[nagdu] What would you have done? An odd access issue

Pickrell, Rebecca M (IT) REBECCA.PICKRELL at ngc.com
Wed Mar 4 15:09:22 UTC 2009


Dan, this post is illogical. 
Why would you hope Tami consumed food by someone who didn't want her there? 
Now, go stand in the corner! 
And for those wondering, Dan and I are friends which means I get to harass him.  

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 7:45 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] What would you have done? An odd access issue

Well, first of all, Tommy.
I don't blame you or any one for handling the situation the way you did.
Hind sight is twenty twenty as they say.
You can only do your best given the situation at hand. 
So, the following is my take on the situation and not on you--grin.

1.  You say the owner was being courteous.  I don't think so.  If you say he probably thought you're stupid, than that doesn't bespeak courtesy--smile.
I don't buy the argument about the dog being wet that some of our friends here mentioned. People get wet in rain and slog through mud and so on and they're not told to sit in the corner.
I might have sat at the table because I like sitting at booths and I
personally hate sitting at a counter on a stool--grin.   You have no idea
what he was referring to by "near the food".  It could be on the counter plain or it could be behind glass.
So, in conclusion, I don't have a problem with where you sat and so on, not that it's any of my business--grin--but I think the guy's a jerk.

2.  Telling him that you'll take your business elsewhere would have made him very happy--grin.  Our business is not important to them.  They, if they have a bad attitude, would rather have someone else's business unfortunately.

I hope, though, that you got your dumplings--smile.

Cordially,

Dan W. and the hounds  

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Charlene Ota
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 9:38 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] What would you have done? An odd access issue

Hi, Tami, a couple questions, you said it was raining, was your dog really wet?  You know how it is with a wet dog, they start shedding, too.  Maybe the guy didn't want to get his glass in the counter wet and get hair on it or something.  Somehow, you're probably more aware than that so I doubt that could have been his issue, but just thought it might be what he was worried about.  Were you able to keep your dog with you at your table?  I hope I'm not asking dumb questions, but I guess it wouldn't be the first time!
(smile!)

Charlene 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of sblanjones11
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 2:49 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] What would you have done? An odd access issue

Tami,
That's a hard one, b/c it's not exactly black-&-white.
I think I would have tried to understand, especially with a wet dog.  I would have done the best I could, and used the opportunity to educate.
I think you did OK, and I probably would have done similarly had I been in your shoes.
Susan & Rhoda
 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 5:15 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] What would you have done? An odd access issue

First, hi to all the new members!  I am loving the energy and the new observations and experiences.  It's also cool to learn more about the members I thought I new as they discuss things in a new way.  Now, if only I could keep up with all of you!  /grin/

 

Anyway, here is my tale, along with what I did do at the time.  With much retrospect, I'm still pretty clueless how to view the situation or how best to handle something like it.

 

I was downtown with a friend, and we decided to go to a café she told me about for Russion dumplings.  I had never heard of them before, but I really wanted to try them.  (Yummy; very filling.)  We found the shop and went in, where we stopped to shake off the rain and get oriented.  She was using her cane; I had my dog.  While we were still figuring things out, a voice from behind the counter asked me to keep my dog right there in the corner, please.  I pointed out she's a guide dog, he said he knew that, just please keep her "right there, in corner."  He had a somewhat strong accent, I suddenly noticed, yet it did seem we were communicating.  He made it clear he wasn't asking us to leave, he just wanted the dog to sit in the corner.

 

Naturally, this got my dander up.  I had figured out the layout by now, so I picked up my harness handle, and we started forward.  This got the owner's dander up, and he repeated his request somewhat more loudly, apparently on the theory I was too stupid to understand what he wanted.  I opened my mouth to argue, and my cell phone rang - my roommate's ring tone.  While I was talking to him, another customer came in.  I heard the owner ask the guy plaintively if he could explain it to me, that he didn't want the dog near the food around the counter.  Phone conversation over, I prepared to push the issue, but then it occurred to me...  I wasn't actually sure if this was breaking the law or not.  I definitely believed (and still do) that he was in the wrong, but if he was within his rights, then who am I to argue?  He was making it clear he intended to serve us, that he didn't want us to leave, that he would come to us to take our order since we weren't coming to the counter, etc.  He was, in his own way, being fairly courteous, even nice about the whole thing.

 

Part of me wanted to just march out in a huff at that point, throwing some obnoxious comment like, "Fine!  If you don't want me to spend my money here..." loudly over my shoulder on the way.  Part of me wanted those Russian dumplings, which I could now smell.  Also, it was yicky outside at the moment, and I wanted to sit down indoors.  What can I say?  I'm a wuss.
/smile/  Besides, leaving felt too much like being deprived of my goal of a tasty dumpling.

 

Anyway, we ended up staying, we were served, he went out of his way to be extra nice while clearly thinking we were both stupid, although he and I did share our feelings on each of the matter for a less heated round.  I got my dumplings, my friend and I had a quiet place to talk for a bit, and I had no idea if I had made the right choice or if I had just taken the coward's way out.  Very hard on my pride, I tell you what!

 

So, my question is:  Was this an access issue at all, since he did, after all, accommodate us?  Or should I have kept on with the attitude and confrontation until I got my way and exercised my rights?

 

The next question has more to do with getting thoughts and opinions:  Would you (or do you think I should have) a) left, making sure the owner understood you refused to spend money in his store? b) played nice and taken the opportunity for further discussion of the issue (hey! That makes it sound like I was just being noble, huh?  Ha!) or c) is there something better I totally haven't thought of?

 

Thanks!

Tami Smith-Kinney 

 

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