[nagdu] Naming names

[Julie J.]

Eve,

I don't agree with your assertion that people should not be using this list 
to find out about the various guide dog programs.  You suggest that people 
should go directly to the source, the guide dog program.

I view getting a guide dog like any other consumer acquisition.  Let's say 
I'm in the market for a car.  I'm thinking about a Fordor a Toyota.  I go to 
the Ford dealership and ask about their cars.  They are going to tell me all 
the wonderful things about their cars and how they are better than the rest. 
Then I go to the Toyota dealer and guess what? they tell me all the same 
things except of course their cars are the best, even better than Ford.  So 
how do I figure out what is what and who to believe?  I go to the users.

I start asking my friends who use the products I'm interested in about their 
experiences and satisfaction.  When I'm out and about I notice the products 
I'm interested in in use.  I make a note of whether or not I like what I'm 
hearing and observing.   I make my decision based on all the information I 
have gathered.

I think this list and others like it, are the exact right place to get 
information about guide dogs from actual users.

Over the years I've had a lot of conversations with a lot of guide dog users 
and program staff.  I've been around a lot of guide dog teams and have seen 
first hand how they work in a real life situation.  If I had called the 
schools or read the info on their web sites I would in no way have the same 
understanding of what they are offering.

All that said I think there absolutely needs to be respectful discussion. 
Perhaps I have a much higher tolerance for negativity than others, but I 
rarely see bashing or flaming on this list.  I'm totally okay with people 
respectfully disagreeing with an idea.  I also think it's very important for 
people to limit their sharing with firsthand accounts.  The stuff that 
begins with my next door neighbor's, hairdressers brother had a guide dog 
from XYZ and I heard it was horrid are truly inappropriate.  I honestly see 
no problem with a statement like, "I had a guide dog from XYZ and it was 
horrid."  That's not hearsay or gossip.  That's a honest firsthand account.

Anyway that's my .02 for what it's worth.
Julie



-----Original Message----- 
From: Eve Sanchez
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 10:50 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Naming names

Yes, the issue here (that I think Marsha is trying to get across) is
that people are using names without knowing facts. They think they
know, but rumors spread and falsehoods abound and soon what is being
said (though well meaning) is a bunch of lies that could be considered
bashing. People should not be learning from people on this list which
schools are great and which are not, because it is opinions and hear
say. People should be able to learn from the source they wish to
investigate. What we should be learning here is our own experiences of
occurances, how-to's, and what works for us. We can only honestly
report about ourselves. I am not saying anyone here would
intentionally lie, but people make mistakes or are just plain wrong.
When the names are thrown out with false formation or the bashing
comments, it does cause blood pressures to rise. As for me, I am
getting sick of this entire thread. The rules are laid out. Accept
them. If people want to quit the list because they cannot handle the
rules then good riddance. Can we get back to talking about our dogs
now? Eve

On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 7:28 PM, Sheila Leigland <sleigland at bresnan.net> 
wrote:
> Well said, there is a big difference between honest discussion between 
> handlers and putting others down for the choices that they need to make.
>
> Sheila Leigland
>
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