[nabs-l] phone numbers at night clubs

Jedi loneblindjedi at samobile.net
Mon Jan 4 09:05:19 UTC 2010


I use WayFinder Access on a Nokia N82.

As to what law enforcement officers have said to you about women not 
going out alone, their concern is praiseworthy. However, no change has 
ever come by hiding in fear. No minority ever gained first-class 
citizenship or safety by hiding behind members of the majority. Does 
that mean that men should not be involved in issues related to women's 
safety? No. In fact, many college campuses and other community centers 
are hosting educational efforts to empower men against the sexism and 
violence that make law enforcement officers concerned in the first 
place. I think that men and women can work together as partners to 
combat violence against all persons regardless of sex, gender, sexual 
orientation, race, creed, disability status, etc.

I think it's a great idea to try a night club or pub near home. In 
fact, the advantage of doing so means that you can walk home and not 
need a ride unless the weather's bad or you've had a sufficient amount 
to drink such that you'd be at risk of danger when traveling. I like to 
visit a pub just a half block from home. I walk there any time I like, 
have some food and drink, then walk home. This arrangement has worked 
out really well. And if I have had too much, I call a cab and pay them 
extra just because they drove me a whole half block home.

Respectfully,
Jedi


Original message:
> 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?
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
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>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>>>> nabs-l:
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>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> _______________________________________________
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