[nabs-l] Some Thoughts on Recent On-List Discussion and a Friendly Reminder to All Listers

[Chris Nusbaum]

Dear Fellow NABSters:

 

Since its beginning Friday morning, I have been attempting to follow our
most recent large-scale thread, entitled "A Struggling Blind Student Looking
for Some Advice," as closely as I can. Though the discussion has evolved and
expanded to encompass several different topics and points of view, I have
observed a few common themes which seem to me at once gratifying and
troubling. In an effort to avoid the highly emotionally-charged nature of
some of the discussion in this thread, I have chosen here to try to address
these commonalities in a new and separate post rather than responding to a
lot of individual comments which have been posted throughout the thread.

 

Firstly, I would like to thank those who provided constructive answers to
the questions posed in the original post based on your own experiences. Your
thoughtful and practical approach exhibits the best characteristics of this
list. Indeed, this list exists as a forum in which blind students can get
support, encouragement and information from each other in a nurturing,
nonjudgmental environment. It was in this spirit that the NABS list was
created, and it is this spirit that the NABS leadership team tries to keep
alive as we monitor the day-to-day discussion which takes place here. I
personally and the leadership team collectively are very appreciative of
those many list members who assist us in keeping the NABS place an inviting
forum that people want to participate in. You are what holds this list
together.

 

With this in mind, I have also observed to my dismay that a small but vocal
minority has engaged in personal attacks and angry rhetoric used against
those with whom they disagree. There have also been those who have appeared
immovable in their positions, even as new information is disclosed. This has
created tention and high emotions in a discussion which began as a
productive exchange of ideas. I completely understand the frustration which
comes when those of us who are more experienced offer a suggestion to a
struggling new member, only for that new member to seem to reject the advice
we gave them. One is tempted to throw up one's hands and reply, "You asked
me, and I told you what you should do. If you had just done what I told you
to do, you wouldn't be stuck in this mess!"

 

This frustration is a very real feeling, and one with which I have struggled
on many occasions both inside and outside the Federation. However, I believe
we must remember that we can only control the advice we give. What a new
member does or fails to do based on our advice is completely out of our
control. Moreover, I believe it must be emphasized that what works for one
may not work for all. Our philosophy states that the blind are a
cross-section of the general public. If this is true, it follows that each
blind person is an individual with his/her own strengths, weaknesses, and
preferences. It is very easy to become insistent on our way of doing things,
not understanding why others do not do what seems so easy to us. However,
there are often a number of secondary factors which complicate a
situation-secondary disabilities, family situations, financial hardships,
etc. Since we may not be aware of all these factors, we may not always be
able to provide the most workable advice in every situation. All of us,
including myself, must therefore recognize the innate individuality of each
blind person, and exercise patience with those who may be dealing with
situations which we may not fully understand.

 

Finally, I was deeply troubled when Elizabeth, the list member whose post
began the thread in question, expressed her regret that she had posted her
question to an NFB list. As she wrote, "I guess the support of the NFB is
for everyone else but me." Obviously, this is not the kind of feeling that
we who are dedicated Federationists want to leave with our newer colleagues.
Therefore, I would like to remind all list members that when we post to a
list like this one, we often represent the first contact blind students have
with our movement at the national level. Unfair though this may be, it is a
fact of life that first impressions often determine a person's perception of
a group of people as a whole. To use a personal example, I did not
participate in the Federation for ten years because the first impressions I
gleaned from an earlier experience involving an NFB-sponsored program were
negative (see my article in the June, 2013 Braille Monitor for more on
this.) It is vital, then, that we all remember the importance of first
impressions when posting to the list. Of course, we all have the right to
express our opinions freely on this list-indeed, we have this list for that
very purpose. When we resort to anger and personal attacks, however, we are
not only making bitter an otherwise pleasant conversation, but we are also
misrepresenting the true, supportive nature of our Federation to new
members. I challenge all list members, therefore, to remember the support we
have received from the Federation over the years, and resolve to show that
support to others whenever we post to our list.

 

I hope that my comments here serve only to refocus our on-list discussion
rather than to further polarize it. If what I have said has offended any of
my fellow listers, I am truly sorry. Finally, please understand that what I
have said above is merely my personal opinion and does not reflect any
official position of NABS or the NABS Board. I hope we can end this brief
period of discord, and that we can work together to rededicate ourselves to
accurately representing the love, hope and determination of the National
Federation of the Blind.

 

Yours in the movement,

 

Chris

 

Chris Nusbaum, President

Maryland Association of Blind Students

Vice President, Greater Carroll County Chapter, National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland

Board Member, National Association of Blind Students

Phone: (443) 547-2409

Email: dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com

Twitter: @Chrisn98 and @nabslink

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.