[nabs-l] Awkward Situations: What would you do?

[Joseph C. Lininger]

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Wow. I'm sorry, but I had to chuckle at this only because I've had
people mention that I should be able to recognize them by smell, but
I've never had them take it quite that far. The one I get a lot is
someone proclaiming that I or some  other blind person they know can
recognize them by touching their face. My dad was quite bad about this
when I was young, to the point that for a while as a child I believed I
could do it even. Of course I really can't with any degree of accuracy,
but that's what happens when a parent is mis-informed. I don't see a lot
of my father these days, but even as recent as a year ago I over heard
him telling a room mate of his that when we meet, all she has to do is
to let me feel her face and I'll know who she is from then on. I've told
him several times that doesn't work, but he seems to be resistant to
being educated about that. Probably because he used to enjoy watching me
feel people's faces, and because I'm his son. Relatives can be harder to
educate in some respects than strangers.

I find, for me, the direct aproach works best. Or maybe it's that I'm a
Computer Scientist by training and I really don't know of any other more
tactful way to talk to people? LOL I usually just come right out and
tell someone that they're mistaken about a particular quality or ability
which I do or do not possess. In the case where someone does something
like holding an arm up in front of my face, I tell them, politely of
course (at least I think it's politely) that it isn't ok to do stuff
like that. If they ask why not, and they seem like they really want to
learn I usually have a talk with them in which I ask them if they'd do
that to a sighted person. They almost always say no. I ask them why not,
and they usually mention something about boundaries or space. I tell
them that even though I can't see, I have the same boundaries and
personal space needs. It seems to get the point across, at least most of
the time. I'd give it about a 90% success rate.
- --
Stress (N): The condition that occurs when ones mind overrides the
body's natural desire to reach out and slap the hell out of someone
who desperately deserves it.
Joseph C. Lininger, <jbahm at pcdesk.net>
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