[Blindtlk] People How Asking How one Became Blind

Sun May 19 23:52:12 UTC 2013

Carly:

Perhaps there is a mutual misunderstanding. I do not *need* an organization
to map out a set of guiding principles to live by; I can do that for myself
as you say. However, I am a member of NFB for a number of reasons, one of
which is to proselytize its guiding principles as the majority of both blind
and sighted people still believe in a set of notions about blindness which I
consider out-of-date, counterproductive both to the blind individual and to
the quest of the blind for complete integration into society on a basis of
equality with the sighted and destructive of the dignity of the blind. As to
one of those principles -- that with training and opportunity, the average
blind person can do the average job on the average job site as well as can
his/her sighted colleagues -- please bear in mind that the qualifying
prepositional clause elements place considerable constraints on how
blindness is experienced by particular individuals in particular situations.
For example, if a blind person has limited mobility skills, blindness is
often far more than an inconvenience. Please also bear in mind that much of
the criticism of this concept carries with it an unstated proposition: that
all other human characteristics may be considered as one set and blindness,
being unique, must be considered as a separate characteristic. We of NFB
deny this. For example, I consider allergies far more inconvenient than I
ever thought blindness to be.

Is blindness a nullity? Of course not, if only because we are a minority in
a society structured for the sighted. But even so, blindness, like all human
characteristics, has pluses and minuses. That's NFB's more subtle position
-- one which is often misstated by those who would do us ill or who are
unwilling to take the time to grasp the subtleties of our collective view of
blindness. And something which might be an inconvenience or even a barrier
under some circumstances either doesn't matter or might be a plus under
others. To take an obvious example, being a short person makes it damned
inconvenient to play on a NBA team. But it helps a lot if one has to
negotiate a low lintel.

Another reason for being in NFB or, for that matter, ACB, is that a
collective voice is much louder politically than is a single voice, at least
most of the time.

Also, since I am a member of NFB's Board of Directors, I perforce am
expected to represent NFB's views. The reality is that I wouldn't have been
elected were my views not in accord with those of a majority of the
electorate.

As to your liberal views on touching and social interaction, I will keep my
foot out of my mouth by only saying that if one espouses as you do a
rebellion against societal taboos on touching, one of the inconveniences of
blindness is that a majority in society espouses those taboos. Put another
way, them's the breaks of the game.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carly
Mihalakis
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2013 8:35 PM
To: gwunder at earthlink.net; Blind Talk Mailing List; 'Blind Talk Mailing
List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] People How Asking How one Became Blind

Hi, Mike,

Perhaps, I may have been speaking out of turn on this but, actually, 
if you need an organization to guide you through the minefield of 
blinkdom, then allow yourself to be guided. My blind partner and I 
choose to go it alone.
And, as a former love interest I once had said, in part, hopefully, 
we will all find our bright stars! 26 AM 5/18/2013, Gary Under wrote:
>Hi, Carly. Tell me more about what you mean. Perhaps this is something the
>Monitor ought to discuss.
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carly
>Mihalakis
>Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2013 3:42 AM
>To: Blind Talk Mailing List; 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] People How Asking How one Became Blind
>
>Hey, Mike,
>
>  From what I can tell, the Federation, as it is constituted
>today,  seems to be all high on  thundering what it sees as the will
>of blind folk. more often than not, such a thundering drounds out
>what blindness self sufficiency means to other points of views, and
>life experiences... To me, this smacks of too much hmogeny.
>for todayy, Car  06:56 PM 5/17/2013, Mike Freeman wrote:
> >You got it! However, we do offer this view with the provisos that if and
> >only if the blind person has good training and opportunity, his/her
> >blindness can be reduced to a damned nuisance.
> >
> >Mike
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carly
> >Mihalakis
> >Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 12:35 PM
> >To: Blind Talk Mailing List; Blind Talk Mailing List
> >Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] People How Asking How one Became Blind
> >
> >Good morning, don't organizations such as the Federation teach that
> >blindness is nothing more than an inconvenience, another personal
> >characteristic, like eye or hair color? Oughtn't then we also act as
such,
> >while speaking of the condition of our peepers, and how they came to be
as
> >such?Ray Foret Jr wrote:
> > >Ah, but, aren't we trying to educate the public that it's respectable
> > >to be blind?  Well, aren't we?  IF not, then you are right.  IF so,
> > >well, perhaps it's time to see just where or if the rubber truly meats
> > >the road.
> > >
> > >
> > >Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the
> > >blind built-in!
> > >Sincerely,
> > >The Constantly Barefooted Ray
> > >Still a very proud and happy Mac and Iphone user!
> > >
> > >On May 17, 2013, at 12:05 AM, 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.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> _______________________________________________
> > > >>> blindtlk mailing list
> > > >>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> > > >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> > > >>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > >>> for
> > > >>> blindtlk:
> > > >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/turtlepower1
> > > >>> 7%40
> > > >>> gmail.com
> > > >>>
> > > >>
> > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >> blindtlk mailing list
> > > >> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> > > >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> > > >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > >> for
> > > >> blindtlk:
> > > >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix
> > > >> .com
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >> blindtlk mailing list
> > > >> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> > > >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> > > >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > >> for
> > > >> blindtlk:
> > > >>
> > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/turtlepower17%40
> > > gmail.com
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > blindtlk mailing list
> > > > blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> > > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> > > for blindtlk:
> > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/rforetjr%40att
> > > > .net
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >blindtlk mailing list
> > >blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> > >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> > >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > >blindtlk:
> > >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/carlymih%40comcas
> > >t.net
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >blindtlk mailing list
> >blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >blindtlk:
> >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >blindtlk mailing list
> >blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> >for blindtlk:
>
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/carlymih%40comcast.ne
>t
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>blindtlk mailing list
>blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>blindtlk:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/gwunder%40earthlink.n
e
>t
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>blindtlk mailing list
>blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>for blindtlk:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/carlymih%40comcast.ne
t

_______________________________________________
blindtlk mailing list
blindtlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindtlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com