tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264664035215127547.post3063281103697713068..comments2024-03-28T03:13:09.436-05:00Comments on The Reluctant Blogger: The Lipreader's StareHENRY KISORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12366450710995335659noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264664035215127547.post-11641567879018226392016-09-03T01:36:07.226-05:002016-09-03T01:36:07.226-05:00Oops! I'd meant to delete that last sentence. ...Oops! I'd meant to delete that last sentence. I'd started with that, then decided to give a deeper response and describe my actual experience.Bookbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08016726791234425348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264664035215127547.post-43124730716829175822016-09-03T01:34:29.353-05:002016-09-03T01:34:29.353-05:00HaHa!I have a different problem with it. I think i...HaHa!I have a different problem with it. I think it depends on where you stand and what you look like: I'm a 66-year-old, old school dyke (I can call myself that, you probably can't) with ultra short hair, flannel shirts and jeans. In other words, the whole stereotype. And I lipread. Very occasionally a straight guy will miss the ah, not-subtle clues and think my rapt attention to face-reading means I'm somehow interested in something way beyond understanding his words. (Sorry, Charlie.) Guys that dense seem to also be pretty unresponsive to the traditional "No, I'm not interested" clues and that can be awkward, but I've never had it be dangerous. But what's sadder is young men who seem to be kind of socially lost and isolated can really misconstrue my attention as something else, and then end up following me around a store (or event or whatever) like little lost puppies. They're so grateful for any attention from anyone, they respond so deeply to just being listened to, it seems. I've finally learned to use a practice I learned in the 70s while wandering around in India: when I'm ready to end the interaction (or send them away!) I shake their hands and thank them for the conversation and wish them a good evening. It conveys that the conversation is over and leaves their dignity intact.<br /> I also agree that it depends a lot on sex and size and other clues. Men staring intently at women are too often up to no good. Women staring at men's lips can be misunderstood (see above.) Lipreading while black, especially for strong, healthy young men adds a whole additional level to the risk young black men face in our society. <br /> Thanks for raising the subject.<br /><br /><br /> I'm not sure why this cracks me up, but it does. Bookbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08016726791234425348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264664035215127547.post-25217766084153043672016-09-02T19:25:15.991-05:002016-09-02T19:25:15.991-05:00Thanks for your blog, I too experience uneasiness ...Thanks for your blog, I too experience uneasiness from people while I am lipreading them. They also look the other way and point as I am asking for directions, which makes it worse and then I have to explain that I am Deaf. Dinadinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00891743094864109301noreply@blogger.com