[nabs-l] Philosophy in society

[Kirt Manwaring]

Jedi,
  Very, very good point.  And I think I can at least understand, I've
had many blind friends and still do.  But as I'm growing up and going
to college, I can't help but feel less and less of a pull towards the
blindness subculture.  Or, putting it better, I feel stronger pulls
towards other subcultures.  Maybe that's just me.  But I found that
I'm more similar to some of my friends who happen to be sighted than I
am to most blind people I know.  Does that make sense at all?
  Sincerely,
Kirt

On 2/26/11, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
> 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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