logistics
I’ve been contemplating the logistics of being a deaf panelist. Specifically, the question-and-answer sessions. Last night, the moderator and I agreed beforehand that she would repeat the questions after they were asked. The arrangement (but not the reason for it) was announced to the audience and the panel before we began.
It worked moderately well. The problem is that the repetition broke the flow of the conversation. People forgot, or conversation broke out that didn't really allow for repetition. Fellow panelists were understandably eager to answer, and sometimes jumped in ahead of the moderator, who gave me sympathetic glances. As a result, I missed about half of what was going on, including several questions about my research area, intellectual property and networked rhetorics.
So, dear readers, help me out. This is hardly the last panel I’ll be on in the course of my career. Actually, another one is coming up in March. In classroom lectures and presentations, I usually remind people that I’m rather deaf, since they tend to forget, and folks are always very good about speaking up. I’m thinking that if the reason for repeating questions in Q&A’s is explained, people will be more accommodating about it. Any other ideas?
*If you don’t know already, this post will give you an idea of the nature and extent of my deafness.
Comments
Sounds like the moderator and the audience did fine and your fellow panelists were rude. Not sure how to fix that, but it does localize the problem.
Posted by: Dorothea Salo | February 4, 2005 3:19 PM
I don't think they were intentionally rude, and I also think that if they had understood the reasoning behind the repetition they would have accommodated it more. Hence my thought of explaining things more fully the next time around.
Posted by: Krista | February 4, 2005 3:55 PM
I was giving you sympathetic glances too, even though you probably couldn't see them from the spot-lit stage, and I'm sure Mister Boyfriend was doing the same. The moderator, good though her intentions were, didn't *always* remember to repeat the questions, as I assume you meant by "people forgot." The one Logie asked about IP, for example. I wish now that I had acted like *I* didn't hear the question and shouted out to her to repeat it. I was fuming inwardly, thinking the whole time about what you've said about copyright and orphaned works and posting art on blogs as homage, and how great an answer you could have provided to Logie's question. Dammit. I'm sorry. :-(
Posted by: Clancy | February 4, 2005 3:59 PM
As long as the moderator does not point to *you* and say: "she's deaf, so we're going to make some accomodations." Perhaps something like: "to accommodate those who couldn't hear the question, I will repeat questions for the panel." This phrasing could apply to those seated in the back as well as panelists. Unless you do not mind the moderator mentioning that there is a panelist who is deaf.
I do not have a hearing loss, but I often find myself asking for questions to be repeated (both for my clarity and for the benefit of people who also didn't hear).
But, again, as you have witnessed, people are 1) rude, and 2) anxious to talk about their ideas. So, even mentioning a deaf panelist may or may not slow down the dialogue enough.
That's my $.02.
(For some reason I feel the need to add a "no offense" clause to this post. If I did, there was no intent.)
Posted by: shelley | February 4, 2005 4:38 PM
Actually, I don't mind, Shelley. I'm thinking something more along the lines of mentioning it at the end of my talk (and working it out with the moderator beforehand, of course.) That generally works for me in classroom situations.
Posted by: Krista | February 4, 2005 8:57 PM
I wonder if a voice to text program on your laptop would help, especially if you were able to get the 4Cs folks to run an input mic wire to the gallery in the room. The technology is still very much evolving, but I imagine you'd be able to fill in the gaps if you thought someone was asking you about Net-work Rhett Oryx and eye pee.
For the long term, it might be worthwhile to invest in a decent-quality microphone and the longest cord you can find, if this is a potential/partial solution.
Just for the record, let me say that I am totally bummed I won't be meeting you in SF.
Posted by: MisterBS | February 4, 2005 11:42 PM
Can someone please explain what "rhett oryx" and "eye pee" mean, as mentioned by Mister BS at 11.42 on 02.04.05??? Thanks, Angela
Posted by: Angela | August 21, 2005 6:23 AM
"Rhett oryx" means Rhetoric and "eye pee" means IP, or Intellectual Property.
Posted by: Krista | August 21, 2005 9:19 AM