> Hi there everybody. Ready for a little able rant?

 > Once upon a time oh 11 (!) years ago when I had just
 > given up on
 > hearing 'aids' (there has to be a better more apt name
 > for those
 > things...)

That's all they are.

 > and just got my TTY (very happy until I
 > found out many
 > hearing folks "won't use them because they don't
 > (gasp) want to
 > (gasp) have to talk through an
 > Operator...(gasp!!!)...- I wrote an
 > article for a now defunct Advocacy magazine. It was a
 > contest actually
 > and I won $100. BUT later on I wasn't too happy with
 > my writing which
 > spoke way too happily of TTY devices opening doors for
 > the Hearing
 > Impaired). I wasn't too happy because while it fit the
 > them of
 > advocacy for the disabled it had a bitterness
 > conveying chip on
 > shoulder.

The TTY numbers that I call from my computer in hyperterminal mode function
like online chat, so there's no operator at all, just me on my keyboard and
the callee on his.  That works all right, AFAIC.

At work, they spoke of getting a device that would display text on my end,
and I could speak to the other person, presumably, although here an
operator was required to type the other person's message to me.  Our system
was not compatible, so we never got it.  Frankly, though, I'm not at all
surprised at the reception of it by your acquaintances; it's par for the
course.

 > Can you help it though? THEY put it there. The ones
 > who refuse to meet
 > us half way with our efforts to ease communication
 > with them.

 > Perhaps the better thing to do is to communicate the
 > way you are able
 > with those willing and write off the rest who are too
 > self centered to
 > even try.

Sometimes you don't have a choice.

 > End of rant. What say.

 > Cindy

---