Trust me, being deaf sux, no matter what. I have $6,000 hearing aids and I still suffer. Yup, 6 large EACH!
On a happier note, I did hear birds for the first time in years, right out in our tree! And the wind soughing through the trees, pages being turned in a book! They are QUITE helpful, but not as good as the real thing.
Whoa…I’m Debbie Downer, huh? Sorry…wha wha whaaaaaa!
As always…amazing artwork, Adam. Always avoid Alliteration!
Um maybe you meant being MUTE since everyone seems to be talking back to bug (and they both use Sign language)? Especially the last panel where he is desperately trying to dissuade hulking bug from listening to the interpreter. And go raid the Community college for cheap interpreters, there’s always students who take sign for their foreign language and are okay at it. That’s how I passed my foreign language requirements. 😀 great comic as always. been a fan for years.
I normally make it a rule to never explain my comic, but I’ll make an exception here.
Panel 2: Most people don’t know sign language so the simplest way to communicate would be to write stuff down.
Panel 4: Okay, this one made sense in my head, but I see what you’re saying. Here’s how I saw it: The big guy on the far right is giving the deaf bug a mean look and is balling up his fists (I tried to make him look a little unstable). The deaf bug doesn’t know what’s being said but is doing his best to say “I don’t wanna fight,” which his cheap interpreter is presuming to mean “I challenge you to a crowbar fight.”
I am Deaf and a fan. Today’s comic is not confusing at all. Many deaf people don’t talk, they use the interpreter to voice for them. The only one talking verbally are the interpreters and whoever is talking to the deaf bug. Love your comic Adam, keep it coming! BTW misinterpretation by cheap college students are a real problem. Get a certified interpreter. Ayyy!
Even after the explanation, I find it far more sensible for “mute” then “deaf”.
I think the problem is that the “main” role changes if it’s “deaf”.
In panel 1, I’m guessing the rich guy is deaf. However, as it is drawn, it looks like Martini is interpreting what the rich guy says and you probably meant for the rich guy to react to what was interpreted.
In panel 2, grandma is deaf.
In panel 3, I’m guessing that the middle guy is deaf and has trouble reading what Martini is interpreting.
In panel 4, Martini is deaf and the middle guy is interpreting, as you have explained.
Now, if it was “mute”, all 4 panels would make sense with Martini being mute and various other characters interpreting for him. The comic would be starting with how hard it is (or it is not) to be mute, and that would be represented by Martini in all the panels. And all the jokes would be essentially the same.
I’ll pass the link on to my friends, as I usually do, but I’ll add a note “try reading it with ‘mute’ instead of ‘deaf’ for it to be clearer.” O:-) Thank you for the comic; it’s been my favourite since I first found it (and backread it all in only a couple of days).
Yes, I read it (I turn the notifications on when commenting). I have two problems with it, but I didn’t want to go further into discussion:
1. Personally, I know no one who is deaf, so I don’t know much about deaf people, at least not from my own experience. I imagine that there is a considerable amount of people like me (in that regard) out there.
2. If the argument is that “many deaf people don’t talk”, than – for the purpose of this comic – there is no difference from using the word “mute”, and I still feel that the latter seems makes the same jokes in a more obvious manner.
Anyway, I’m happy with the comic, even if I do find it clearer with that one word change.
Charon, first of all, then*.
Second, since deaf people normally don’t talk either and in a comic it would then make no difference from mute then it’s equally clear regardless if the word is mute or deaf.
A lot of deaf people are practically mute anyway.
Deaf people do talk sometimes… I mean they can just use google’s voice thingie to know what they’re saying and then try to learn to say what they read .3.
I’m also a connoisseur of the workers in the hand waving industry…
I’ve seen “professionals” like the one in my computer programming class who signed the equivalent to “today we will talk about a raise” but nothing beats the one who had taken a couple of classes, bought a book, and is now ready to assist me in a discussion of quantum mechanics…
well nowadays everyone has a phone so text maybe?
Until it runs out of battery because you use it so often.
Buy more than one ._.
If you could buy more than one, then you’d be able to afford a translator!
Trust me, being deaf sux, no matter what. I have $6,000 hearing aids and I still suffer. Yup, 6 large EACH!
On a happier note, I did hear birds for the first time in years, right out in our tree! And the wind soughing through the trees, pages being turned in a book! They are QUITE helpful, but not as good as the real thing.
Whoa…I’m Debbie Downer, huh? Sorry…wha wha whaaaaaa!
As always…amazing artwork, Adam. Always avoid Alliteration!
