[nagdu] Dogs and traffic lights

[Tami Kinney]

Oh, yeah, I've noticed that, too. The only time it seems I can not find
a helpful passerby is when I actually do need some help. Cane, dog,
doesn't matter. The first few times this happened, I was just so
frustrated because of whatever difficulty I was having figuring out how
to not spend the rest of my life standing there in confusion, I could
not get a soul to answer even the most basic, clearly stated question.
Then, one day, it occurred to me that there was a consistent pattern.
I'd' walked several blocks and been given all sorts of helpful
instruction I didn't need, then there I was, just as stuck and confused
as I could be, not a soul in sight, except those who would pass by and
be quite cheerful in passing me by with a wave off (I can only imagine)
and a flip answer because apparently it was clear to them I had it all
under control. It occurred to me this was the third time in as many days
this pattern had recurred, so then I stood lost and confused laughing my
head off. Which turned out to be helpful in getting myself straightened
out and across the street in one piece. Go figure. /grin/

Tami Mon, 2011-08-22 at 10:53 -0400, Tracy Carcione wrote: 
> Dan, it beats the heck out of me that people ask me if I need help
> crossing a fairly quiet street, but not when I'm trying to cross some
> noisy monster with a bus idling  a few yards away.  Maybe the people on
> the busy street are too busy chatting and looking around, and the ones on
> the quiet street are paying more attention to other people.  Like I said,
> beats me.
> Tracy
> 
> > As usual, Tommy, a very entertaining and pleasant post.
> > The misconception about guide dogs reading traffic lights seems to be the
> > most persistent one.
> > I don't get as  many comments on it  these days and that's  either because
> > I'm doing better or people just don't give a darn--smile.
> >
> > It used to happen all the damned time.
> > I have explained that I hear only out of one ear.
> > It goes in one ear and not out the other?--lol.
> > So, telling whether the cars are in front or to the side of me has always
> > been an interesting proposition.
> > I remember when I was a kid and made my first ventures in to independent
> > mobility.
> > I'm not going to mince words, I'd just stand at the curb with tears in my
> > eyes because I just couldn't tell.  I just figured out that you do the
> > best
> > you can and that's it.
> >
> > I've developed my own techniques, but you know sooner or later something
> > happens.
> > And of course everyone's there to tell me that my dog crossed me against
> > the
> > light or something like that, why did the dog do that, isn't he/she
> > trained?
> > I think what irks me is not the question, but that half the time when I
> > explain it they keep arguing?
> > Oh, but aren't they supposed to tell you when it's red?
> > I just explained that. Oh, but isn't it dangerous? Well, I explain that
> > one
> > too.
> >
> > Once a guy debated with me, yes argued about it. He said he had a
> > professor
> > in college who told him that guide dogs cross when the light is the right
> > color and so "I don't know who trained that dog, but those dogs do know".
> >
> > Oy vay, as my Dad would have said.
> >
> > And what's more, people who can't remember what they had for breakfast
> > will
> > remember for weeks that they saw you cross against the light.
> >
> > Of course, they wouldn't ever consider, let's see..asking you if you
> > needed
> > assistance when it actually happened?
> >
> > Go figure.
> >
> > And where are they when I do it right? They are there probably saying "you
> > see, that dog did know when the light's red".--lol
> >
> >
> > Dan the man, Carter the nut
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> 
> 
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