Mutism

psilence · Post by **psilence** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:18 pm

I've been toying with the idea of playing a mute either in part or for the duration of my stay in BRC 2006. Actual spoken dialogue outside of very close family has been a very pervasive thorn in my side for a long time.

I was thinking I'd just buy one of those dry erase boards they give you when you lose your voice. The only tangle seems to be that I'm not sure they sell glow in the dark dry erase markers, or how I could light up the board if they didn't so people could see the writing at night.

Selective mutism, formally known as elective mutism, is a disorder of childhood that is characterized by the peristent lack of speech in at least one social situation, despite the ability to speak in other situations.. Onset of selective mutism typically occurs before a child is 5-years-old. However, it is usually first noticed when the child enters school. Specific features of this disorder are described in the 2000 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) (pp.125-127) as follows:

* Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations (in which there is an expectation for speaking, e.g., at school) despite speaking in other siturations.
* The disturbance interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication.
* The duration of the disturbance is at least 1 month (not limited to the first month of school).
* The failure to speak is not due to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort with, the spoken language required in the social situation.

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disor ... Mutism.htm

Any thoughts?

-Joe

regionalchaos · Post by **regionalchaos** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:36 am

As a social experiment, ala Dicky in a box, I think it sounds somewhat interesting. However, as a way of life, I think it sounds a little boring.. Then again, I'm probably choosing to view it only from my angle.

psilence · Post by **psilence** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:42 pm

Yes it was more an experimental idea, as I am not really a true mute. I am very reserved in speech, the kind of guy you have to turn the radio down to hear.

:P

-Joe

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:13 pm

Sounds like a really cool idea. I've seen people with speech difficulties use boards with pre-printed phrases or graphics to express themselves in coversation (i.e. pointing to the words, yes/no and so on). Maybe you could incorporate that or utilize a whole series of cards. The best would be to get the other people to engage in coversation with you on a mute level.

Hope to see you this year!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:19 pm

Okay, I'll bite. What's Dicky in a box?

EvilDustBooger · Post by **EvilDustBooger** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:50 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:Okay, I'll bite. What's Dicky in a box?

It was an art project last year (BMORG funded I believe)where a dude was sealed up in an acrylic box out on the playa for the duration of BM. People had to interact with him through the plastic wall...at the end of his gig he......got out of the box.

a little interesting

a little lame

psilence · Post by **psilence** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:12 pm

http://www.thedickybox.com/

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:18 pm

[quote="psilence"] or how I could light up the board if they didn't so people could see the writing at night.

[quote]

Headlamp? Just don't look at anybody in the face.

psilence · Post by **psilence** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:54 pm

blyslv wrote:
psilence wrote: or how I could light up the board if they didn't so people could see the writing at night.

Headlamp? Just don't look at anybody in the face.

I did buy one actually, and have used it somewhat regularly. http://tinyurl.com/9mgcw . It is a bright white light, and the few times I've had to attempt it, illuminating writing on a surface in otherwise dark conditions isn't it's strong suit. I'm sure I could just make a red filter with saran wrap or something and be ok.

Thanks though

-Joe

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:47 pm

Just buy this black dry erase board with flourescent dry erase markers:
http://tinyurl.com/ctppx

and attach this AA powered black light:
http://www.coolstuffcheap.com/12vblacklight.html

Ta-Da! Instant glow in the dark, erasable message board!

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:52 pm

Oh, and I also thought of something really fun too.

So you should walk around with the board and engage people in conversation using it and hand gestures and what not. If anyone asks why you can't speak just point to your throat and shrug your shoulders, or write on the wipe board "I've taken a vow of silence".

When you've been communicating with them for a good long while, have a friend walk by and rudely bump you with out saying sorry, then turn around and start screaming your head off at them.

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:35 pm

SHUT THE FUCK UP! (said with much love..spank spank)

psilence wrote:I've been toying with the idea of playing a mute either in part or for the duration of my stay in BRC 2006. Actual spoken dialogue outside of very close family has been a very pervasive thorn in my side for a long time.

I was thinking I'd just buy one of those dry erase boards they give you when you lose your voice. The only tangle seems to be that I'm not sure they sell glow in the dark dry erase markers, or how I could light up the board if they didn't so people could see the writing at night.

Selective mutism, formally known as elective mutism, is a disorder of childhood that is characterized by the peristent lack of speech in at least one social situation, despite the ability to speak in other situations.. Onset of selective mutism typically occurs before a child is 5-years-old. However, it is usually first noticed when the child enters school. Specific features of this disorder are described in the 2000 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) (pp.125-127) as follows:

* Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations (in which there is an expectation for speaking, e.g., at school) despite speaking in other siturations.
* The disturbance interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication.
* The duration of the disturbance is at least 1 month (not limited to the first month of school).
* The failure to speak is not due to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort with, the spoken language required in the social situation.
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disor ... Mutism.htm

Any thoughts?

-Joe

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:23 am

psilence wrote:
blyslv wrote:
psilence wrote: or how I could light up the board if they didn't so people could see the writing at night.

