Doubts about Anthrocon

[kajarainbow]

This is happening pretty much right in the town I'm living in. One would expect that I would naturally attend.

I'm not certain I will.

Last year, I had fun, but I also had a lot of time with nothing much to do. Because of my deafness, talking to others was a slow, laborious process for writing everything down on paper, and many didn't bother so much in any more than a brief manner (though I truly do appreciate those who made extra effort to communicate with me more extensively than the others, circuit_four really stood out in this regard and I apologize to any others I might have forgotten).

The only convention features that appeal to me, or are doable, are the art stuff. Artist's Alley, that gallery thing they had, and seeing all the costumes walking around. And, also, meeting people, but... all it really accomplishes in the most part is to put faces to the online text communication. Events and panels are right out of the question.

The food runs I went on, I ended up eating, and then sitting while people chattered around me in conversations invisible, intangible to me. It was getting to the point where I was idly scribbling weird symbols in my notepads just to occupy myself.

In light of all this... Hmm. Your thoughts? Suggestions?

Comments

[axonfuel.livejournal.com]

It sounds like what you need is a lip reader. Someone who speaks your language and can translate stuff, at least partially (I don't know how accurate lip reading is).

You could ask if anyone else who's deaf is going to the con?

[vanst.livejournal.com]

It's probably a little short-notice, shortsighted, and maybe even idiotic of me to suggest this, but have you ever considered something like this? I own one, albiet with a cracked and thus useless touchscreen, and while it was intact it was quite handy as a portable digital notepad. It's pocketsized, if only just, buuuut...

It's kinda hard to find an A-11 these days, so my other technology-based suggestion would be - don't laugh - a Nintendo DS. They all have a built-in application called Pictochat, which functions sort of like multiplayer Notepad with the added capability of being able to draw penises at people sketch small pictures back and forth. The only problem I have with it is the lack of a physical keyboard, meaning you have to tap out letters with the stylus or a dull pencil.

If neither of these appeals or is feasable, then let me be the second to suggest trying to find someone who could serve as a translator or lip-reader for you.