[nabs-l] Philosophy in society

[Jedi]

Kirt and List,

Has anyone heard of the hierarchy of needs? Basically, the principle 
states that we have basic needs as human beings, and that we'll work on 
meeting "lower order needs" first before meeting "higher order needs."

>From that perspective, it is possible that blind people (and any other 
minority for that matter) focus on issues related  to their minority 
status because they are working on fulfilling a need that has not yet 
been met and that such individuals won't be able to move up the needs 
ladder until their immediate needs are met. In this context, there is a 
need in the hierarchy called "esteem needs" and "need for belonging." I 
bet that people are talking at length regarding blindness issues 
because, at the moment, it meets their belonging needs. Lots of these 
people haven't had access to people just like them. They are also 
frustrated with a society that keeps them out, so they talk about it in 
order to repair the wounds done to their self-esteem and 
self-concept/self-efficacy. Once those needs have been met, then it's a 
lot easier to talk about other things of varying depth. Just my thoughts.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> To all,
>   First, I'm on this list.  I'm not consciously avoiding anything
> blindness-related.
>   And, yes, it's normal and ok for blind people to sometimes talk
> about blindness.  I get that.  (heck, I feel perfectly fine talking
> about blindness on this list and with my blind friends)  But it
> becomes a real problem when you never, or hardly ever, talk about
> anything else.  I have friends who, when I'm with them, only talk
> about blindness, only talk about assistive technology, braille, canes,
> NFB/ACB philosophy, educating sighted people about blindness, etc.
> It's not that those things are bad to talk about...they're necessary
> and good and important.  But it's equally as important, maybe even
> more so, to become well-rounded individuals who can relate and
> participate in the sighted world on terms of equality.  And most of my
> blind friends, unfortunately, do not have that balance.  I can relate
> perfectly to what Jerardo is saying.
>   Best,
> Kirt

> On 2/17/11, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On the topic  of blind people in   blindness-related conversation:  I
>> believe that's not at all uncommon  or unreasonable.  Ifyou are around
>>  blind friends and something blindness related comes up, then it comes
>> up.  It's normal for any ethnic group to have   conversations of or
>> relating to their culture or ethnicity.  Can  those conversations  run
>> a little long and be overkill, sure they can.  And while I  could
>> guess that we've gotten caught up in a little more  "blindness talk"
>> than we might expect every once in a while, I am not too sure how this
>> translates into how we deal with the sighted community's perceptions
>> of us, yet respect where we as a person/people  are at the time?  We
>> may know the truth about blindness, but does that mmean that we need
>> to walk around with nfb litriture in our back  pack ready to wirl
>> around with something in   hand in responce to "why do you use that
>> stick?" or, "you must be really good at music"? Doesn't that
>> underscore why we are different  more than equil?
>>   just some thoughts.

>>  Respectfully,
>>   Darian

>> On 2/17/11, Bernadetta Pracon <bernadetta_pracon at samobile.net> wrote:
>>> Bridgit,
>>> Great essay. I really enjoyed reading it. I think it definitely echos
>>> the way we all feel.

>>> Bernadetta P.

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>> --
>> Darian Smith
>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace

>> "You could be shown the road, given the vehicle, even handed the key.
>> But only you can have the drive."

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