[Blindtlk] AT the Intersection of Money Identification and Human behavior

[Chris Nusbaum]

Bob and All,

What a fascinating video and ensuing discussion! As Arielle pointed out, it
is likely that actual blind people getting ripped off by dishonest cashiers
is more rare than the public makes it out to be. This is especially true
considering the fact that most places in which money is transacted are
public, so the unsuspecting blind person is likely to be "rescued" (I don't
like using this term in this context, but it's the only one I can think of
at the moment) from the scam by a concerned bystander. As some on this list
have pointed out, however, this is not merely a hypothetical worst-case
scenario--it has happened to real blind people in the real world.

I for one have never been deliberately short-changed by anyone, though I
have always been very conscientious about holding up the line behind me when
transacting money. I have heard Dave's sentiments expressed by many in my
personal life, both blind and sighted: Sort the money then and check its
authenticity; don't worry about the line behind you. As I have improved my
skill and speed in folding and organizing money in my wallet, I have
progressed from stuffing change in my pocket and waiting to organize it
until I'm home to folding and organizing the money while at the counter
based on the information the clerk has given me. However, I have never been
able to bring myself to check the accuracy of the clerk's information using
a bill identifier while at the counter. As someone who uses the LookTell
Money Reader app on my iPhone as my bill identifier of choice, I found
myself on the few occasions on which I tried this method becoming more and
more anxious about holding up the line as I pulled out my phone, found the
app, opened it, lined up the camera and waited for the feedback. I just felt
like I was becoming way too much of an inconvenience to my fellow shoppers.
This anxiety was further compounded when I tried this on a recent trip to
Baltimore, only to be warned by a passing good Samaritan that thieves in the
city would rip my iPhone out of my hand if they saw it out in a public
place. Risk, danger, more risk, and more danger!

I don't know if there's a solution to this conundrum, but this constant
choosing between the lesser of two evils is frustrating. I guess, like many
other aspects of life, this is a matter of weighing the trade-offs. I am
very concerned with not making myself an inconvenience, but at what point do
I allow myself to sacrifice this anxiety in order to ensure that I have the
correct change? The iPhone has opened up innumerable doors, including those
which allow for greater access to otherwise inaccessible material, such as
the Money Reader app for reading currency. However, those of us who live in
or frequently travel to urban areas must always be wary of those who might
want to steal our precious devices. And we must consider all this while
videos like this one remind us that not all of the public, even those who
are in the business of transacting money with customers, are as honest as we
would wish they were. I have struggled with these things for some time now,
but have never vented my frustrations to this list until this moment.
However, the video which Bob posted and the discussion which resulted have
inspired me to do it. Has anyone else delbt with these issues? If so, I
would very much appreciate hearing all thoughts on reconciling these
contradictory risks. Thanks for reading my rant. <Smile>

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
via blindtlk
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2015 10:49 AM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blindtlk] AT the Intersection of Money Identification and Human
behavior

Hi all,

Below my name, please find a link to a truly fascinating YouTube video. Note
that the blind people and clerks depicted here are actors and that this is
an experiment in human behavior. How will bystanders react when a blind
person is shortchanged because he or she cannot identify US currency? While
it is nice that we can get free money identifiers from the BEP, how likely
are we to use them when we are handed change and people are waiting behind
us in line?

Bob Hachey 

 

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myyyqH4j634>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myyyqH4j634

 

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