[nfbwatlk] top ten reasons for using solid fiberglass cane

Tue Sep 19 23:42:13 CDT 2006

I am declaring this thread *done!* Both Carl *and* Bob propound 
misconceptions about both dogs and canes. This results in an argument based 
upon emotion rather than fact. Such an argument ill-serves both those who 
use dogs and those who use canes!

Enough already!

Mike Freeman, List Moderator

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Sellers" <robertsellers500 at comcast.net>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] top ten reasons for using solid fiberglass cane

I can fiercely defend someone’s right because I believe in democracy. That
doesn’t mean I approve or agree with what he/she is doing. I know I’m
putting my neck on the chopping block by disputing this list. This list of
reasons not to use a dog guide is what the Federation was accused of 30
years ago and blind people have held it up as a reason for not joining the
Federation or the hypocrisy of the Federation. It’s obvious that Carl has
never used a dog guide and the points he makes are often myths or
misconceptions about dog guides. Can a dog guide be found that has
demonstrated one of those points. Absolutely. But what disappoints me about
Carl and other Federationist who thinks this list is cute and has not taken
it to tasks, is that, Carl’s number 1 reason for a solid fiberglass cane is
so he knows that when people are talking, they are talking at him. Shouldn’t
the number 1 reason that a cane or a dog guide is used, is for a blind
person to travel independently and how the blind person chooses to
accomplish that is a personal choice!!

I believe I can speak with some authority. For 20 years I’ve been without
the use of a dog guide and even though I’ve had available the use of 3
different dog guides for 17 years, I’ve never exclusively used the dog
guide, there are occasions that I will use the cane and leave the dog guide
at home.

Let me give a list of reasons I would use a dog guide over a solid
fiberglass cane.

While using a cane I’ve been struck 3 times by cars. I’ve never been hit by
a car using my dog guide. He has guided me out of danger, but also drivers
seem to be more aware when an animal is around.

If I’m 5 foot 10 inches tall and I’m walking down a sidewalk that has a tree
branch or a bar 5 feet 6 inches off the ground, the dog guide will keep me
from walking into the object. With a cane my face will get smacked.

With several inches of snow on the ground, the cane is pretty much useless,
whereas my dog guide will be able to maintain the direction I need to go and
stay on the sidewalk.

If a mall has a flight of stairs in the middle of the complex to go between
floors, in a couple of tries I can train my dog guide to walk straight to
those stairs and don’t need to beat a stick on objects to try and find it
while people are jumping out of the way.

No one is going to ask me to pet a cane or tell me how cute it is. When kids
can pet my dog guide I have the opportunity to talk about blindness and dog
guides. I don’t have that opportunity with a solid fiberglass cane.

I can walk the same distance as a person who has the same vision as I do
with my dog much faster than someone with a solid fiberglass cane.

A dog guide isn’t going to be snapped because it won’t get stuck between
someone’s legs or in a car door. The loss of my solid fiberglass cane would
make me totally dependent upon a sighted guide until I got another cane.

But the most important reason to use a dog guide is to allow me to be
independent. Yes, the solid fiberglass cane can do the same. It’s a personal
choice on the method the blind person uses.

Bob Sellers

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Jarvis" <carjar at olypen.com>
To: "nfbw" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 9:17 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] top ten reasons for using solid fiberglass cane

    top ten reasons for using solid fiberglass cane

While I fiercely defend the right of blind folks to use guide dogs, ponies,
pigs, monkeys or Giant Olympic Slugs, I much prefer the solid fiberglass
cane.
 Here are my top ten reasons:

Number 10.  No O&M instructor ever insists that I must learn to travel with
a dog first.

Number 9.  My cane never gets so excited when around other canes that it
upchucks and poops all over the place.

Number 8.  Whether it's hot, cold, fierce storm or the depths of night, my
cane never insists that it just has to go out, Right Now!

Number 7.  My cane never tries sneaking into bed with me.

Number 6.  My cane never struggles during bath time, leaping from the tub
and throwing soapy water all over me and the house.

Number 5.  No matter what else is going on, my cane stays put.

Number 4.  When accidentally stepped on, my cane never screams or snaps
wildly at the offending foot.

Number 3.  No upkeep.  No Cane Vet bills, no cane food.  Always at the top
of it's game, ready to go 24/7.

Number 2.  My cane never, ever rolls in disgusting dead stuff, or shoves
it's nose where it doesn't belong.

And my number one reason for owning a solid fiberglass cane,

Number 1.  No one has ever said, "Oh, what a cute cane.  May I pet it?"
When someone is talking, I know they're attracted to me, not my cane.

Carl Jarvis

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