June '25 Blog Entries For Bard's Hall

Arguing or Fighting?

         They're at it again. The neighbours are arguing, disagreeing, fighting, having words, whatever. Their noise levels are consistently such that the doors rattle and their furious voices transcend my television's volume. Anyone speaking with me via phone can hear them and remark about it.

         She in particular is uber loud and will scream, "I don't care about your neighbours. So what if you think I'm loud. I can be loud if I wanna be. Why do you care what they think? Are you even listening to me?"

         Listening or hearing? These are two different animals. I know that I do not want to be hearing her constant tirades and noting what she shouts is none of my business. Due to her lack of imagination and relying upon the same, sad revolving reel of insults, I hear her refer to her partner as the Crypt Keeper. I have no idea if this is in reference to a character from film or video games, no matter. I understand the inference. She is claiming he is old enough to be considered decrepit. I choose to laugh at this. If I am mistaken and this is instead a term of endearment that must be delivered at ear drum splitting decibels, I don't know what to think. To each their own.

         I have fantasized about how I would like to react to this constant display of vocal histrionics. Yes, the local police have intervened several times when the fury morphs into smashing, thrashing, threats and uninterrupted hours long barrages. My reaction would at the very least be entertaining and cathartic for me.

         In my tit-for-tat scenario I would set myself up in a comfy chair in the hallway with pre-printed score cards. During brief lulls in the battle, I would begin speaking in that excited, rushed voice of a sportscaster.

         "I'd give that sad performance a -5. Why you ask? Clearly, the screeching screamer (insert name here) wants to be heard and, boy, did I hear her. It's another of her tantrums. There's no originality though. It's lacking, yep, it's lackluster at best. Really (insert name here)? You need new material. How many times have you hurled that tired old insult Crypt Keeper ? Hmmm? That feeble insult is getting old. And your cursing? Where's the variety? Ho hum. Boring. Rant, rave, repeat."

         Ya, I'm not sympathetic. They choose to drink beer to excess and when that isn't enough they consume any street drugs they can scrounge. How do I know this? The squabbles.

         And, oh, did I mention their annoying habit of activating both their smoke alarm and the one in the hallway? Daily. Semi-daily. Unfortunately, quite the fire would have to be burning before I'd evacuate. I am accustomed to this disturbance such that it is of no importance now.

         My ideal neighbours would be hearing impaired. If they disagreed and rowed I would not be an unwilling witness to it. Imagine. No shouts, no screams. No raised voices, or any voices. No frustration, anger, recriminations. No cursing. No shrieking.

         This does raise questions however. I am curious. How do deaf partners argue? Most hearing impaired persons sign. In an argument are their fingers flashing in fury? How wild is the gesticulating? Do they slash through the air? Do they emphatically point or wave? Do they glare and eye roll? Do they stomp their feet? Do they shrug their shoulders ? Is there more body contact as in touching, poking, nudging, or at worst, shoving? To witness such a dramatic spectacle would be tense. All that expressed emotion, all that obvious tenseness, despite the eerie silence.

         I assume no one would be signing, "Are you deaf?" That's a hearing person's retort.

         So is, "Are you listening to me?"

         I suppose the ol' "Are you looking at me?" is of vital importance.

         "Do you hear me?" is not the implied threat I know it to be.

         I also believe signing, "Don't you walk away from me!", could be potentially awkward. It would not be a productive fight if the other skirmisher acted upon this. Turning your back in a duel of hand gestures would not be fighting fair.

         Couple confrontations can be exhausting, emotionally and physically draining. How much more so to the dueling deaf.

         Great! Now I'm pondering the expressions turn a blind eye and turn a deaf ear . Not an ideal solution for me. At least I am not trapped here. I can and do escape the unwanted drama. Time for a stroll in the sunshine.

         752 words

         

         Attention: StephBee and Ẃeβ࿚Ẃỉtcĥ "The Bard's Hall Contest"