[Blindtlk] should blind people go barefoot?

Thu Jun 18 02:46:26 UTC 2009

I never have shoes on in the house.  My favorite thing to do is pick stuff 
up with my toes (smile).  My daughter and granddaughter do the same.  Hey 
why bend when you can lift?

I did not respond to this post when it first came out because I thought the 
question was a bit silly.  I don't see it as a blindness issue and I don't 
do anything different now when it comes to shoes then I did when I was fully 
sighted.  I did learn  the feel of the different textures - from asphalt to 
concrete - and this waswith my shoes on.  However, it was nothing 
spectacular just a matter of paying attention.

My three year old grandchild has already been taught that calling someone 
"stupid" is an insult, and she doesn't do it or she'll be scolded.  I am 
heading to grad school and I graduated with my B.S. with honors.  I would 
hate to think that not wearing shoes would negate all my hard work.

Merry
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Constance Canode" <satin-bear at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 8:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] should blind people go barefoot?

> Jeff,
>
> I don't know you personally, will probably never meet you, and I cannot 
> begin to tell you what incredible joy that brings me.  When you used the 
> word "crap" in your post, that is a perfect description of your attitude. 
> I know I am going to hear about what I just said from people on the list 
> and probably the list owner, but so be it.  I am barefoot in my own home 
> all the time, am not a stupid, uncoordinated or clumsy person.  How dare 
> you to be so presumtuous about other blind people, and yes, I probably 
> spelled that word wrong.
>
> Connie Canode
> At 06:09 PM 6/17/2009, you wrote:
>>Hello Jeff. Yes, we only discuss this kind of thing when you are at work, 
>>because we know under your supervision it would never be tolerated. Let me 
>>point out, if I may, that not all blind people are diabetics, that not all 
>>blind people stub their toes when they go barefooted in the familiar 
>>surroundings of their home, and that some of us do find that the ability 
>>to feel with our feet is of tremendous importance when doing things such 
>>as vacuuming, mopping, and, incidentally, looking for dropped change. It 
>>is not as simple as saying that anyone with brains wears shoes, and anyone 
>>who is blind is necessarily stupid if they don't. Get a grip!
>>
>>Gary
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Schwartz" 
>><sidney.schwartz at sbcglobal.net>
>>To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 4:15 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] should blind people go barefoot?
>>
>>
>>>Is this the kind of crap you folks discuss when I'm at work.  I would say
>>>yes, if you happen to be blind and stupid.  In the house there is the
>>>problem of toe stubbing, etc.    Outside, who knows what kind of 
>>>disgusting
>>>or dangerous thing you can step on or into.  At the beech, along the 
>>>water
>>>line is nice.  Then there is the high correlation  between diabetes and
>>>blindness from diabetic retinopathy.  People with diabetes have 
>>>neuropathy.
>>>They lose the feelings in their extremities, like feet.  Also they don't
>>>heal well.  I had a patient who, in his home, barefoot, he stepped on a
>>>nail.  It was in his foot and became infected after  a week or so.  As a
>>>consequence he lost his leg.  That must have given him a feeling of 
>>>freedom.
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>Behalf Of Ron Poire
>>>Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 2:38 PM
>>>To: Ray Foret jr; Blind Talk Mailing List
>>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] should blind people go barefoot?
>>>
>>>Hi all,
>>>I like going barefoot in my own home.
>>>I never thought about mopping the floor or vacuuming barefoot.  I would 
>>>be
>>>afraid of stubbing my toe on something, which would ruin the whole
>>>pleasurable experience.
>>>I would definitely not go barefoot in a public place, because of diseases
>>>and toe stubbing.  Not to mention national convention, where one's feet 
>>>are
>>>quite vulnerable to people's canes and sniffing dogs.
>>>It's a great comic discussion, on a par with walking barefoot in the 
>>>woods.
>>>
>>>Ron Poire
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
>>>To: "Gary Wunder" <gwunder at earthlink.net>; "Blind Talk Mailing List"
>>><blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 10:19 AM
>>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] should blind people go barefoot?
>>>
>>>
>>>>Especially when the floors are all completely smooth tile, as they are 
>>>>in
>>>>my
>>>>new place.
>>>>
>>>>Sincerely,
>>>>The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray
>>>>
>>>>"Old friend, what are you looking for?  After those many years abroad 
>>>>you
>>>>come With images you tended Under foreign skies Far away from your own
>>>>land"
>>>>George Seferis
>>>>
>>>>Phone or Fax::
>>>>+1 (985) 360-3614
>>>>Cell:
>>>>+1 (985) 791-2938
>>>>e-mail:
>>>>rforetjratcomcastdotnet
>>>>Skype Name:
>>>>barefootedray
>>>>
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Wunder" <gwunder at earthlink.net>
>>>>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 7:43 AM
>>>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] should blind people go barefoot?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Vacuuming and mopping are much easier because it is easy for one to see
>>>>his/her work.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathleen Millhoff" 
>>>><kmillhoff at gmail.com>
>>>>To: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>; "Blind Talk Mailing List"
>>>><blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 7:31 AM
>>>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] should blind people go barefoot?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi, you could have Robert make a TP out of this; and, yes, you haven't
>>>>>asked this question for quite some time. I would bet that the
>>>>>additional tactile and vestibular info offered by bare feet is
>>>>>valuable to blind people. to say nothing of the fact that shoes carry
>>>>>some pretty yucky stuff into the house. You should move to the islands
>>>>>where people wear shoes when necessary, but mostly are barefoot inside
>>>>>and wearing zoris (what you guys call flip-flops) outside. (some folks
>>>>>also call them slippers, but they're not the bedroom slipper kind). I
>>>>>seldom find shoes that work well for me, and this includes Berkies and
>>>>>the rest.
>>>>>also, it's always summer here I'm glad to say.
>>>>>best,
>>>>>kat
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>On 6/17/09, Ray Foret jr <rforetjr at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>>With summer practically upon us?  I just thought I'd  throw this out
>>>>>>there.
>>>>>>Should blind people go barefoot; either inside or outside?  It's been 
>>>>>>a
>>>>>>couple or three years since somebody else broached the subject; and 
>>>>>>so,
>>>>>>I
>>>>>>just thought I'd get the general opinions out there.  Can it be tied 
>>>>>>in
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>blindness in any way?  IF so, why?  IF not, why?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Ray
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>kathy millhoff - "Let each morn be better than its eve, and each
>>>>>morrow richer than its yesterday."
>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
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