
    Jared,

    I cannot accept your argument about Barb. I think your comment is unfair. I think it is not your role to make decision about individual that can be allowed to be shared publicly and not to be shared publicly. Your role should enforce policy/legal/guideline that apply to everyone, not individual.

    Thank you
    Deafchipmunk
  • Hi all,

    Barbara is more of a public figure and has not made a secret of where she works. That information is not new and public figures are held to a different standard when it comes to publicly accessible discussion. I know this.... I've been on receiving side of nasty comments fired against me because of my role on DeafRead.

    A new fact just came to light: the video clip on Deaf Pundit's post was copied and shown without permission so we will be removing the link on DeafRead. However, even if we remove the link, the post still exists at the blog. We have no control over that.

    The mooning wasn't determined to be pornographic and was the basis of Deaf Pundit's post. She also put in a warning for those who were sensitive to such things. People had a choice to view it or not.
  • Jean Boutcher
    You lose me completely. I know not what has made you bring Amy Cohen Efron in the picture herein? She is not and has not, for the record, been an additional subject in
    Deaf Pundit's v/blog. She is your fellow editor of DeafRead

    Moreover:

    Ironic as it may sound, whereas Deaf Pundit has critricised and threatened Barb's reputation and professionalism for two days, she has never mentioned in her blog a school psychologist Amy Cohen Efron's porno blog that should have been disapproved even by herself as well as by her fellow editors, including yourself, Mishkazena Elizabeth Gillespie, and Tayler Mayer.

    Confuzzledly,
    Jean



  • ASLforLife
    disappointed with you
  • looking down at Jared
    Jared,
    Looks like you are trying to pull all attention to any men and public to look down or belitte on Deaf women to show the hearing world??? That's a BIG SHAME !!! I feel that Deaf Pundit violated to publish on Barb's work place location!!! Deaf Pundit has no moral and no respect while she was NOT being fair to censor other commenters... Amy and Barb are both different. I know that Amy made a big mistake by using her mentally influence on innocent Barb to go watch on porn video. How come you did removed Ridor's blog into Deafread Extra?? Jared, you are not being neutral moderator??
  • CNW
    We should also look at our actions vis a vis our 'ideological' beliefs on Deaf education and all of its accompanying tangents as well as audism, both real and perceived.

    I am concerned that the level of debate had sunk to a low where a well-known leader felt it was appropriate to do what Barb DiGi did that day. We are beating a horse to death a thousand times over, and outside our bubble, no one really cares. For those that have reason to care (hearing parents of deaf children), we come off looking like buffoons with vituperative responses towards anyone who dares to go off the reservation.

    Are we a welcoming community?
  • Jeffrey
    P.S. I would deem it wise on behalf of the DR/DVTV team to remove DeafPundit's v/blogs that was and is criticizing Barb DiGiovanni. Should the team continue to have it posted, there might be possibilties of DR/DVTV being held liable for enabling the defamation of character.

    Just my thoughts.

    Again, Thank you.
    Jeffrey
  • Jeffrey
    Hello Jared,

    I would like to make a small clarification. It was not a vlogpost of Barb's that was and is being criticized but a video comment at the bottom of my vlogpost: Hey Naysayers of Audism. I just wanted to make sure that piece of information was clarified.

    Thank you.
    Jeffrey
  • Whoa. Is that all?

    Let's see ... DeafPundit posted a nude picture as well as posted Barb's work address which is equivalent to cyberstalking/cyberharassing and yet you and the so-called DR team allowed DP's entry to remain on Deafread.com?

    Oh, my. How have the DVTV and DR fall from its throne ...

    R-
  • Good post. Are idealism and realism in play?
  • Shel
    Excuse me. Amy Cohen-Efron has nothing to do with the latest firestorm... How does she figure in this?

    I'm lost, obviously.

    Shel
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