[nagdu] Some people Do Know...

Sun Dec 11 17:53:19 UTC 2011

I would love to read about you attempting to travel threw any of the major 
cities in the north-east.  Midwesterners are strange. They are friendly, and 
will actually talk to you. Seams like every time I am lost, the people who 
offer help are always tourist from Ohio or Minnesota or some ware like that.

When I was in Minnesota last summer, the difference in attitude was 
especially apparent.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tami Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some people Do Know...

> Nicole and Marion,
>
> For myself, I appreciate when people ask. I start with a polite response, 
> always thanking them for asking. My tone will vary, depending on their 
> tone in asking and whether they are reaching out or in contact with the 
> curls before the question is out of their mouth, though. /lol/
>
> When I do accept a greeting, I also point out to the person that a lot of 
> guide and service dog users do *not* allow greetings or petting while the 
> dog is in harness, and they generally have their reasons. The thanking 
> them for asking and the calm but firm information about the subject also 
> gives me a handle on the interaction so that I am in control of it, not 
> the person who asked or the dog. I'm fortunate with Mitzi in this insanely 
> dog-friendly town, since she can graciously accept the distraction then 
> get right back to work. Whew! If I I had a dog where I absolutely had to 
> say no every time I would get nothing done. Given our local culture, it is 
> more effective for my busy schedule to take the opportunity to communicate 
> not only with the person who asked but with the crowds watching the cute 
> poodle guide.
>
> I know a lot of guide dog users who appreciate being asked, so long as the 
> person asking respects the answer. If I say "no," I mean no, don't pet the 
> dog. I try to take a firm tone then without biting the person's head off, 
> although I will admit at those times it can be tempting.
>
> Honestly, one reason I keep considering switching breeds next time, to 
> dobie, is because those dogs are a lot like poodles in temperament and 
> all, only without the grooming expense, and people are not inspired to 
> mush over them and coo and try to touch them. /lol/ There are days when my 
> part in the whole social butterfly scene we play nearly everywhere we go 
> just gets old. I like people, and I've always enjoyed random chats with 
> strangers, but... Not every five steps when I'm in a hurry! /lol/
>
> Every now and then we find ourselves in a more reserved milieu where Mitzi 
> gets to just do her job, and I have noticed that she seems to appreciate 
> this once she gets over the surprise of not being the center of attention. 
> The same applies to me. /lol/ Every now and then, I find myself longing to 
> move to someplace super unfriendly, like Vermont or New York or something. 
> /lol/ When I'm in a bad mood and would like to shout cusswords at annoying 
> people, which does not go over here, I think New York is the place. /lol/ 
> Here in Portland, we all just go around smiling and chatting and 
> everything, no matter what. Haw awful! Just kidding. I've been told that 
> if I ever go to someplace like New York city, I will cause mass hysteria 
> because I've lived so long in this culture that I just automatically smile 
> and say hi to everybody. Someday, when we do New York, I will have to try 
> it to see what happens. /evil grin/
>
> Tami
>
> On 12/10/2011 09:08 AM, Nicole B. Torcolini at Home wrote:
>> I am slightly surprised that the women was offended. Perhaps she was
>> offended by the tone of the reply rather than the reply itself. I do not
>> usually get firm/terse until someone has actually started petting. I
>> have a lot of people, particularly the people I see regularly around the
>> campus, ask in that way of "I know ... can I ...". My response and its
>> tone depends on several factors, but rarely, if ever, have I had someone
>> whom I had told no do it anyway.
>>
>> Nicole
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marion Gwizdala" 
>> <blind411 at verizon.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 3:01 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some people Do Know...
>>
>>
>>> Will,
>>> What is interesting about your story is the level of disrespect
>>> exhibited by the employee. You had already said your dog didn't get
>>> attention while on duty and he said he "knew about guide dogs";
>>> however, he must have thought the "No Petting" rule only applied to
>>> those who know nothing about guide dogs, huh?
>>> Merry and I had a similar encounter a couple of weeks ago. We were
>>> shopping in WalMart when a woman walked up to us and said, "You have
>>> beautiful dogs! I know I'm not supposed to pet them, but they are just
>>> so beautiful! Can I pet them?" Merry replied in a very terse tone,
>>> "No! They are on duty!" Later Merry acknowledged that she was very
>>> stern in her reply and the woman seemed a bit offended; however, she
>>> knew better and shouldn't have asked!
>>>
>>> Peace!
>>> Marion
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Burley"
>>> <william.burley3 at gmail.com>
>>> To: "NAGDU" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 8:22 PM
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Some people Do Know...
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi all.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I had a really great experience today. I went to the winery to
>>>> purchase for
>>>> a fundraising event I'm having tomorrow and I had my pup with me. It 
>>>> was
>>>> really crowded there I assume because folks are preparing for the
>>>> Christmas
>>>> and New Year's Eve parties. I had a personal shopper helping me and
>>>> he was
>>>> enthralled by my pup. I casually threw in how people try and give her
>>>> attention even when she's not supposed to have it. He said he knew 
>>>> about
>>>> guide dogs and such.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Well, we are going throughout the store and a woman comes right
>>>> behind us
>>>> and scolds the worker because he was about to sneak a pet from the
>>>> pup. She
>>>> yfussed and said he's not supposed to touch the dog while it's working.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> It was just nice to run across that 1 person out of many who had some
>>>> knowledge and made sure somebody else had it too.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> William Burley
>>>>
>>>> William.burley3 at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
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