About people who post videos without offering info to help us know what they say:

[tblue37]

The Keith Olbermann commentary about waterboarding video was posted on the "Greatest" page, and I desperately wanted to see it, but I didn't click it, because I knew I wouldn't understand any of the words.

It is so frustrating that people post such important videos, but without even a few sentences to summarize the gist for those of us who can't understand words over a computer's tinny little microphone. (At least on the TV we have closed captioning.) Some "hearies" are also in situations where they can't turn up their computer mikes, so it isn't even just those of us with hearing loss who need a hint or two.


But on the greatest page I also found a wonderful gift: someone had posted the transcript of KO's comment! It wasn't the person who posted the original video--just some kind soul who realized that the transcript might be needed.

I posted this comment in response to the transcript:

Thank you so, so much! I am severely hearing-impaired, and even with my hearing aids in I usually cannot understand words spoken on the Internet, because computer microphones are too tinny and don't go up loud enough--and because there is no closed captioning as there is on my TV.

It is so frustrating that people tease us by posting important videos on DU without offering even the slightest hint of what they are about. If only they would offer a few sentences summarizing the gist of the video's point, it would really help us deafies--as well as hearies who are somewhere where they can't turn up the sound on their computer mike.

So once again: thank you, thank you, thank you!

I suggest tht we let our "hearie" friends know that we are here, too, and that transcripts or general summaries are needed. Most people with normal hearing don't mean to be careless of our needs, but most don't even think about the fact that we are here and we can't hear. I always post a request for a gist summary whenever I encounter a video that I really wish I could watch. I think if we all made a habit of doing so, eventually ore people would start offering us some text info to go along with the videos, without having to be prompted every time.