One night last week I was attempting to watch an inane film that seemed to mostly involve Kurt Russell violently rutting Courtney Cox (don’t worry, there was no Johnson’s Baby Oil involved, it was just a very slow night elsewhere on terrestrial TV) when a bulbous man in a pink shirt popped up at the bottom of the screen and started flailing his arms about and making sign language gestures. The guy was fucking massive. He wasn’t even keeping over to the corner either – he was right over towards the middle of the screen waving his arms up and down, and generally getting in the way.
I’ve got nothing against deaf people, but is there any need for this guy to be there? Shouldn’t there be a button to get rid of him? Also, what’s wrong with subtitles? The thing is, I am really easily distracted, so I just spent the whole time transfixed by this animated man in the fluorescent shirt and couldn’t pay attention to the film. I can’t overstate how unnecessarily large he was either. The people benefiting from the addition of this guy are deaf, not fucking blind!
Recently, it seems impossible to switch on the TV after midnight and find a programme worth watching without an annoying person bouncing around in the corner of the screen. I don’t see why deaf people get special treatment on late night TV anyway. What about the insomniacs? Surely they should get priority. Why don’t little fluffy bouncing cartoon sheep appear at the bottom of our screens after midnight? Or why don’t the signers dress up as sheep and do slow, hypnotic dance routines while waving their arms about? Then everyone would be happy.
I would just like to say that I agree that they shouldn’t be there. If you know sign language, you will probably agree that the sign interpretations aren’t of a high quality. They really should not be dancing across the screen either. There is no way of stopping it either as that is the way it is broadcast.
I totally agree. They are annoying to say the least. Like you, I have nothing against people who are deaf or hard of hearing and think they should have a service which enhances their viewing pleasure, but just not at the expense of mine. Apsrt from the incessant gesticulating there is the very unpleasant facial gurning and tongue poking…almost reminds me of some Maori war dance. We live in an age of digital TV, syrely this should be a service which is available on the red button. Oh and also you really need to check out the signers on the music channels. I do realise that most people with hearing difficulties aren’t totally deaf and may be able to hear some music so I dont begrudge them having a signer to interpret the words (on the red button of course!) but usually the signer is middle aged and frumpy, trying their best to move in time to the beat while dressed in some dress they inherited from their granny or it is a middle aged idiot in a scruffy polo shirt (usually bald too) bouncing around the screen trying their best to look cool. Believe me..its really not cool and if I were sopmeone who relied on signing Id be truly embarrsssed.
I can’t believe there is no way to turn that function off. In this day and state of technology?
Yes the sign function should be available for those needing it – but why oh why isn’t it an OPTION JUST AS SUBTITLES ARE?
The technology must be available. So who made the stupid decision to embed signing with no option to turn it off? Will some Geek out there sort it please.
I can’t watch a film with it on – have tried hard, but can’t cope.
Do deaf people only watch tv after midnight? There surely must be the technology to opt out of this.
I would just like to say that I agree that they shouldn’t be there. I think subtitles are ok as those of us who dont need them can switch them off. They really should not be dancing across the screen either. There is no way of stopping it as that is the way it is broadcast.
I can no longer enjoy a film that has these incessant gesticulating people on the screen.
I have just started watching Columbo (sad I know) after him being on the tv pretty well every day, I now find he’s only on now and again. On top of this as has been said earlier you get this Humongus guy in a bright pink shirt waving his arms all over the place. How distracting is that!!!
How can you expect to now watch the film with this mighty distraction???. DOH! and double DOH!
As has been said in this day and age why can’t we take this most annoying thing off. DOH!
I am trying to watch a history documentary at the mo and there is some woman in a bright red shirt getting in the way of things i need to see for the program, for example Maps, antique labels on bottles etc, its bloody silly and why is she now making what appears to be offensive signs with her hands