I loved talking to you on the phone. It was weird, and it wasn't relay, but it was a new challenge. Listen, then type, but I liked it a lot.
I'd love your business, or to take your pizza order, but I know that most people don't get it. Sorry about all them. I tried killing them all in the early nineties, but a crack team of super heroes foiled the plan. Since then, with the employment problems, I just haven't managed to pull together the funds to try again.
But, keep reminding me why I should, and maybe it will motivate me to get back to the doomsday project I have gathering dust in my dad's warehouse.
I remember the first time I got a relay call at work... I probably sounded a lot like the person you were trying to order flowers from in your next post. After I got the jist of it though, it's not a big deal to talk to the CA like you're speaking to the caller. I understand your frustration though, my friend Michelle used to rant aobut the same issues, and just the overall rudeness of some people simple b/c she was deaf.
The next time I get a relay call at work, I will definitely be even more understanding and patient. It's just kinda awkward to tell someone through a 3rd party that they are losing their home (I work at a mortgage company)...
While I understand the feeling that you're talking through a third party (and the awkwardness therein) it's really easier if you try to think of the CA as not being there. You are speaking directly to the deaf person, and vice versa... the CA should really be a mostly invisible (ha, on the phone, invisible!) party.
I tell people the same thing about using an ASL interpreter... the interpreter should become an invisible tool for facilitation of communication (and lest you think I'm being insulting, this is the terminology that interpreters use!). In fact, a GOOD interpreter WILL become an invisible part of the conversation, and will be appreciated afterwards because of that!
I actually encountered somebody recently who disagreed vehemently with that. They insisted that an interpreter more or less mediates the conversation rather than facilitates this. The scary thing is that this was on a mailing list for terps.
I didn't find that thread particuarly outrageous - they're mostly just a bunch of jerks from what I can tell. I do know what it's like to be hung up on because you're using the relay. When I was a kid you could check out a TTY from the library and I used to love to do that and then just call random places. (It might help if I explain that as a kid I desperately wanted to be deaf.) I decided to try it again recently, too, to see if I could schedule a hair appointment. One guy hung up on me three times. Guess I won't be recommending his salon to my local deaf friends. (Friends? I have friends? With hair?)
I love my Uniphone, but nobody ever calls me on a TTY anymore. Everything is e-mail or IM. Then again, I'm not a pizza shop. :)
I saw your other post defining relay before I saw this one, so I want to be generic and post a thank you here for the other post. I know some people just don't get it (even after having it explained to them 100902433948509435320847 times). Secondly, I went to the link you provided, I read thru all of that crap and I was pissed. I know I am slightly hormonal right now, and possibly a little biased based on my experience with relay, but I can't believe how...I can't even think of a word here...how easily those people brushed off the entire service. I remember feeling the frustration when someone hung up just because it was a relay call. And I don't know that I actually became angry, but certainly disgusted when, after explaining to the caller over and over again how they can speak directly to the other person, and that I would be typing EVERYTHING they said word for word, they would continue to say "well, tell her..." I seriously think they should do something in the schools with young kids, have them "walk a mile" so to speak and
( ... )
While mildy (we're talking extremly mildy) inconvenient because of the speed of the operator's typing skills sometimes, relay calls are SO EASY TO HANDLE!!! I don't get it. I really hate people sometimes. People here have hung up on relay operators before and believe you me, if I knew who it was I would read them the riot act. As it was I e-mailed management with a pointed e-mail about how CFS needed to be educated because that was just simply the most rude thing someone could do. grrrr.
Oh lord, you should see the relay ops' typing skills on our end sometimes! It's not an infrequent occassion when i am MOST certain that the person speaking on the other end has not actually said what i am reading, leaving me utterly confused and having no idea what i am being told.
First of all, woofiegrrl pointed me in your direction because she said you might be able to help me with matters of public accommodation and conformance with ADA regulations, etc. [i'm Australian and i'm still bumbling about trying to learn all the things of relevance to being d/Deaf / HOH in America.]
First of all, I'm more than happy to help if I can... I train people on the ADA, but am also more than willing to point people elsewhere when I don't know the answers they seek.
Secondly, please do... I'm adding you back!
Thirdly, you absolutely may link it *smile*
You can either email me (email is on my info page) or my IM contact info is also on my info page... I'm generally online more or less all the time (although I can't always talk at the moment... please don't take it personally if I can't, I'll get back to you ASAP).
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I'd love your business, or to take your pizza order, but I know that most people don't get it. Sorry about all them. I tried killing them all in the early nineties, but a crack team of super heroes foiled the plan. Since then, with the employment problems, I just haven't managed to pull together the funds to try again.
But, keep reminding me why I should, and maybe it will motivate me to get back to the doomsday project I have gathering dust in my dad's warehouse.
T.
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The next time I get a relay call at work, I will definitely be even more understanding and patient. It's just kinda awkward to tell someone through a 3rd party that they are losing their home (I work at a mortgage company)...
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I tell people the same thing about using an ASL interpreter... the interpreter should become an invisible tool for facilitation of communication (and lest you think I'm being insulting, this is the terminology that interpreters use!). In fact, a GOOD interpreter WILL become an invisible part of the conversation, and will be appreciated afterwards because of that!
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I didn't find that thread particuarly outrageous - they're mostly just a bunch of jerks from what I can tell. I do know what it's like to be hung up on because you're using the relay. When I was a kid you could check out a TTY from the library and I used to love to do that and then just call random places. (It might help if I explain that as a kid I desperately wanted to be deaf.) I decided to try it again recently, too, to see if I could schedule a hair appointment. One guy hung up on me three times. Guess I won't be recommending his salon to my local deaf friends. (Friends? I have friends? With hair?)
I love my Uniphone, but nobody ever calls me on a TTY anymore. Everything is e-mail or IM. Then again, I'm not a pizza shop. :)
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In any case, i'm constantly learning more things about you that make me smile. =D G-D bless LJ!
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First of all, woofiegrrl pointed me in your direction because she said you might be able to help me with matters of public accommodation and conformance with ADA regulations, etc. [i'm Australian and i'm still bumbling about trying to learn all the things of relevance to being d/Deaf / HOH in America.]
Secondly, may i add you?
And finally, may i link to this post from my LJ?
Thanks! =D
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Secondly, please do... I'm adding you back!
Thirdly, you absolutely may link it *smile*
You can either email me (email is on my info page) or my IM contact info is also on my info page... I'm generally online more or less all the time (although I can't always talk at the moment... please don't take it personally if I can't, I'll get back to you ASAP).
Welcome to the madness!
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