[Blindtlk] People How Asking How one Became Blind

[Mike Freeman]

My style would be to just let it all hang out. If a person is uncomfortable with my answer, it's his problem; he shouldn't have asked if he wasn't willing to deal with the result! But YMMV. 

Mike Freeman


On May 16, 2013, at 22:05, Desiree Oudinot <turtlepower17 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I understand what you're saying. But would you advocate that everyone
> should know this person's history? Blindness is an uncomfortable topic
> for the average person in society to talk about; suicide, or attempted
> suicide, even more so. Combine the two and you might just send someone
> running away screaming. Sure, you could claim that they're not worth
> your time, but the fact remains that discretion is the key in such
> sensitive situations.
> As I said, though, something like that is probably the exception to the rule.
> 
> On 5/17/13, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
>> It came to my mind that syphilis would also be one of those
>> less-than-savory
>> blindness causes -- but that's rare now.
>> 
>> Incidentally, Desiree, I also knew a person who tried to commit suicide;
>> she
>> shot herself, woke up realizing she hadn't done the job, shot herself
>> *again* and woke up in the hospital realizing all she'd done was blind
>> herself. She had been a brilliant mathematician and that brilliance was
>> gone
>> when she recovered but she was still very bright -- and blind. She went on
>> to lead a normal life.
>> 
>> Mike
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Desiree
>> Oudinot
>> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2013 4:47 PM
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] People How Asking How one Became Blind
>> 
>> Hi,
>> I think there are two angles to consider here. If, for example, you became
>> blind after trying unsuccessfully to kill yourself (I knew someone like
>> that, he shot himself in the head, survived, but was blinded), I can see
>> how
>> one might not want to talk about something like that with strangers. Even
>> veterans might have this problem if their war injuries caused them to lose
>> their sight. In other words, I can see both sides of this. I think you
>> should only tell people what you're comfortable telling them. If how you
>> became blind is something highly personal or traumatic, you shouldn't have
>> to reveal that to everyone you meet. After all, we don't normally go around
>> displaying our emotional baggage for all to see, that's considered by most
>> to be undignified. But for someone like me, who was born blind, or for
>> people who have lost their sight to things like glaucoma or what have you,
>> there's no shame in talking about it.
>> 
>> On 5/16/13, wogg le4 <woggle4 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi, I often people ask what is a personal question when they don't
>>> know one very well. Why do they feel justified in doing so?
>>> 
>>> I have no difficulty in discussing the subject but don't always think
>>> it appropriate in the particular context.
>>> 
>>> this email was prompted by a girl who remarked that she had wondered
>>> about this all the time she knew me.
>>> 
>>> I think she's a bit wierd anyway - it just got me thinking, as I'm
>>> currently stuck on a train sitting beside this girl, struggling to
>>> make conversation, which I'm finding particularly difficult - she
>>> really is an annoying individual.
>>> 
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>> 
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>> 
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> 
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