[nabs-l] social interaction

Fri Nov 7 01:09:28 UTC 2008

I don't think things are as bad as they might seem, and they certainly don't 
need to be viewed in that kind of a negative light all the time. Treat 
everyone like they're ignorant and like they ask the "stupidest" questions 
and they won't want to learn anything. I don't have a huge problem with 
people asking questions as it shows that they at least want to gain some 
knowledge about the issue at hand. In my opinion, it really beats singling 
out an individual or group of people and making blind assumptions (pun not 
intended). Those kind of broad generalizations about anyone are  signs of 
self-imposed ignorance, if you will.
I can get around New York city and do so with moderate independence. Yes, 
I'll see a stranger now and then who's totally amazed at the skill, courage, 
or idiocy involved in wanting to even take on such a task. The thing is 
this. I wouldn't be so quick to say that person is just flying off the 
handlebars, sizing me up and drawing conclusions based on what they think I 
can do. I don't think it really gets that personal. We're talking about the 
sighted majority who probably turn on the bathroom light just so they can 
brush their teeth. Often times, they look at themselves and aren't quite 
sure how they'd manage. A little education can go a long way, much as it may 
bore some of us to tears.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Beth" <thebluesisloose at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] social interaction


>I know that in third world countries, people don't exactly have a good
> outlook on blindness.  That's why I wouldn't want to go anywhere near
> places like El Salvador and stuff.
> Beth
>
> On 11/6/08, Franandah Damstra <fantasyfanatic01 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I play paino compleatly by ear and people are all like "How do you do
>> that?!" I just sit there and laugh. I admit, it is really anoying that
>> people don't think blind people can do anythign for themselves. I
>> mean, I went down to El Salvador for a missions trip two years ago and
>> they asked me the most stupidest questions and said the most stupidest
>> comments. "Wow! Blind people can swim?!" "Wow, you sew?" "How can you
>> find where your bed is when you can't see?!" I was about to scream by
>> the end of the trip and I called my parents and I was like "they think
>> I can't do anything!" My mum told me that they were just ingorant and
>> you need to teach them what blind people can really do." I know people
>> didn't know a lot about blindness, but I never knew it could be THAT
>> bad...
>>
>> On 11/5/08, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I play the piano, and yes, I do read Braille music notation.  I can
>>> read and play by ear, which makes things seem more amazing. lol
>>> Beth
>>>
>>> On 11/5/08, Hope Paulos <hope.paulos at maine.edu> wrote:
>>>> What do you play, Beth, and to make this student related,  do you
>>>> read braille music?
>>>>
>>>> Hope and Beignet
>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com
>>>>>To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>Date sent: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 10:14:51 -0500
>>>>>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] social interaction
>>>>
>>>>>I can't stand how people find it amazing that I can play my
>>>> music.  It
>>>>>sucks that people even find it amazing that I can eat.  Here's a
>>>>>little story you might enjoy: I was sitting down to eat once at a
>>>>>cafeteria, and someone asked if I was fed or not.  Interesting
>>>> stuff,
>>>>>eh?
>>>>>Beth
>>>>
>>>>>On 11/4/08, Dezman Jackson <jackson.dezman at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Yeah,
>>>>>> One barrier to making true friendships is that some people can't
>>>> just carry
>>>>>> on normal conversations with you with talking about the
>>>> blindness and "how
>>>>>> amazing it is that you can find your way down the hall".
>>>>
>>>>>> Dezman
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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