[nabs-l] When a loved one goes sighted

Fri Apr 22 19:23:59 UTC 2011

Here's just another interesting idea to bounce around. If it is reasonable
to turn down the opportunity to see, even if it's a "magic pill" scenario
like in Arielle's research, do we feel it would be equally acceptable for a
sighted person to choose to make themselves blind, because, for what ever
reason, they feel they'd be happiest and most themselves as blind people?

On Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 3:16 PM, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:

> For me, blindness is a part of who I am. it has shaped my life in a number
> of ways ranging from the friendships and relationships I've had to the
> career I've chosen. Though this may not be true for everyone, it's certainly
> true for me and I'd feel like I've lost an important part of who I am, and
> that loss would far outweigh any gain I receive through sight.
>
> What scares me the most about medicine and sightedness is the possibility
> that governments will require all of us to undergo such procedures rather
> than allowing us the ability to be blind in a sighted world. In other words,
> the government or the world at large would think it's much easier and more
> reasonable to cure us rather than make a world that's usable for everyone
> regardless of characteristics.
>
> Respectfully,
> Jedi
>
>
> Original message:
>
>  Jorge and Homberto,
>>  I feel the same way.  I'm very curious to see what sight is like, I
>> wonder about it sometimes.  I'd even go as far as saying I sometimes
>> would like to see...but if the option were available, the tedium of
>> relearning everything, not to mention the risk of the surgery for
>> something I don't really need, more than balance out any wish I have
>> to see.  But, should a blind friend choose differently and receive
>> sight, I would totally understand, respect and support that decision.
>> And it wouldn't change the friendship on my end, although it would
>> spark some interesting conversations.
>>  Just my thoughts,
>> Kirt
>>
>
>  On 4/20/11, Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hombertu,
>>> I agree.
>>> I personally wouldn't choose to be sighted for one simple reason.
>>> I've learned everything without sight.
>>> If I regained sight I'd have to relearn everything.
>>> Sure I had sight but lost it when I was so young I can't remember,
>>> so really I can say I've been blind all my life,
>>> and sight would just make it too difficult.
>>>
>>
>  Jorge
>>>
>>
>
>  On Apr 20, 2011, at 8:55 PM, humberto wrote:
>>>
>>
>  First of all, If I was to become sighted, I would not do it. I myself
>>>> wouldn't want to become sighted because of 2 reasons:
>>>> 1.  since I am blind since birth, I will feel so weird being sighted;
>>>> just
>>>> like a sighted person  had been born with sight and feeling weird when
>>>> they become blind. The world would be so different and I cannot even
>>>> explain how different since I've never ever been sighted, and don't want
>>>> to be.
>>>> 2.  I am blind, I am the way I am and I still want to be blind since I
>>>> am
>>>> born blind. Blindness is just an ordinary thing for me. Even my mom has
>>>> gotten me to pray and get me to ask doctors if one day I will "see" but
>>>> that was when I was little, and looking back, I am so * GUILTY * that my
>>>> mom did this and told me that I will see soon in a quite convincing way
>>>> and now I think, and since coming to the United States and attending NFB
>>>> related camps and meetings such as the NFB youth Slam, I see my own
>>>> philosophy of blindness, which is that blindness is something ordinary
>>>> and
>>>> normal and nothing to be neglected or regretted about.
>>>> Just my 20 dollars for what it's worth, and, great question.
>>>>
>>>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: Jamie Principato <blackbyrdfly at gmail.com
>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>>> Date sent: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:56:20 -0400
>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] When a loved one goes sighted
>>>>>
>>>>
>  Hi, all.
>>>>>
>>>>
>  I was thinking recently about all of those "what to do what a
>>>>>
>>>> loved one goes
>>>>
>>>>> blind" articles and pamphlets I've seen, and how often I hear
>>>>>
>>>> people talk
>>>>
>>>>> about the reactions of friends and family and their community
>>>>>
>>>> when they lost
>>>>
>>>>> their vision. I think there have even been comments on this list
>>>>>
>>>> about
>>>>
>>>>> sighted friends for some reason thinking they have to treat us
>>>>>
>>>> differently,
>>>>
>>>>> or can't relate to us as well because we're blind.
>>>>>
>>>>
>  My question is this. How do you think the blind would respond in
>>>>>
>>>> similar
>>>>
>>>>> situations, say, if a friend among a netork of fellow blind
>>>>>
>>>> students
>>>>
>>>>> suddenly went sighted? As medical technology advances rapidly, it
>>>>>
>>>> is
>>>>
>>>>> becoming more and more possible to correct a number of causes of
>>>>>
>>>> both
>>>>
>>>>> congenital and later onset blindness. I know there are different
>>>>>
>>>> opinions on
>>>>
>>>>> matters like this in other disability groups, and the question
>>>>>
>>>> really got me
>>>>
>>>>> thinking.
>>>>>
>>>>
>  I'd love to hear peoples' thoughts!
>>>>>
>>>>
>  -Jamie
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> for nabs-l:
>>>>
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/humbertoa
>>>>>
>>>> 5369%40netzero.net
>>>>
>>>
>
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