[Blindtlk] cane travel question: trailing or no trailing?

[Ray Foret Jr]

Frankly, you are not sacrificing any information you get from trailing.  Why?  That's because you are mistaken in the belief that you get any useful data at all from that technique.  Better to develope a faster pace and trust your  cane; and thus, trust yourself better also.  Trailing will slow you down and frankly, you'l look strange and lacking in confidence compared to the other blind dues around you who are getting the girls because they are confident.  How's  that for insentive?


Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!

Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!

Skype name:
barefootedray

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On May 11, 2011, at 2:57 PM, Chris Nusbaum wrote:

> Hi, all.
> 
> I have a cane travel question for you.  For a long time, I was using a folding cane with a pencil tip along with the trailing technique, especially in familiar areas i.e.  home, school, etc.  After attending the LAW Program, where they took my folding cane on the first day and gave me a straight (aka rigid) cane with a metal tip that I was required to use during the four days I was there, I started to like the straight cane a lot better and came back home with one.  I don't think I'll switch back to a folding cane unless I have to, by the way.  While I was at the program, one of the blind mentors was helping me learn how to use this new cane, and in the process told me that he would suggest not trailing in hallways (whether they be in familiar or unfamiliar areas) and trusting the cane alone.  He then said that I need to work on a faster, more confident pace than I have already.  One of his reasons for that need of a confident pace, by the way, is to "get the girls," LOL.  So I tried not trailing in the hallways of the Jernigan Institute building, and it did take some getting used to.  After the program, I thought about what he'd said.  Although I can understand what he's talking about with the confident pace, I think I get twice the information when I combine trailing with cane technique.  So what do you all think? Should I sacrifice the information I get from trailing and just try to get more information from the cane, or keep trailing and have a little slower pace? Or are there any work-arounds you use that keep the confident pace and still trail? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
> 
> Chris Nusbaum
> 
> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
> 
> --- Sent from my Braille-Note
> 
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