The Silent Observer
I question what I could observe before deciding what it means.
I do not assume that observation equals truth.
I only know what I could observe from where I was.
Someone standing somewhere else may have seen something different.
Access changes observation. Timing changes observation. Memory changes observation.
The point is not to pretend certainty. The point is to measure what I actually witnessed.
Where This Came From
This describes how much of my writing begins: with observation, then a question.
What I Noticed
I do not assume that observation equals truth.
The Question
What was available to observe? What was not?
What I Call It
I call this position the Silent Observer.
Working Definition
I watch before concluding. I notice before defining. I question interpretation and keep the context with the observation.
What This Does Not Claim
This is not a title of authority or a claim of superior perception. Being Deaf does not make observation infallible.
Limitations
I only know what I could observe from where I was. Someone standing somewhere else may have seen something different.
What I Still Do Not Know
An observation may remain unresolved.