[Cabs-talk] studying "the blind,"

[Darian Smith]

Aziza,
 this is a very interesting topic, and I want to thank you for
bringing it up.  I, like alot of us on this list  are subscribed to
alot of blindness-related list serves and I find it  interesting that
 some amungst the sighted public turn to  the blind as a sort of  case
study hot bed.
 This said, it is difficult to say what is the case with  the
communication you recieved,  because only you have the ability to make
the determination with regards to what you  have   been approached
with.  I guess it is really a judgement call.  If you really  think
that someone  is  taking interest in blindness  just  as a case study,
 you  obviously  don't need to assist them,  nor do you if they  seem
to  have a good cause behind their wishing to survay-interview  you.
  Basically, it's a subjective thing  as I personally see it.
 respectfully,
  Darian


On 10/3/10, Aziza C <daydreamingncolor at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi guys,
>
>
>
> So I may be completely off based, but I will let you decide.
>
>
>
> I got a message on facebook from an individual who wants to write a paper on
> a blind person. Personally this infuriates me. It frustrates me that the
> only reason someone would contact me is to try and make their misconceptions
> fit into my life so they can write their paper and pretend they actually
> understand what its like to be blind.
>
>
>
> Now don't get me wrong, I love to inform and teach, but there is a
> difference in sitting down and discussing blindness as a whole with someone
> pursuing an education in disability services, or allowing someone to
> document what kind of lives we lead, or even working with children who want
> to learn how to develop something to help the blind community. These kinds
> of efforts, in my opinion, are helping us. However, when someone contacts
> me, as if I am a rare case study they must speak with because I am blind, I
> get a little frustrated.
>
>
>
> Where does general affective curiosity cross the line into rude invasion of
> our blindness? How do we decide who to help with projects like these, and
> who is not really interested in blindness, but just wants a good topic to
> bluff his/her way through with preconceived false notions?
>
>
>
> Aziza
>
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-- 
Darian Smith
Skype: The_Blind_Truth
Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace


“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are
spiritual beings having a human experience.” - Teilhard de Chardin