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

Sat Mar 26 23:30:40 UTC 2011

I agree with the statement that at first a sighted person may not know
how to handle being with a blind person and or they may think you want
to be alone because you were sitting alone. I've met some pretty great
people who are now friends of mine that I met by them helping me or
giving me sighted guide in a crowded and unfamiliar area. Although
independents is important, it's okay to ask for rides or help if you
feel you need it.
Good Luck
Brianna

On 3/26/11, Hope Paulos <hope.paulos at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Kerri. I don't know if I'd ask them if you could  join  their group. They
> might just do it out of politeness and feel obligated to let you join. You
> said your family  runs  a bar. Why not, instead of sitting at a table alone,
> go to the bar where there are a lot more people sitting closer together?
> Unfortunately, that's all I can suggest. I'm sorry.
> Hope and guide dog, Beignet
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brianna Scerenscko" <bfs1206 at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 6:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Making Friends/Socializing With Sighted People
>
>
>>I don't mean to sound consided or anything. :)
>>
>> On 3/26/11, Brianna Scerenscko <bfs1206 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 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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>>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Brianna Scerenscko
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Brianna Scerenscko
>>
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-- 
Brianna Scerenscko