[Blindtlk] Making our home comfortable for sighted folks

[Ron Poire]

I like to have friends and family come to my place when I was single.
I made sure that I had a small tv, but the black & white picture was small 
but good. This particular friend liked watching the basketball game, so we 
would sit and talk while the game was on.
If I didn't have the tv, he wouldn't come over, because there was nothing 
for him to look at.
That was in Tulsa.

Later in Minnesota, when I was still single, my brother didn't want to hang 
out at my place unless he was doing something to be active, like helping to 
put away and label groceries, or reading male, or labeling media. If it was 
just a social thing, we would go to the local 3/2 bar where there was a 
large color tv with the game on, and a pool table which usually had people 
at it.
If I had the tv, we probably wouldn't go to the bar.
In my experience, sighted people need to have something to look at, or else 
they become bored.

I can only stay in one place for a little while, until I want to leave, 
because the only activity is talking. On the other hand, I played a scrabble 
game which lasted over 2 hours. And then we went to eat at a place close by.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Making our home comfortable for sighted folks


>I love it! That's telling it straight, Ray!
>
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Ray Foret Jr
> Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 1:42 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Making our home comfortable for sighted folks
>
> To speak frankly, there is only one thing you need remember.  Lights.  IF
> you live alone, as I do, you must remember that sightlings need light. 
> Now,
> if you live with sighted folks, you need do nothing.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>
> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>
> Skype name:
> barefootedray
>
> Facebook:
> facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1
>
>
>
> On Dec 17, 2011, at 3:37 AM, Jim Portillo wrote:
>
>> Hi there,
>>
>>
>>
>> Here's a question that I guess could also be somewhat philosophical.
>> As blind folks, do you think we have a responsibility to not only make
>> our homes comfortable and accessible for us and the folks with whom we
>> live, but also to sighted folks?
>>
>> I've heard comments in the past that basically say that since it's a
>> blind person's home, then the only thing that should be of concern is
>> that things are comfortable and accessible for the blind person.
>>
>>
>>
>> I've been thinking a lot about this over a long period of time.  I
>> have some friends that come over, and one in particular who stays in
>> my guest room when he's in town, and when all of that happens, I'm the
>> only blind person around.  All of a sudden, I begin to think about
>> lights and the amount of light in a room.  I begin thinking of making
>> sure that appliances that are labeled in Braille are done using clear 
>> tape
> so that they can also use them.
>> I even began thinking of the layout of my living room and how one of
>> my friends finally said that it was uncomfortable to do things like
>> watch TV or watch movies, because of how my furniture and TV are
>> placed.  People have to face sideways to be able to watch TV.  And, my
>> TV is so old that it doesn't support or have HD capabilities.
>>
>>
>>
>> I began wondering about the importance of a blind person having an
>> aesthetically or visually appealing house, not only for himself but
>> also for the sighted friends and family that come to visit.  Are we
>> being selfish by not considering these things, or should sighted
>> company learn to live with how we have things and deal with them?
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm beginning to think that if I care about my friends and family,
>> then I should do something to make them feel comfortable in a place
>> where they spend quite a bit of time.  But then, where does one draw the
> line?
>>
>>
>>
>> Anyway, hope you don't mind the question.  Just curious what other
>> blind folks (especially those who are totally blind) think.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jim
>>
>>
>>
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