[nfbwatlk] Curious People

[Rebekah Jakeman]

I've not had time to respond to all the great thoughts on this--but it has 
really been refreshing to feel part of the crowd rather than the spectacle 
that the man unintentionally made me feel like.  Actually he scared me out 
of my mind with a story of someone who became disabled because he was in the 
wrong place at the wrong time--shot in a grocery store, but I won't go into 
that.

Mike, I agree with you on that--I would certainly feel like I had to get 
used to someone who didn't look directly at me.  I also agree on people's 
comments from kids.  I welcome them because they can break ice better than 
most can in a way that is innocent and unassuming.

In this situation as I said before I just smiled and nodded and tried to get 
in some NFB stuff--but Carl I laughed out loud--you're right, I should have 
told him it was my aunt.

Thanks so much all,
Rebekah
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 10:04 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Curious People


> Rebekah:
>
> Perhaps my take on this situation may shock you a bit. I agree with the
> guy that a blind person having to look at someone sideways *would* be
> strange. I realize that the blind person was probably trying to use
> his/her remaining vision (undoubtedly peripheral vision). But you and I
> both know about how well that works generally. Much better to learn how
> to function as a blind person. In other words, the person should have
> learned to face the guy directly and forego the little information s/he
> might have been getting from that peripheral vision.
>
> So had I been you, I would have agreedd with the guy, saying something
> like: "Yeah! I *bet* that looked strange! You'd think the person would
> have had the social grace to face you directly! Why do you suppose s/he
> didn't?" Then you have an opening to talk about how people try to use
> remaining vision even when it doesn't serve them well.
>
> In other words, it doesn't hurt my self-image one bit to admit that some
> blind persons don't have the social graces. Collectively, that is all of
> our problem. But one-on-one, it isn't and all I can do is to try to
> counteract the bad impressions by rational discussion.
>
> Just my immediate thoughts.
>
> Mike
>
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Rebekah Jakeman
>  To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
>  Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 11:24 AM
>  Subject: [nfbwatlk] Curious People
>
>
>  This may be a no-brainer, but out of curiosity, what do you all do in
> the following situation?
>
>  Strangers often approach me, see my cane, and start off conversation
> listing all the disabled people they know.  I think they are just trying
> to be nice and say what they think will connect with me.  Often though
> these descriptions of other people are extremely less than flattering
> and everything is smoothed over by saying they are an inspiration or
> helps others.
>
>  Usually I just keep my cool and work in NFB philosophy where I can.
> But one such conversation on Saturday left me quite ruffled inside.
> This guy was telling me about a blind lady that had to turn sideways to
> look at you.  He said it was strange and you had to get used to her.
> What do you say to that kind of thing?
>
>  Sorry, my son needs my help.  Let me know what you all think.
>
>  Rebekah
>
>
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