Um maybe you meant being MUTE since everyone seems to be talking back to bug (and they both use Sign language)? Especially the last panel where he is desperately trying to dissuade hulking bug from listening to the interpreter. And go raid the Community college for cheap interpreters, there’s always students who take sign for their foreign language and are okay at it. That’s how I passed my foreign language requirements. 😀 great comic as always. been a fan for years.
I normally make it a rule to never explain my comic, but I’ll make an exception here.
Panel 2: Most people don’t know sign language so the simplest way to communicate would be to write stuff down.
Panel 4: Okay, this one made sense in my head, but I see what you’re saying. Here’s how I saw it: The big guy on the far right is giving the deaf bug a mean look and is balling up his fists (I tried to make him look a little unstable). The deaf bug doesn’t know what’s being said but is doing his best to say “I don’t wanna fight,” which his cheap interpreter is presuming to mean “I challenge you to a crowbar fight.”
I am Deaf and a fan. Today’s comic is not confusing at all. Many deaf people don’t talk, they use the interpreter to voice for them. The only one talking verbally are the interpreters and whoever is talking to the deaf bug. Love your comic Adam, keep it coming! BTW misinterpretation by cheap college students are a real problem. Get a certified interpreter. Ayyy!
Thanks! You rock!
Big mean bug definitely looks unstable. Good job on the eyes!
Even after the explanation, I find it far more sensible for “mute” then “deaf”.
I think the problem is that the “main” role changes if it’s “deaf”.
In panel 1, I’m guessing the rich guy is deaf. However, as it is drawn, it looks like Martini is interpreting what the rich guy says and you probably meant for the rich guy to react to what was interpreted.
In panel 2, grandma is deaf.
In panel 3, I’m guessing that the middle guy is deaf and has trouble reading what Martini is interpreting.
In panel 4, Martini is deaf and the middle guy is interpreting, as you have explained.
Now, if it was “mute”, all 4 panels would make sense with Martini being mute and various other characters interpreting for him. The comic would be starting with how hard it is (or it is not) to be mute, and that would be represented by Martini in all the panels. And all the jokes would be essentially the same.
I’ll pass the link on to my friends, as I usually do, but I’ll add a note “try reading it with ‘mute’ instead of ‘deaf’ for it to be clearer.” O:-) Thank you for the comic; it’s been my favourite since I first found it (and backread it all in only a couple of days).
Read Wes’ comment and I think it’ll make sense to you.
Yes, I read it (I turn the notifications on when commenting). I have two problems with it, but I didn’t want to go further into discussion:
1. Personally, I know no one who is deaf, so I don’t know much about deaf people, at least not from my own experience. I imagine that there is a considerable amount of people like me (in that regard) out there.
2. If the argument is that “many deaf people don’t talk”, than – for the purpose of this comic – there is no difference from using the word “mute”, and I still feel that the latter seems makes the same jokes in a more obvious manner.
Anyway, I’m happy with the comic, even if I do find it clearer with that one word change.
Charon, first of all, then*.
Second, since deaf people normally don’t talk either and in a comic it would then make no difference from mute then it’s equally clear regardless if the word is mute or deaf.
A lot of deaf people are practically mute anyway.
Deaf people do talk sometimes… I mean they can just use google’s voice thingie to know what they’re saying and then try to learn to say what they read .3.
A crowbar fight is oddly specific, but you have piqued my interest!
I get the feeling that you’re confusing deaf and mute.
Great comic otherwise.
Nice Fonzie reference in panel 1.
Ha! I was wondering if anyone would catch that.
Fonzie! I missed it the first time through, but caught it as I read through again. I love the little things you put in there, Adam. Awesome! 🙂
Unfortunately, this happened in real life! If only bug had been around to call out this fake.
Or make it worse.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/fake-sign-language-interpreter-nelson-mandela-memorial-provokes-anger-v21860157
I’m also a connoisseur of the workers in the hand waving industry…
I’ve seen “professionals” like the one in my computer programming class who signed the equivalent to “today we will talk about a raise” but nothing beats the one who had taken a couple of classes, bought a book, and is now ready to assist me in a discussion of quantum mechanics…
I can see panel 4 happening in real life. 😉
Come to Denmark. It’s free (well, taxes pay for it) and we’re not all bad people 🙂
Cochlear implants or just regular hearing aids are provided by the state.
Or even a sign interpretor for classes if you are studying.
And no, taxes aren’t 50+% 🙂
Don’t forget the cheap “As Seen On TV” hearing aids. I’m sure that’s started a crowbar fight or three.