[NAGDU] Emotions associated with handling was Re: School logos

Sun Apr 29 21:17:56 UTC 2018

Cindy:

You bring up a good point.  I am guilty of being extremely affectionate with
my dog when we are working.  I sometimes forget how that might look to the
public.  I work female golden retrievers so the public sees them as cuddly 
bundles of love anyway.  I have often heard people say how wonderful it is 
that my dog is
taking me where I need to go.  They do not realize that it is me who has to
know where I am going and the one who is giving her the commands.  The logo
of any guide dog school or agency should portray us in a positive light.
Too many guide dog schools and agencies for the blind make us seem like we
were completely hopeless and helpless until they came along and saved us
from a life of darkness and despair.  I agree with Tracy, maybe this is a
good topic to bring up at convention.  We should try to get the schools and
other agencies to be sure that in the media we are shown to be positive,
capable, independent and productive members of society.

Now for a question for discussion, if it is okay with Cindy our hard working 
moderator.  Do you show your dog lots of affection while working or are you 
more serious and low key?  Nither way is wrong I would just like to hear 
from others what you do and why.  I personally am very glad that now we have 
softer dogs so we do not have to do as much correction which gave the public 
a very negative impression of guide dog handlers.

Sandra and Eva

-----Original Message----- 
From: Cindy Ray via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2018 4:20 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Cindy Ray
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Emotions associated with handling was Re: School logos

I don't think Tracy was minimizing the emotions of the other so much, but
you have to realize that when a logo like that is out there in the public
eye, that is immediately what they think, too. They think, "How wonderful
that this person now has "eyes" and that must alleviate the loneiness and
cut back on the dark.
That isn't the same as minimizing someone's emotions, though I can see where
someone might feel that way if he/she is going through a lonely dark time.
Still, that does perk up the pity sense in people. Of course it also sells
and gets donations. But I think TSE and Pilot's logos as described are more
realistic. I would hope that no one here has taken offense to what Tracy has
said, but I've seen people fawn over their dogs in some meetings; you see
logos like this; some of us do overdo that sort of thing publicly. I think
we do have to remember, as does the schools, what they really want to
convey.
Hope that made some sense. I would agree though that we don't want to turn
this into a red hot topic.

Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Miranda via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2018 11:58 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Miranda <knownoflove at gmail.com>; Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: [NAGDU] Emotions associated with handling was Re: School logos

Hi Tracy and all,
While I completely agree with you that the job of a dog guide is a very
serious one, and all parties involved should recognize and support this
assertion, I do think we need to be careful in labeling others’ emotions as
“crap”. While I am not one who has experienced loneliness and darkness as a
cane traveler, I imagine there are those who may have experienced darkness,
loneliness, isolation, and the like prior to receiving a guide. By labeling
these emotions, we may be minimizing another’s experience.
I only say this as food for thought, and not to start any heated debates.

Best wishes, Miranda

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 29, 2018, at 11:03 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> GDB's change to a logo of someone hugging their dog was a small part
> of my decision to switch from GDB to TSE.  OK, so it's a logo, but I
> felt it was symbolic of some attitudes I didn't care for.  I heard at
> the time that the GEB logo was similar.
>
> As I recall, GDB's reason for changing their logo was that they wanted
> to show the partnership between human and dog, but IMO there is a big
> difference between a working partnership and a pet partnership, and
> hugging your dog doesn't show that.
>
> I know schools, and users, have had trouble with public perceptions
> about corrections, and I have no problem with moves to use fewer or
> better corrections, so long as the dog works well.  But I think it's
> essential the schools emphasize that it's a working dog, doing as
> serious a job as a police dog, and get away from the "companion in my
> lonely darkness" crap.
>
> Could we perhaps bring it up at the convention, or something?  Or
> brainstorm some PR we'd rather see, that emphasizes the working
> partnership, then share it with the schools?
>
> Tracy
>
>
>
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