[nfb-talk] A few of my own observations

Sun May 4 17:08:55 CDT 2008

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I suggest we refrain from feeding the troll.(*)  Just a suggestion, nothing
more.

Notes:
* Troll: (noun)
a person who posts deliberately inflammatory messages to a discussion forum
on the Internet in order to provoke a vehement response from other users.

Aaron

- --
Skype: cannona
MSN/Windows Messenger: cannona at hotmail.com (don't send email to the hotmail
address.)
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] A few of my own observations

> I've defended the NFB on the ACB list just as I'm defending the ACB on
> this
> list. I had an extended conversation (part of it via private email) with
> the
> president of the ACB urging him to try to work with the NFB. I have to say
> that the criticism of the NFB that I've seen on the ACB list  is a lot
> more
> substantial than what I've seen here. Usually, when someone on the ACB
> list
> criticizes the NFB, it's about something specific. The smug,
> superior,attitude I've seen from members of this list toward the ACB
> irritates and alarms me. I think it's counter productive and a little bit
> shameful. The ACB is a fine organization and it's leaders are intelligent
> and hard working. Most of the members are no different than anyone on this
> list. We are all in this together. We are all on the same side.
>
>
> ---- Original Message -----
> From: "Bonnie Ainsworth" <cedarwoman1965 at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 1:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] A few of my own observations
>
>
>> Jim,
>>
>> That's exactly why I've always liked to read messages from you.  Your
>> posts
>> are always reasonable and thoughtful.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts,
>> and
>> I agree with everything you're saying.  Thanks for your post!
>>
>> Bonnie
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "James Aldrich" <jkaldrich at qwest.net>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 10:57 PM
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] A few of my own observations
>>
>>
>> hello all!
>>
>> here are a few of my thoughts for whatever they are worth!
>>
>> When speaking about New York's Governor, he is definitely managing and
>> that
>> is about it!  Perhaps with what he knows, he isn't doing half bad at
>> times,
>> but then if he did have proper training or were open to it, who knows
>> what
>> difference it might make!  I for one will give him a benefit of a doubt,
>> we
>> certainly know where he is coming from!
>>
>> I was on the ACB-l list for a time and has anyone observed how poorly it
>> is
>> run compared to our various lists?  I never saw such negativity as I did
>> on
>> that list!  Mercy!
>>
>> Well, the accessible money judge certainly isn't a God and his decision
>> is
>> being appealed so we'll see where all of this goes!  I'm also amazed that
>> people blamed ACB shortcomings on the NFB!  They can't seem to get things
>> accomplished because the NFB constantly opposes them!  What a bunch of
>> you
>> know what that is!  They can't get anything done because of who and what
>> they are!  The blame should be placed squarely in their camp!  I
>> certainly
>> would give them some credit for a few things but to blame the NFB for
>> what
>> they failed to accomplish is nonsense! We the NFB manage to accomplish a
>> good many things despite the fact that ACB opposes us much of the time so
>> why can't they or don't they do the same?  It is certainly a fascinating
>> question!
>>
>> There were two speeches which went together on one of those 10 inch
>> talking
>> book records, Blindness, Handicap or Characteristic and Blindness,
>> Concepts
>> and Misconceptions.   I'm certain one could download them as a text file
>> or
>> via audio!  I'd read those two speeches along with the nature of
>> independence.  On one of those two speeches, I believe it was Blindness,
>> Handicap or Characteristic, he said, "it has been wisely observed that
>> philosophy bakes no bread!  But then it has also been wisely observed
>> that
>> without a philosophy no bread is baked"!  One might say a philosophy is a
>> way of thinking and accomplishing!  The ideas of Dr. TenBroek and Dr.
>> Jernigan were certainly revolutionary in those early days in our
>> movement!
>> They were then and one might say quite often still are in opposition to
>> the
>> common thinking of people when it comes to blindness!  I certainly  have
>> heard some people say they'd rather be dead than blind!  I've heard it
>> quite
>> often!  I believe we know much better that blindness isn't the worst
>> thing
>> which could happen to anyone!  It really is a matter of one's attitude
>> towards it!  I don't feel the NFB tells anyone what to do!  Anyone can
>> live
>> like a bum or hermit or however they wish to live!  We certainly have the
>> freedom to live as we would like in this country!  We certainly have more
>> freedom in this day and age than we did as blind persons many many years
>> ago!  I've heard it said the world isn't perfect and never will be!  Or,
>> the
>> world isn't fair either and never will be!   I think we must make the
>> best
>> of our situations and if we have the power to change something as
>> individuals or as an organization, we should do so!  I too have used the
>> debit card, traveler's checks on occasion rather than that cold hard cash
>> which if lost is truly lost!  A banker once told me many years ago that
>> people are generally honest with money!  This was his experience!  Yes!
>> I
>> think we all have been ripped off at times but this ripping off doesn't
>> just
>> happen to blind persons!  It happens to everyone!  I think the elderly
>> which
>> I'm becoming more and more a part of are victimized by being ripped off
>> than
>> working blind persons!  I think this needs some better study but
>> unfortunately being ripped off, having one's home broken into and a host
>> of
>> other disasters is unfortunately a part of life and how sad it is  some
>> persons tend to get more than their share of bad at times!  All of us
>> could
>> feel we have the world by the tail only to find out it could run us over!
>> This is why we have organized and are there for each other during times
>> of
>> good and bad!  Having a positive philosophy which raises the bar is
>> indeed
>> encouraging to me!  This isn't easy but then is anything worthwhile easy
>> Just learning how to work this PC hasn't always been easy and I have had
>> times I'd want to throw it out the window!  I'm still learning!  Those of
>> us
>> with PCS and notetakers as well as other technology are a unique crowd!
>> Many
>> blind persons don't have what we do!  Some may not want to be bothered
>> with
>> it either!  It is a matter  of perception!
>>
>> I've heard both good and bad video description!  It really isn't an exact
>> science and one cannot mandate something which isn't exact much of the
>> time!
>> Quite often one's perceptions, prejudices which affect interpetation
>> could
>> get in the way of what actually happens in a movie!
>> The SA Mobile Network has quite a collection of described videos!
>> Consider
>> joining that network for a truly wonderful computer interface and a
>> network
>> with wonderful features.  I'd rather say the cup is half full than half
>> empty!  Yes!  There will always be problems but that is a part of life!
>> How
>> will each of us address our problems which may come upon us!  Then again,
>> how might we address our successes!  Some can't handle success at times!
>> Study lottery winners and that certainly is evident!
>>
>> The discussion thus far is healthy really but none of us have a handle on
>> what is truly best for the blind as a population!  What may be good for
>> one
>> may not be great for another!  We need to strive to work for the best we
>> can
>> for the good of all blind people!  We certainly are not in agreement on
>> whether accessible currency would be good or not!  For now, I'd say,
>> let's
>> see how things come out in court!
>>
>> We do have a democratic organization!  Many in the leadership were
>> pushing
>> the United English Braille Code or whatever it is called!  The general
>> membership during one convention wanted braille to remain as it is now
>> rather than go to this uncertain unknown code!  The membership certainly
>> voted against those who felt the United English Braille Code was the best
>> solution!  I'm certain others here could point to other examples where
>> there
>> has been a difference between the leaders and the membership.
>>
>> Okay! I'm going back to my corner!  Just some thoughts to ponder!
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
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