Headlamp? Just don't look at anybody in the face.
I did buy one actually, and have used it somewhat regularly. http://tinyurl.com/9mgcw . It is a bright white light, and the few times I've had to attempt it, illuminating writing on a surface in otherwise dark conditions isn't it's strong suit. I'm sure I could just make a red filter with saran wrap or something and be ok.

Thanks though ;)

-Joe

Target sells small, battery-operated fluorescent lights with little bits of velcro that you could stick at the top of the board to shine down. Not too bright or direct. Should work.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:53 am

I don’t know the whole idea sounds creepy to me, you might as well put on black face makeup and an afro wig if you want to do something bordering on the offensive Just as a shtick.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:23 pm

Hmmm... if you presented yourself as a mute (i.e. “I’m a mute” written on your board) then I could see that as being somehow not right. But if you made it clear that you have chosen a vow of silence, then that would be something different. Incidently a guy I knew, who was also a metal worker, took a 6 month vow of silence. I’ve no idea how he dealt with the phone calls or ran his shop, but he did it. Cost him his girlfriend in the end though... probably tired of relaying messages for him.

But... I bet you’d get different reactions depending upon what people perceived you as being. And if you made no claim one way or the other (stating neither “I’m a mute” or “I’ve taken a vow of silence”), then people are free to conclude whatever they wish about your situation by way of their interactions with you. And then if they ask you why, you can answer honestly. Seems like an interesting idea to me.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:29 pm

My kids grow up with hearing inpaired kids. They all learned to sign so they could play together. I would take offence with some one faking deaf.

CagedKitty · Post by **CagedKitty** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:23 pm

For someone who doesn't know what to say in social situations, I think it's a great experiment. I may try it myself. If I pretended I couldn't talk, then I'd probably think of all kinds of things I wanted to say, and be grateful when I was allowed to talk again.

regionalchaos · Post by **regionalchaos** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:34 pm

"I'm a mute" should be the only words you say.

Just shout them at people when they talk to you. Then start to have conversations with them on the board.

psilence · Post by **psilence** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:55 pm

Thanks all, I've made the decision for it, and gone with the less bright lights as a fix.

Although I don't really understand what would be creepy about it...I'm sure I'd lose out on communicating with some people, but if something like that would put them off in such a way, is it really my loss.

-Joe

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:35 pm

I think people were saying my idea was creepy joe (pretending to be mute and then yelling loudly). And I agree, it its creepy (but fun).

One of my favorite "Playa Moments" was in 98 or 99, this guy had an art car with a keyboard attached to the dashboard. The keyboard was programmed to say "Blow Job" and each key changed the pitch slightly.

So the guy just drives around hitting the keys going:

"Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, "

Finally someone snaps and starts yelling at the guy to knock it the fuck off, but the guy just smiles and keeps hitting the keys:

Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob,

So the guy tries to pull him out of the car by his neck but the guy just keeps hitting the key the entire time, he never stops!

Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob Blowjob, Blowjob

That was the best!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:41 pm

Chai Guy, Am I going to have to track you down and kill you for my cup of tea this year?

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:55 pm

I sure hope not! Good to see you on here my friend!

psilence · Post by **psilence** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:33 pm

Ah, well shame on me then. Sorry all, and thanks again. Eagerly awaiting August...

Nice with the BJ keyboard too, though with situations like that I always wonder at what point it would become obvious that it wasn't a performance piece and was actually one guy trying to beat the crap out of the other..

-Joe

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:54 pm

Oh no, I think the guy was absolutely trying to beat the crap out of him. The funny part was that the guy in the car was so committed to his art that he didn't care.

mars · Post by **mars** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:25 pm

Two thoughts in support of your project:

1. You can light the board in a nice mellow way by attaching a few glowsticks to it each night.

2. Perhaps if your issue is that you already are super quiet, then an interesting challenge would be to do the opposite. But since yelling would just sound drunk and obnoxious, what if every time you left your camp, you pretended you were an outgoing and vivacious, confident talker, and talk up a storm to anyone and everyone who will listen? Tell them about yourself, your camp, ask them personal questions...whatever you imagine a confident talker would do. Or if that seems too hard, you could go to Center Camp once a day and be a loud talker for an hour. You could say it's your costume.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:58 am

I know someone who declined to talk for 17 years, and avoided using motorized vehicles for 22 years. The refusal to ride in cars came first, after a 1972 oil spill on the California coast. The choice not to speak was always vague to me, but maybe he got tired of telling people why he was on foot in protest of everybody else's oil consumption. He still exercised his vocal chords out in the woods, and used a small notepad when necessary, but seemed to prefer coaxing absurd one-sided conversations out of people he encountered. In any case, the silence was assumed to be part of his life mission, though I'd also heard other stories having nothing to do with environ-mentalism.

Cephlah · Post by **Cephlah** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:39 am

how about using an "itty bitty book light" or other clipable-type small light? That way you could direct the light down onto your board. Just a thought.

I'm also not a big talker when it comes to small talk with strangers. Probably the biggest barrier for me connecting with other burners was not knowing what to say to them. Your idea sounds like it might break that barrier for you. Good luck :)

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