[Blindtlk] touching faces

[justin]

I really don't either as a general rule.  I've done it a few times, but very
rarely; it's not very productive.  You could learn how people's faces look.
But you would have to touch them more than once, and it's awkward.  Not
something I really care to do.  

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jasmine
Kotsay
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 1:07 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] touching faces

Hi,
	I agree, Bob, totally, with your last statement.  I don't usually
touch faces, because of the fact that I don't know if they have pimples or
anything else on these face.  People ask me if I touch faces, but I usually
say no.  When I saw the subject line of this thread, I thought to myself,
"We wouldn't be able to tell a person's face from another's." Certain
things, we might be able to, but only if we've felt the face more times than
once.  
For instance, I can tell my dad's face just by the feel of it.

Sincerely,
Jasmine

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Hachey" <bhachey at verizon.net
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org Date sent: Tue, 21 May
2013 21:56:57 -0400
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] touching faces

Hi Carly and all,
AS one who was born totally blind, it is a bit of a stretch for me to
imagine how the face has gained such importance among those of us who are
not blind, but there is no doubt that the face has a very high level of
importance among the vast majority of us humans.  Being mindful of this
makes it easier for me to be patient with those who ask me to touch their
faces.
My rule of thumb is to say no to those I've never met before and to say yes
to friends and other colleagues.  By far the oddest situation like this I've
encountered occurred when a supervisor asked me to touch her face at our
first weekly supervisory meeting.  Not wanting to offend her, I complied.
When I got to know her better, I asked her why she made the initial request.
She said very honestly that she figured that this was how blind folks learn
to distinguish one person from another.  I replied that I'd have a far
better chance of remembering people by the sound of their voice rather than
by the touch of a face.
Anyone wanting to lose money may feel free to bet on my ability to recognize
others by the touch of the face! LOL.
AS with many aspects of being blind, there is a lot of ignorance out there
and much of it is innocent.  Though it is not easy on some days, I try in
most circumstances to give those asking questions the benefit of the doubt.
IF I could change one thing about what sighted folks do when they approach
us it would be this.  Please speak or ask before touching and never grab a
blind person without talking unless you're saving him or her from immediate
danger.
Bob Hachey


_______________________________________________
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/jasmine.kot
say%40gmail.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/justin.williams2%40gma
il.com