This blog is being set up because it's required as part of my training programme at the State Library of Victoria. Frankly, I find it a waste of time. I'd much rather be writing something substantial which could be of enduring significance than posting my random meanderings for all to read. I'd much rather spend my time reading a good (well-edited) book or an interesting (well-edited) journal than a blog.
I'm late in starting the programme because I've been off work with a ruptured eardrum. I am now deaf in my left ear and am finding this both salutary and annoying. Salutary because it is giving me some insight into what it is like to be deaf. Annoying because I can't hear what people are saying. Most of my colleagues are sympathetic and remember that I've told them that if they want to be on my right side they have to be on my right side but is surprising the number of people who simply ignore the fact that I've told them I'm deaf and that they need to speak to my right ear. More forgivable, but still annoying, is the assumption that the way to speak to a deaf person is LOUDLY. No, it's not. Speaking clearly and facing the person is the best method.
Being deaf is not just an absence of sound; it's a constant buzzing in your ear, it's an inability to hear small (normally unregistered) sounds which tell you that someone is just behind you or just to your left when walking in the street, it's the fact that your own voice booms around your head and you have no idea whether you're shouting or whispering, it's the fact that you can't tell where a sound is coming from, it's the fact that certain types of noise particularly low-pitched machinery sounds reverberate in your head to the exclusion of all else, it's the fact that you can no longer listen to classical music.
As you might have gathered from the first paragraph, I'm not enamoured of being required to write a blog and I have no idea what I'll put in mine. Perhaps a few observations and anecdotes from Rare Books. As it's highly unlikely anybody will read my comments it probably doesn't matter very much.
5 comments:
Welcome to the Learning 2.0 program. I hope that you discover something useful while exploring these technologies.
Lynette
Hi Jan,
I know how you feel - I developed an ear infection last year which rendered me temporarily deaf, and I remember the experience being both unnerving and incredibly frustrating.
Your description of the symptoms rings all-too-familiar bells (no pun intended!), particularly your mention of how it becomes disconcertingly impossible to judge the level of your own voice. (I can say from experience that while you probably feel as if you're bellowing, it's much more likely that you're speaking so softly people will have to ask you to repeat yourself).
I hope that your ear heals quickly and that more of us remember to enunciate in the meantime...
All the best,
Katie
Jan, I don't think there's anything to stop you writing something "meaningful or substantial" in your blog and combining the best of both worlds... It's the message that counts, not the medium and I found your first post very interesting, despite your scepticism of the last paragraph... Some very good authors of 'real books' use blogging as a tool for developing their writing and getting some feedback in a way that was a lot more difficult in the past...
Hi Jan,
I've just returned from a month's leave and so only now have caught up with your sad news. I really feel for you as I know how much you love your music - I do hope that in time you will be able to find a way of listening to music again. I suffer from tinnitus which seems to be at its loudest after I've had a couple of wines - so only myself to blame - but my ear problems are minor compared to yours. Lets hope things will improve for you and in the meantime I'll try to remember to think "Right".
Alannah
Hi Jan,
Wonder how I knew? I can sympathise with your comments on deafness. Try living with it permanently - I still have my sister saying which ear do I talk to? I've mastered having to cope, but I still give a startled yell whenever someone has loomed up and I haven't "heard" them come. All the best with your blog.
Far out Brussel Sprouts!
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