[Blindtlk] an awkward experience

Wed Oct 9 02:32:40 UTC 2013

Unfortunately, I suspect someone that unaware might not get it, they might 
need a much stronger clue.

Mark Tardif
Nuclear arms will not hold you.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Judy Jones
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2013 9:31 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] an awkward experience

Very interesting.  I wonder what someone would do if one said something
like, hey, you're in my personal bubble.  Haha!

Judy

-----Original Message----- 
From: Mark Tardif
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 8:13 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] an awkward experience

Obviously, she meant well, and it's very hard to deal with that because you
don't want to hurt her feelings.  I had that happen to me many years ago
once and was completely taken off guard, and in my case it was a guy who
tried to speak to me in Spanish while I was standing at a bus stop and then
placed his hands on my forehead.  I was caught off guard and did nothing.
But I think now I would thank that person and gently place his/her hands
where they belong, at their side, flat on the table, whatever.  For some
reason there are people out there who do not see us as human, all they see
is blindness, blindness, and oh, you poor child.  And, either because they
are just intrusive by nature or forget that you are human as well, it
doesn't occur to them that they are violating your personal space in a big
way.  I have a belief that in order to get that physically close to me where
you are actually touching me, you need to know me a little first, you have
to earn that right.  She violated your personal space in the name of
evangelism, and I think one needs to treat that gently but firmly, and maybe
tell her that God has shown you many ways to handle your blindness, that you
are okay, but thank you for the concern.

Mark Tardif
Nuclear arms will not hold you.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Michael
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2013 9:23 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: [Blindtlk] an awkward experience

Good morning folks,  I lost my sight six years ago and went through a very
dark time for a couple of years and eventually became comfortable with who I
am and have since then gone on to do most of what I did before.

But I had an experience yesterday that I didn’t know how to handle.  I was
at the gym and had just completed an hour of cardio.  I was sitting at a
table located in the center of the gym floor cooling down when a woman began
a conversation with me.  She said that she was sitting at the table also
(which I doubt) and that God had put her there to talk to me and that she
was an evangelist.   She asked if she could talk to me.  When I answered in
the affirmative she stood next to me, took my hand in both of her hands, and
began praying over me.  She asked God to help this poor  child, saying that
Jesus had healed the sick, cured the blind, and raised the dead.  She prayed
for over a minute (at least it felt like), using verbage that I only hear on
Sunday morning.  Then she finished and left me sitting there.  I was shocked
and didn’t know what to say.  I let her do her thing thinking that I had
probably made her feel positive about herself by helping
“this poor child”.  Understand that I am a christian but have never had such
an embarrassing display since losing my sight.  Has this happened to others,
and how did you handle such a display?

Michael
_______________________________________________
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/markspark%40roadrunner.com

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6732 - Release Date: 10/08/13

_______________________________________________
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/jtj1%40cableone.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/markspark%40roadrunner.com

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6732 - Release Date: 10/08/13 