[nabs-l] Heightened Senses

[H. Field]

Hello Joe,
In those situations I simply reply to their comment by saying, "Oh I 
wish that were true, I've heard lots of people say it but I've never 
seen it. I think blind people just use what they've got more so they 
get better at doing it." I finish with a brief example related to what 
that particular person does. So, for example, with the news anchor 
people I'd say "You know, the way you've practised using your news 
reading voice until you're better than most people and you continue to 
improve as you work with your voice. It's the same with blind people 
relying on their hearing or touch. The more you do something the 
better you get at doing it. Or maybe not, I'm still very average at. 
Fill in the blank with one's own particular inadequacy."
That keeps the fun in the conversation, and ends the "amazing blind 
you" topic and politely educates them regarding that myth.
That's how I always handle it anyway.
Good luck with your next encounter.

Best regards,

Heather
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 6:46 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] Heightened Senses


Dear all,

Today I had the rare privilege to meet some of my favorite Fox News 
Channel
personalities.  One of my friends from judo practice made it happen, 
and
while we were telling one of the anchors about how we'd met, she, the
anchor, said judo must not come all that difficult for me since it 
only made
sense that with the loss of sight, my other senses would be enhanced. 
I
only consider myself a somewhat average judoka, but I did not have a 
brief,
witty comment to educate her on my reality that my hearing and other 
senses
are similarly average.  My sense of smell is most definitely not 
impressive.
I had too many questions of her to bother correcting the 
misperception.

My questions are these:

1. Do you feel that blindness has enhanced your other senses?

2. How do you generally field remarks like these?

Under normal circumstances I would have more time to educate people. 
If the
anchor in question weren't one of my favorites, I may have taken a 
more
instructive tone, but in general I want to answer such perceptions
accurately and succinctly.  Church is another one of those venues 
where you
want to be polite but informative.

Anyway, all thoughts welcomed.

Best,

Joe

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their 
sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing


_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
nabs-l:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/missheather%40comcast.net