[nabs-l] Am I the only one?Two Questions

[Serena]

Hi:

I see what you're saying about wanting to see, but I actually don't.

I'm also quite rule oriented, although I got more lose once I went to 
college.  I doubt it's a blindism cuz a blind acquaintance of mine (not on 
this list) doesn't follow some basic social rules and pays the price for 
them.

Serena

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Courtney Stover" <liamskitten at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 6:19 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Am I the only one?Two Questions


> Gen,
>
> Your first question is a complicated one, and the answer will vary
> according to who in the blind community you ask.  I'm somewhat of an
> anomaly, or at least feel like one, in the sense that not only do I
> sometimes "wish" to see, but it's becoming more and more of a goal for
> me.  The research/technology for giving blind individuals at least
> some vision is progressing at an astonishing rate.  I'm actively
> seeking to be part of the movement, through applying for research
> trials.. etc. etc.
>
> The reasons I want to see are precisely the ones you innumerated here.
> I know that blind people can be competent travelers and live/work
> independently.  But I want to see people dancing across a stage or the
> brilliant specail effects in a movie or.. a million things.
>
> As to the second question.. I, too, am overly procedurally reliant.  I
> really do believe it's a blindness thing.  We're afraid of missing
> visual clues e.g. seeing sighted students taking out their books and
> looking incompetent that we tend to follow procedures in the hope that
> we don't stand out.  Unfortunately, as I know from personal
> experience, that can have the reverse effect.  Oftentimes, you can be
> the only person with a book on your desk, which rather defeats the
> purpose.
> Hope this post answers at least some of your questions,
> Courtney
>
> On 3/15/10, Jen <spiderweb1 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> 1. Am I the only one who sometimes wishes he / she could see?
>>
>> I am comfortable with my blindness and would not want to be sighted, but
>> still wonder and am fascinated by what things look like at times (for
>> new members, I have been blind since birth.)
>>
>> Yesterday, I took my my to a River Dance concert for her birthday. I
>> loved the music but wanted to see the dancing that went with it as well.
>> It was hard to try to picture it based on the music...
>>
>> 2. I love / cling to procedural order in life - follow all steps, and
>> nothing can or will go wrong. I also try to make rules for everything
>> that won't change so everything is in a contained "box" in my mind out
>> of which it can't escape. I also find rules comforting so I don't have
>> to think and can just do something automatically. An example of such a
>> rule is "always take out your book in class [even if the professor isn't
>> using it that day.] If you do this, you will always be a good student.
>> If you don't, you are a bad student."
>>
>> I know there are no guarantees for things but still cling to the
>> procedural mind set to keep my mental boxes of rules intact. Is being
>> overly procedure-oriented a "blindism" or something with which the
>> sighted struggle as well?
>>
>> Thanks for your input.
>>
>>
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