[nabs-l] phone numbers at night clubs

V Nork ginisd at sbcglobal.net
Mon Jan 4 08:07:30 UTC 2010 

Dear Jedi, Thanks  so much for  your very thoughtful comments.  It is an 
issue that needs to be looked at and discussed  from different perspectives, 
I think, I have been told by some law enforcement personnel flatly that "no 
woman should go out alone at night."  This is an extreme, of course, and not 
really practical for a blind person who travels by bus to  work or school 
and back after dark sometimes.  Anyway, I have a friend who is a taxi 
driver, and I think I will pick a familiar place near home and try going out 
alone.  By the way, if you don't mind, what kind of gps do you have?  Thanks 
again, Ginny
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jedi" <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 10:28 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] phone numbers at night clubs


>I personally don't feel any more or less vulnerable than anyone else either 
>because I'm blind or because I'm a woman. I think a little common sense 
>goes a long way when you're out. For example, keep a cell phone on you so 
>you can call for help if you need it, a ride home via a friend or a taxi 
>service, or if you need to locate someone or be located. A cane is a must 
>have if you don't have a dog and if you are blind.
>
> As to common sense, it goes without saying that one shouldn't get into a 
> car with someone you don't know unless you're positive you can trust them. 
> And in that case, go with whatever your gut's telling you. Generally, your 
> intuition in these matters is pretty accurate. This also goes with 
> accepting invites to private parties, or receiving offers from strangers 
> to escort you some place. Also, when I go walking at night, I make damn 
> sure it appears I know where I'm going even if I don't. That means walking 
> confidently and briskly. Confidence helps a great deal. And if I am not 
> sure where I'm going, I'd prefer to ask a taxi driver, a police officer, 
> or a business owner/someone who works at an establishment for directions. 
> I have found a GPS to be a useful device in avoiding getting lost. If you 
> do use a GPS, it's better to use a portable one that isn't so obvious such 
> as those you can get in a cell phone. And finally, it's always a good rule 
> to play it safe rather than to be sorry. If you're not sure about a person 
> or place, don't go there. When you do communicate with strangers, be 
> assertive and be ready to tell them what you want and don't want in your 
> communication with them. That doesn't mean being a jerk, but clear 
> communication can resolve conflicts ranging from how much help someone 
> ought to give you to whether or not you're interested in getting to know 
> someone better. I hope these ideas help. Oh, and by the way, it's never a 
> bad idea to learn a couple of self defense moves for just in case. 
> Whatever you do though, don't carry a weapon of any kind because it's 
> likely to be used against you if your attacker gets their hands on it.
>
> Respectfully,
> Jedi
>
>
> Original message:
>> Hello list, As I read this great thread, I wonder, as a woman, what the
>> thinking is about going out to clubs and bars alone, with just a cane and
>> cell phone?  I have never tried this, but I would like to venture out 
>> alone,
>> maybe you could share your experiences and ideas?  Most of my friends I 
>> do
>> hang out with are not into clubs, so this would be a solo outing for me.
>> Thanks , Ginny
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Briley Pollard" <brileyp at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 7:28 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] phone numbers at night clubs
>
>
>>> Depending exclusively on a sighted guide is of course not wise. Having 
>>> no
>>> other mobility aid available is  foolish. However, using sighted guide 
>>> in
>>> addition to another mobility aid is useful at times such as in loud and
>>> crowded environments such as night clubs. I'm not saying hang on to your
>>> friends all night, (that is obviously awkward and defeats the purpose of
>>> going tout to have fun), but it still can be helpful. Even when I'm with
>>> blind friends, often someone might hold my arm while using their cane 
>>> just
>>> to insure we stay together in crowded environments. My point is it
>>> shouldn't be disregarded as a viable tool in addition to others.
>
>>> BrileyOn Jan 3, 2010, at 6:37 PM, Jedi wrote:
>
>>>> And that's why one should avoid depending  on a sighted guide if at all
>>>> possible so that their decisions don't have to affect yours.
>
>>>> Respectfully,
>>>> Jedi
>
>
>>>> Original message:
>>>>> hmm no i wouldnt take my guide dog since music would be loud and there
>>>>> would
>>>>> just be too  much activity but i never really take a cane either. I
>>>>> think
>>>>> the first time i went to a bar since my vision loss or a  club yes i 
>>>>> had
>>>>> my
>>>>> cell and my cane but after the first time i left it and went with
>>>>> friends
>>>>> sighted guide.
>
>>>>> here is another question alittle off topic. What if you went sighted
>>>>> guide
>>>>> and your guide ended up drinking. do you drink too? what if you wanted
>>>>> to
>>>>> drink, would you do it in a nightblub or bar or even alittle further 
>>>>> in
>>>>> public?
>
>>>>>            -Teal
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Brice Smith" <brice.smith319 at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 5:16 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] phone numbers at night clubs
