Chapter 60

        When reading this chapter, I learned more on how influential the Internet can be.  I had never truly thought about how it could affect Deaf Culture, until I was introduce to many different aspects of Deaf Culture I did not originally know about.  

        For example, before reading the chapter, I did not really know about Deaf clubs, a place where "Deaf people congregated at the club, watched a captioned or subtitled movie, socialized, discussed politics, swapped information, chatted, gossiped, and networked" (pg 353).  I think this idea of a club specially formed for their culture is a very cool concept, and it was disappointing to learn how the Internet and other mass media has led to the extinction of them.  With all the information, entertainment, and socializing that the Internet provides, it seems like it was inevitable that these clubs would eventually die out, just like other organizations throughout other cultures have.

        In addition, the chapter talks about how some Deaf people try to avoid Internet, believing that is is "an intrusion, a distraction, a waste of time" (pg 354).  However, I disagree with this belief.  The Internet has become integrated into daily life, and the majority of people have had to adjust to this new aspect of life in order to stay up to date, whether it is work, home, or school related.  Although the Internet did affect Deaf clubs, there are many positive aspects of it, and I agree when the authors state that "there is something to be said for becoming computer-literate, just as there is for learning to use a TTY and fax-modem" (pg 354).  One of these positive aspects of the Internet include Deaf chatrooms, DeafChat, that I did not know existed until reading in HPO!  These "Deaf cyber clubs" allow people to become educated in Deaf Culture and to assist parents of deaf children.  Also, it includes "discussing their schooling, jobs, lives, families, issues, controversies, frustrations, and dreams" (pg 355).  I think this a great way for Deaf people to stay connected to their culture.   In addition, the Internet allows for an immediate spread of information, allowing more ASL resources to become available throughout the world.  

        It is interesting and really exciting to read that in the authors' perspective, "the Internet has the potential to bring down barriers between Deaf and non-Deaf, to provide a truly democratic and fully accessible meeting-place, to promote global understanding" (pg 356).  With this last statement, I find it hard to believe that the Internet is going to destroy Deaf Culture.