[Blindtlk] Other "wrong" assumptions;Learning body language

trishs slosser at metrocast.net
Wed Jun 3 08:28:57 UTC 2009


Thank you, Kat.
By the way, before I go, if I might ask you, which islands are 
you in?

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: Kathleen Millhoff <kmillhoff at gmail.com
>To: Dave Wright <gymnastdave at sbcglobal.net>,Blind Talk Mailing 
List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:03:04 +1000
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Other "wrong" assumptions;Learning body 
language

>I learned something about body language from my numerous siblings 
who
>were unsparing in their critiques of me; often people would tell 
me,
>"quit frowning" which was usually when i was concentrating or 
thinking
>or just doing nothing; i got kind of compulsive about it; then, 
my
>curious nature led me to query my mom about things like shoulder
>shrugs and the like; here in the islands, people use eyebrow 
raises to
>convey lots - and i think after these many years i'm still 
learning of
>the many ways it happens.  anyway, i still talk to people about
>gestures and behaviors, and i think that blind people should just 
ask
>someone they trust about things; i've heard us (yes, the generic 
"us"
>meaning each and everyone of us), described as wooden, 
expressionless,
>stiff, and more.  i just ignore those things, believing that 
somehow,
>rightly or wrongly, people who judge by visual impression are 
shallow
>and uninformed.  Having said this, I know that people really _Do 
judge
>by visual image, and I just hope that people can learn what they 
want
>to about body language but not stress too much over it.
>best,
>kat


>On 6/3/09, Dave Wright <gymnastdave at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> Good morning all,
>> Although I wasn't born blind, I was born in a different country 
where body
>> language just like spoken language is a little different.  I 
lost my sight
>> gradually over a period of several years and can understand this 
topic of
>> wanting to utilize body language to better enrich communication.  
Since going
>> blind, I've noticed that I use body language more consciously 
than before
>> going blind.  For example, I have to make an effort to verbalize 
more when
>> talking to blind individuals.  I often find myself nodding my 
head or using
>> hand gestures to indicate objects, or emphasize ideas.
>> When talking to friends who are blind from birth, I've discussed 
the
>> importance of utilizing body language as a tool, but not to be 
distracted by
>> ones knowledge of it.  In order to learn body language a 
positive means of
>> communication, it is important to ask questions of family and 
other sighted
>> peers.  In my opinion, a certain amount of body language is 
natural is
>> doesn't need to be learned.  Just my thoughts.


>> Best Regards:
>> Dave Wright
>> Work Phone: 651-636-5184 X803
>> Email:
>> dwrigh6 at gmail.com
>> WebPage:
>> http://www.knfbreader.com

>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Tom Cramer" <tom.cramer1 at gmail.com
>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:33 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Other "wrong" assumptions;Learning body 
language


>>> Yes.
>>> I've often wondered very similar things.
>>> I would love to get some answers to this as well.

>>> Tom
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Gerardo Corripio" <gera1027 at prodigy.net.mx
>>> To: "Blind-Talk" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:05 PM
>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Other "wrong" assumptions;Learning body 
language


>>>> Robert's message about false assumptions in the workplace 
reminded me of
>>>> the following incident:
>>>> The other day while attending a dinner with some coleagues one 
of them
>>>> asked "Are you able to eat on your own"? comment which angered 
me, though

>>>> I know the sighted person asked me with good intention it still 
made me a

>>>> bit angry to the point that I know still lots of work needs to 
be done
>>>> (especially in countries where the NFB isn't well-known or even 
heard
>>>> of); this is why I really enjoy the list; ai always learn a lot 
from you
>>>> guys.
>>>> This brings me to another question especially for those of you 
blind from

>>>> birth: How did you guys learn to use body language? I sometimes 
get to
>>>> thinking that aside from integrating more with the sighted 
world, it
>>>> saves our mouths from talking, especially while eating or doing 
other
>>>> things that at that moment doesn't permit us to speak.
>>>> also, when saying no (shake of the head) is it from side to side 
by
>>>> moving the head from shoulder to shoulder or moving the head 
clockwise or

>>>> counterclockwise?
>>>> also what does srugging the shoulder signify? As you see we 
blind from
>>>> birth lose a lot of things by not being able to see.  And when I 
first
>>>> introduced myself the RP I took it to mean Retinopathy of 
Prematurity
>>>> like in spanish, thus didn't think to clarify the concept.
>>>> Gerardo

>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
info for
>>>> blindtlk:
>>>> 
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/tom.cra
mer1%40gmail.com


>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
info for
>>> blindtlk:
>>> 
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/gymnast
dave%40sbcglobal.net



>> _______________________________________________
>> blindtlk mailing list
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
info for
>> blindtlk:
>> 
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/kmillho
ff%40gmail.com



>--
>kathy millhoff - "Let each morn be better than its eve, and each
>morrow richer than its yesterday."

>_______________________________________________
>blindtlk mailing list
>blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
for blindtlk:
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/slosser
%40metrocast.net




More information about the BlindTlk mailing list