[gui-talk] Fw: New THOUGHT PROVOKER #140- McGoo'd

[tribble]

New THOUGHT PROVOKER #140- McGoo'dHi all --
I know that many of you have seen this on the nfb-talk list, but I am posting it here for those who aren't subscribed to nfb-talk or the thought provoker list as I think some might be interested in posting a response.  The thought provoker is a kind of blog where people respond to a monthly post like the one below and the responses are posted on the thoughtprovoker site.
Enjoy.
--le


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Robert Newman 
To: Robert Newman 
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 7:22 AM
Subject: New THOUGHT PROVOKER #140- McGoo'd


THOUGHT PROVOKER 140

McGoo'd

December 14, 2008

Thought Is The First Step To Beyond 

"Whoa, that's a big honking screen for a laptop!" 

"Yeah, I like to be able to sit back and be comfortable." Dempsey was showing off his computer to a new friend. He was attending a summer program for blind teens of high school age. Rapidly he reduced the enlargement of the text he'd been studying. "I was checking out the details of the pics and diagrams we need to use for our group project," he lied; he didn't think it would be cool in this group to be the one using the biggest enlargement. Squinting now, he forged ahead, getting only a part of what scrolled by. Next to him, a tiny earphone voice running at triple speed told him his neighbor was back to reading via her screen enlargement software's voice.

"Everyone finished? They want us back in the main hall in five minutes," said Kelly, the group's elected leader and the only one of them who was totally blind.

Dempsey's ego hurt a little for not being chosen for lead. But deep down he knew he probably would not be able to outdo some of these guys, no matter if he could see better than them or not.

"Yo!  Done and got my notes Brailled up," answered Mark, putting his slate back in his laptop case. 

That Braille thing was something Dempsey just didn't get. He had visited with Mark and knew the two of them had about the same vision. Dempsey and his parents had always opted for print, wanting him to fit into the mainstream.

"Hey, let's settle on who is going to present which part of the report," Kelsey said. "I've got to write out the specifics of what I say."

"I'll handle the second section," Dempsey volunteered. He hadn't gotten much further than that in his study of the material; he was a good student, but these guys had gotten through the four sections of readings faster. And while the rest was being organized, he quickly wrote out a few notes with a heavy marker. He knew he'd better not even try to read from prepared notes; he'd gotten teased at the school where he was the only blind student ("Smelling or reading it, Dempsey?").

Presentations completed, the group was given a one-hour break. Someone suggested, "Let's go to Mickey D's!" 

"I know the way," Kelly said and took the lead. 

"Whoa.we going to go to a light?" asked Dempsey. 

"That would be four blocks down," answered Kelly. "We don't have the time." 

"We can handle this," Mark said, leaning forward, listening to the traffic on the four-lane street. 

Out of the four of them, Dempsey was the only one without a cane. He had a monocular back in the dorm, but even with that, this type of street made him nervous; at home he had a folding cane.somewhere. He never wanted the stigma of a cane, didn't need one, because he always chose where and when he would go places by himself.

"Go!" 

Heart in his throat, Dempsey followed; he wouldn't be left behind. About the middle of the street, "Ow, darn!" as he kicked into an unseen cement island and fell. 

"Better take my arm.hurry." Kelly said. 

That evening was philosophy seminar. The topic was the effect of a blind media character upon an audience. "I have a rather provoking thought," spoke up one teen. "We all agree that when blindness is portrayed in the mass media, it has an effect upon how blindness is viewed by society. My question is, if that influence guides how we are treated and if you view that as a process that has been worked upon you, can you come up with a single term that captures the essence of which specific blind cult figure that's been applied to you?"

Dempsey got it right away, but wasn't sure he was ready to share it. This day had brought it home to him-these guys had blindness skills, confidence, knew where in life they were going!  They were competent blind people and he was basically an inferior sighted person. "Yeah, I've been McGoo'd."



Greetings 

Read through the above short story and send me your thoughts at:  newmanrl at cox.net  Recall that I place all responses upon my web site as soon as I receive them for all the world to read and learn from and that web site url is http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

    What IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS: Thought Provoker is an independent e-mail discussion forum with the purpose to aid in the effort to change what it means to be blind. Participants, both readers and writers share their honest feelings and we learn from each other.  I Robert Leslie Newman am the author and moderator.  At this time a new PROVOKER runs for four weeks.  THOUGHT PROVOKER can be sent directly to anyone who contacts me with a request to join the THOUGHT PROVOKER mailing list.  Otherwise I post all new THOUGHT PROVOKERS upon my web site "ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS  AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT" for all in the WWW to read and learn from.  In Addition, all past PROVOKERS are posted there and can be responded to as well.  I do insert commentary after some responses.  But more importantly know that I do not edit anyone's response other than run them through a spell checker and that's not perfect.            Responses can be written to the Provoker itself or to the responses of others.  Think about it, if you feel that any response is not complete or does not fully convey the right philosophy, write in and give your feelings, provoke thought.  There again, if you do choose to respond on the comments of another, take issue with the content and not the person.

     For now it is optional to have your name and any other personal information placed with your response.  You write what you want us to know.  I do feel giving your occupational status and/or location is important (your city, state or region and country).

    In regard to a definition of blindness, I am taking the broad view that blindness is any level of vision loss which is affecting the individual functionally, emotionally, socially, economically, politically, etc.

     If you feel this forum would be of value to another, pass the address on.  Additionally, if you no longer wish to receive Provokers, advise me of that fact and I will honor it.

    Finally, I give my permission to use this material to educate others.  Do give credit back to the forum and the respondent.  Thank you.  





Robert Leslie Newman 
Email- newmanrl at cox.net 
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- 
Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info