>
>
>>>>>> I know this is slightly off topic from the original question and
>>>>>> others might have different opinions on this, but a club or bar is 
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> last environment I'd feel comfortable losing any type of independence
>>>>>> whatsoever. What happens if you find yourself separated from your
>>>>>> friends? As a guy I never go out at night without my cane, cell 
>>>>>> phone,
>>>>>> and some extra cash ... and for good reason women usually worry over
>>>>>> this more than guys do. Buy an identification cane or one of the new
>>>>>> ambutech telescoping canes if you need something light -- anything to
>>>>>> keep yourself feeling and looking independent if something unexpected
>>>>>> happens.
>
>>>>>> To add to the original question, ditch the notetaker or anything 
>>>>>> extra
>>>>>> that unnecessarily weighs you down. Except for my cane, I never carry
>>>>>> anything that can't fit into my pocket. Doing otherwise is asking for
>>>>>> trouble.
>
>>>>>> Brice
>>>>>> On 1/1/10, Adrianne Dempsey <adrianne.dempsey at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> I think taking a note taker to the club is a bad idea.  I don't even
>>>>>>> bring
>>>>>>> my purse because it is just something to carry around.  You don't 
>>>>>>> want
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> set it down somewhere, and you would just look silly dancing with 
>>>>>>> it.
>>>>>>> In
>>>>>>> fact I don't even bring my cane because I don't know what to do with
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> the dance floor.  I usually go with a friend and just go sighted
>>>>>>> guide.
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> hate loosing a bit of independence but what ells can you do.  If I 
>>>>>>> go
>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>> other blind friends then I usually bring my cane but I always feel
>>>>>>> silly
>>>>>>> with it at the club.  As far as phone numbers...  I think having
>>>>>>> someone
>>>>>>> ells program it in to your phone is fine if you can not do it
>>>>>>> yourself.
>>>>>>> But
>>>>>>> my phone is not very accessible and I can do it.  I just  hit o.k. 
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>> brings up a menu the first thing on the menu is add contact.  I hit
>>>>>>> O.K.
>>>>>>> again, and then you can type in the number then down arrow and type 
>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> name. Then hit o.k. again and their it is.  Another option is to 
>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> bizness card with your info, so you can give the new person your
>>>>>>> number.
>>>>>>> This is probably not so necessary as pretty much every one has cell
>>>>>>> phones
>>>>>>> now but it is a thought.  The slate and stylist is a good idea to if
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> can
>>>>>>> get a hold of one of those ninny slates.  But you have to be careful
>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>> this option, because you could get stabbed with the stylist if you
>>>>>>> move
>>>>>>> funny or if your pants are tight.
>
>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: "Beth" <thebluesisloose at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 4:24 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] phone numbers at night clubs
>
>
>>>>>>>> Hmmmmm. Interesting subject.  I would've taken the notetaker just
>>>>>>>> because I'm pretty touchy feely about my information.  The numbers
>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>> not programmable by a blind person in my cell phone, so a note 
>>>>>>>> taker
>>>>>>>> is a good option.
>>>>>>>> Beth
>
>>>>>>>> On 1/1/10, Kevin Wassmer <commanderlumpy2003 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Hello folks. It's been a long time sense I have bought up a
>>>>>>>>> discussion
>>>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>>> here. First of all, I will say I am doing fine. I have a job at
>>>>>>>>> Verizon
>>>>>>>>> Wireless working at a call center. It is challenging. How it is
>>>>>>>>> rewarding. I
>>>>>>>>> am glad to finely get off of social security soon. Or as I call it
>>>>>>>>> socialist
>>>>>>>>> insecurity. But that's another story.
>
>>>>>>>>>                I want to bring up a topic. I use to go to night
>>>>>>>>> clubs
>>>>>>>>> back
>>>>>>>>> in the day. I did not want to bring my Braille Note with me 
>>>>>>>>> because
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> thought back then of bringing my note taker sounded strange. But I
>>>>>>>>> would
>>>>>>>>> always have a problem if I met someone and wanted to get their
>>>>>>>>> number.
>>>>>>>>> This
>>>>>>>>> was because the music was so loud that it was hard to communicate. 
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> use
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> have people program numbers in to my cell phone at nosy places 
>>>>>>>>> like
>>>>>>>>> that.
>
>>>>>>>>> My
>>>>>>>>> question to you all is this. Being blind, would you have taken 
>>>>>>>>> your
>>>>>>>>> note
>>>>>>>>> taker to the night club? The more I think about it, the more I
>>>>>>>>> believe
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> Slate and Styles would have been a great option for some like the
>>>>>>>>> night
>>>>>>>>> club
>>>>>>>>> sidereal. What would you have done?
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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