[Blindtlk] assumtions at the workplace

[Kathleen Millhoff]

I'm afraid I show a bit less restraint most of the time. Once a
student at the university said, "you remind me of my grandmother; you
can't tell your right from your left." and I said, "and up or down
either."
I've realized for a long time that sarcasm doesn't really make the
appropriate point, but I seem to persist in sending the wrong message
and not really educating a person. Sometimes, I just ignore comments
about blindness and pretend I don't know they're talking to me -, and
yes, another stereotype fulfilled.
But when people seem to genuinely want to understand or know
something, I'm all to willing to chat.


On 5/29/09, Robert J Smith <rsmith247 at csc.com> wrote:
> Speaking about assumptions made about us when we're walking -- one day I
> had two in one day.  In the morning, when i was approaching the
> badge-driven entrance gate at the plant where I work, someone asked me if
> I was looking for my dad.  I was in my early fifties at that time.  I
> calmly replied "no, I work here" as I moved the badge through the reading
> slot and the gate let me in.
>
> Then, at the tail end of the day, I was starting to go down the big main
> hallway which goes all the way across the building and then out.  I
> realized that I forgot something at my desk and abruptly turned around and
> started walking back the other way to go back to the desk.  I take quick,
> confident steps when I get to know a route.  However, someone who saw me
> do the quick turnaround said "It must be bad not knowing where you are all
> the time."  I said in an irritated, clipped voice "I forgot something at
> my desk."  I actually felt like saying "I know where the HELL!!! I am, I
> forgot something at my desk just as you could".  Getting hit with it twice
> in one day added up for me and workwise, I didn't have that great a day
> anyway.  Fortunately this doesn't happen often!
>
> Then another time a number of years ago, somebody told me on the way in
> that he couldn't imagine anything worse than being blind.  I would have
> tollerated it but the way he said it was particularly condesending so I
> said "I don't know, being parilized from the neck down ought to be pretty
> good".  He then actually replied "Well, I could still watch TV.  I gave up
> with him at that point.  I wanted to say "Oh, wow, how long would that
> have lasted for you before you started going insane with bordom -- maybe
> two weeks?"
>
> Bob Smith
>
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-- 
kathy millhoff - "Let each morn be better than its eve, and each
morrow richer than its yesterday."