[nagdu] And that reminds me of the cab driver issue

Tue Feb 22 16:56:03 UTC 2011

Lisa and Doug,

I almost want to go out looking for obnoxious cab drivers so I can be as
cool as you guys!  /lol/

Going about with DD, I never get a chance to have issues even, since he will
pull out his Alpha Male at the merest whiff someone might want to question
his Sweet Precious One's right of entry.  This saves me all sorts of time
and aggravation.  So why do I feel deprived of the chance to be like the
cool kids and have all the fun they do with access challenges and issues and
even denials?  Where's the fun in just getting to go where you want to go
and do your thing there without all the hassles?  /lol/

So when I'm off by own self with my guide dog, I'm all ready for action with
the self-advocacy and education of the public.  Bring it on, because I am
prepared!  But will anyone cooperate by giving me grief?  No!  How rude!
They just accept our entrance like we're doing what we ought to be doing.
Sigh.  I never get to have any fun around here anymore.  /smile/

Oh, well.  I guess I'll survive.  Sooner or later someone will decide to
give me some satisfaction.  I will probably be too surprised to do anything
clever or cool.

DD did apparently step in and stop an assault on the Sweet Precious last
time we were in downtown Portland.  Some punk was eyeing the dog and taking
aim with his foot...  All I knew was that Mitzi had zigged unexpectedly, but
the sidewalks were super crowded, so she didn't have much room to take
evasive action.  So it was good we had Mr. Steely Eyed Stare and Alpha Male
bearing along to put a stop to that.  Punk changed his mind and oozed off to
find someone helpless to pick on, I suppose.  DD fumed for months over it
and hit the panic button every time I mentioned I was thinking of leaving
the house before he finally told me what had happened there.

I'm still trying to figure out a strategy to deal with that sort of thing
when I'm on my own...  I have one for loose dog attacks, which we practice
in the park during play or even during rowdies with Daisy, as well as
practicing the command (behind me!) and hand gesture for it.  So far, I have
only had to use it inside the main headquarters of the Oregon Commission for
the Blind.  Sigh.  Still, human predators of that Portland Punk's ilk have
me baffled.  How do you protect your Sweet Precious against the type of
human who will kick her in passing just because she's there?  Ugh!

Give me a good access challenge any day!  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lisa Irving
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 12:46 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] And that reminds me of the cab driver issue

Doug, to darn funny!

I had a "memorable" cab ride about 15 years ago. Basically, the cab driver 
refused to take me and my guide dog. He told me to get out of the cab. When 
I refused  he got nasty. I asked him for his name and his ID number. He 
refused the information. Grab a tissue for what happened next. He told me he

was taking me to the police. Bring it on  bro!. Well, I took the guy to 
court and the police testified on my behalf. I'm guessing the guy never made

that error again. It wasn't funny then. Oh yeah, my guide dog and I arrived 
at work in a squad car!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Parisian" <eggmann at mts.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 4:35 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] And that reminds me of the cab driver issue

> Actually, it was God, or some facsimile thereof who pushed my 
> buttons--minus 30 degrees, 8 hours on a bus, suddenly condensing bladder, 
> and damn--I needed a smoke.  I did, fortunately for that cabbie, have the 
> good grace to hold my bladder until I reached home.  Now stop that, I did 
> even go into the house.
> Doug: There's a hole in the bucket, dear lysa, dear lysa
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 6:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] And that reminds me of the cab driver issue
>
>
>> Doug,
>>
>> OMG!  And I thought I could be very coldly and practically obnoxious when
>> someone pushes my buttons.
>>
>> Points for effective nonverbal communication resulting in a free cab ride
>> home!  /lol/
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Doug Parisian
>> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 4:09 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] And that reminds me of the cab driver issue
>>
>> Squeaking of cabs and such, I had gotten off an eight hour bus trip in 
>> minus
>>
>> 30 degree weather and wanted a cab to get home.  My dog guide at the time
>> was able to pick a cab if I approached any location where they usually
>> parked, probably due to the fact that in Winnipeg at that time, the cabs
>> burned Propane.  Well, that's my best guess cause he never made a 
>> mistake.
>>
>> Anyway, I approached a cab and some driver indicated in seriously
>> questionable english that he couldn't take dogs.  Quick as lightning, I
>> popped open the front door, gave my 80 pound yellow lab a hand signal and

>> he
>>
>> lept in one side while the driver slithered out the other.  I followed 
>> Mr.
>> Dog in, closed both doors and locked him out.  Damn, with the motor 
>> running,
>>
>> it really was nice and warm so I figured it appropriate to relax and 
>> light a
>>
>> smoke.  The way that poor devil banged on the cab, he was probably a
>> professional drummer.  I let him in after about five minutes by which 
>> time
>> he was real good and ready to listen.  I guess the cool air suppressed 
>> his
>> contempt for dogs.  The driver grabbed his mike, called dispatch for 
>> police
>> help explaining about the dog with a handle and was ordered to drive me 
>> home
>>
>> for free.
>>
>> In relating this story to a friend, he indicated that what I should have
>> done was to hold down the mike switch since at that time, only one cab
>> driver at a time could communicate with the dispatcher.
>>
>> Damn, that was sure fun!
>>
>> Doug: no, I don't shed!
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 5:16 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] And that reminds me of the cab driver issue
>>
>>
>>> And on the subject of cab drivers, it is patently ridiculous that
>>> someone's
>>> supposed religious concerns should even be an issue for us. I'm 
>>> referring
>>> to
>>> the Muslim cab drivers you mentioned.
>>> It just shows that our rights as blind people mean much less or nothing 
>>> at
>>> all when compared to some idiot cab driver.
>>>
>>> Dan W.
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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>
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