okay, i'm confused [s3 spoilers ahead]

obligatory spoiler space:

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Okay, I've heard from 2 ppl so far that says that the old lady at the end wasn't deaf. Now what told u guys that? I rewatched the show, and I still got the impression that she was deaf. If she wasn't, wouldn't she say "No" when Daria asked her if she was deaf? Sure, she said "Oh, read me another dear, please, you have such a pretty voice" but I really thought that was just out of a need for companionship. So why did Daria go back to read the story, you ask. This is my theory: because she was sick of reading saccharine stories and decided to read a self-created gory story instead without getting the bad reactions she got before.

I guess it's entirely possible that the old lady wasn't deaf, and was just pretending to be deaf. And it's entirely possible the old lady was just tuning out and didnt really hear Daria's questions. But I wish I had more concrete explanations on why she wasn't deaf.

Can someone contact the MTV writers and ask them whether she was or wasn't?

She's not completely "deaf", since her speech is unimpaired. But she is certainly hearing impaired enough that she is not hearing Daria, as evidenced by the "graphic smut" comment getting no reaction. My guess would be that she simply has her hearing aids turned off, since she wants Daria there for just company, not for her storytelling ability.

I prefer to think that she's not deaf, but just not interested in the usual drabness of her life, and couldn't care less about Brittany. In other words, from "The Misery Chick"--she's "just...not...like...them." So Daria's little rant was like a breath of fresh air, which is why she asked Daria to stay.

On Thu, 04 Mar 1999 20:03:51 -0500, Jeg7777 wrote:

Hmm... good point. I figured she was probably the eldest "Dariatype" in the show (Daria, Aunt Amy, The Old Lady), but didn't quite know how to put it. That puts it perfectly.

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Civilization at last!

Don't forget that there are degrees of hearing impairment. The old lady says that Daria has "a lovely voice." Well, maybe that's because she can hear best in that range. I've had a few patients for whom I had to raise or lower my speaking pitch to make myself understood to them. They were legally deaf, but did have some limited hearing ability, concentrated in a particular range. Maybe that's it. Then again, there's a lot to be said for the "companionship" theory. The woman was lonely, isolated by her hearing loss, unnoticed by the other residents (and probably the staff), and wanted company. Think Daria would understand? Think she'd go back? Yup. It's that conscience she denied having. Maybe she's coming to terms with it.

Peace Kevin