[nabs-l] Making Friends/Socializing With Sighted People

[Brianna Scerenscko]

I have been in that same situation both at school and in other social
gathering places. I'm not sure how to handle it; whenever it happens
to me, I usually feel bad for a few seconds, and then think "oh well,
their loss". LOL I honestly think my parents feel worse about it than
I do.

On 3/26/11, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
> Kerri, I don't know what to do in your situation. I have some of the
> same problems at my community college. I'll say hi to somebody, but
> they won't respond. I do have a question, though. I know it's off
> topic, but how do you access Facebook? Every time I try to create a
> page, the computer shuts down. Please help me offline.
> Thanks, Joshua
>
> On 3/26/11, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi All!
>>
>> I thought I'd bring this topic up because I'm interested in hearing
>> opinions and a lot of people have commented when I mentioned this on
>> Facebook.
>>
>> As I've posted here before, my father owned a popular bar/restaurant
>> that I like to go to on the weekends.
>>
>> I am noticing that quite often people will come up to where I am
>> sitting, say hi, have a quick conversation with me, and than say
>> "Well, I'm going to go join my other friends. Nice seeing you," or
>> something like that.
>>
>> I have tried to not let it bother me, just ignore it, cheerfully say
>> goodbye and go on but it's starting to really bother me. Last night I
>> saw two girls that live in the same apartment complex as I do, and one
>> of them works at the radio station with me.
>>
>> I use my cane all the time when I'm in Crockett's, to get everywhere.
>> I never ask to take someone's arm, and even when I go outside to catch
>> my cab to get home I go out by myself. I never ask people for rides,
>> always paying for cabs to and from to independently get there and
>> back. I always wear glasses to make my eyes look less funky (one is a
>> lot tinier than the other), I always make sure my hair is brushed
>> back, and it is always clean. I usually wear jeans but last night I
>> was wearing a pair of corduroy pants and a nice shirt with a sweater
>> vest over it that I know looks nice because it was the outfit I wore
>> for Christmas. I usually do not wear makeup but put lipstick on last
>> night.
>>
>>
>> I discussed this situation earlier with a good friend who is also
>> totally blind and she said people do the same sort of thing to her in
>> the dining hall at the college she attends.
>>
>> Do many of you get similar treatment by sighted people?
>>
>> In your opinion, what is the best way to react/handle it? Is it rude
>> to ask the person if you can join their group or should you always
>> wait until you are invited?
>>
>> How do you deal with this and not let it affect/bother you or put you
>> in a negative mood/frame of mind?
>>
>> The hardest thing for me is when people come up and talk to me and
>> then they don't invite me to join in and I am left sitting alone it
>> really upsets me and makes me think negatively. I was told that at
>> least people do come up and talk to me;they could just walk past and
>> not say a word. Sometimes though, in a way I think that would make
>> things easier because then I would have never known they were there in
>> the first place. I was also told to just cheerfully go on as if
>> nothing happened and try to not let it bother me, and to think of
>> myself as number one.
>>
>> Just something I thought I'd bring up for discussion. I understand all
>> anyone can give is their opinion.
>>
>> Kerri
>>
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-- 
Brianna Scerenscko