[Oagdu] Humor for blind people

Tue Nov 24 07:38:55 UTC 2015

Of course they were.  What do you expect.  They aren't blind.  Who is most 
offended when people make humorous or satirical remarks about themselves. 
Those who designate themselves the guardians of their welfare.  Because such 
remarks are a direct questioning of their  motives.  Their egos won't allow 
such questioning by those whom they consider their inferiors.  It is the way 
of humans the world over.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marianne Denning via Oagdu" <oagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "Ohio Association of Guide Dog Users List" <oagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Marianne Denning" <marianne at denningweb.com>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 9:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Oagdu] Humor for blind people


>I copied this from a Facebook group for people who have retinitis
> pigmentosa.  The blind people thought this was very funny and the
> sighted people were totally offended by it.  I could certainly relate
> to every one of these items.
>
> On 11/23/15, Angel via Oagdu <oagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I love these.  I shall surely save them, and pass them around to my 
>> friends.
>> Thanks for sending them.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Marianne Denning via Oagdu" <oagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> To: "Angelena Ruskin" <ruskin.angelena at wintonwoods.org>; "Chris Tolle"
>> <tollebooth at gmail.com>; "Dale Lieser" <dale.lieser at gmail.com>; "Dan
>> Schoenharl" <dschoenharl at yahoo.com>; "Eizyk, Shelly"
>> <Shelly.Eizyk at cchmc.org>; "Eizyk,Shelly (eizyksy)" <eizyksy at mail.uc.edu>;
>> "Heather Pedersen" <hpedersen at keystonelearning.org>; "Hyesook Cho"
>> <sdhyesook at yahoo.com>; "J. Linder" <jillandjohn at columbus.rr.com>;
>> <jennifer.holladay at cincyblind.org>; <jhunter1220 at comcast.net>;
>> <jimmie at denningweb.com>; "Karen Schoenharl" <schoenharl23 at gmail.com>;
>> "marilyn bowers" <rockey at pa.net>; "nadina imamovic"
>> <nadinaimamovic96 at gmail.com>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the National 
>> Association
>> of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "National Association to Promote 
>> the
>> Use of Braille Mailing List" <napub at nfbnet.org>;
>> <nfb-krafters-korner-request at nfbnet.org>; 
>> <nikoloz.tsiklauri98 at gmail.com>;
>> "Nora Heink" <nora.heink at gmail.com>; "Ohio Association of Guide Dog Users
>> List" <oagdu at nfbnet.org>; "paul and paula jordan" 
>> <paujor at roadrunner.com>;
>> "Paul Denning" <pauld452 at yahoo.com>; "Professionals in Blindness 
>> Education
>> Division List" <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>; "Sarah Sanner"
>> <sasanner at yahoo.com>; "Sarah Sanner" <sasanner at gmail.com>; "Sean Denning"
>> <sddenning at gmail.com>; <shelly.eizyk at gmail.com>; "Walker,Carlton"
>> <CWalker at nfb.org>; "Zallar, Patty" <Patty.Zallar at etf.wi.gov>; 
>> "Zallar,Patty"
>> <Patty.Zallar at etf.state.wi.us>
>> Cc: "Marianne Denning" <marianne at denningweb.com>
>> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 1:16 PM
>> Subject: [Oagdu] Humor for blind people
>>
>>
>>> These are all the things I want to say but know it would not be
>>> appropriate in most situations.  Enjoy!
>>>
>>> 17 Easy Ways To Make A Blind Person’s Day
>>>
>>> 1. When introducing yourself, use loud, exaggerated speech. Since
>>> we’re blind, it’s safe to assume we’re a little dim, too.
>>> 2. Don’t speak directly to us. It’s always best to talk over our heads
>>> like we’re not there at all, especially if you are offering a service.
>>> Example:
>>> “What would she like to order?” Be sure to ignore our attempts to
>>> answer for ourselves.
>>> 3. Grab or otherwise manipulate our bodies whenever and wherever you
>>> deem necessary. For example, if you intuitively perceive that we’re
>>> going the wrong
>>> way (even if you haven’t asked where that is) just snatch the nearest
>>> limb and lead on, Macduff!
>>> 4. If you aren’t in a position to grab us, you can always shout
>>> instructions in the hope that we’ll know what you’re talking about. If
>>> we look baffled,
>>> just keep repeating the instructions in an increasingly frantic tone.
>>> We’ll clue in eventually.
>>> 5. Remind us often how grateful we should be that people are willing
>>> to provide accommodations for us. While it’s unlikely that we will
>>> ever, ever forget
>>> this for more than five minutes at a time, it’s a good idea to slam
>>> the thought home when we’re not expecting it. It builds character.
>>> 6. Stage loud conversations about us while we’re in the room, because
>>> we won’t hear. If we hear, it’s okay, because we won’t understand. If
>>> we understand,
>>> it’s okay, because we won’t care.
>>> 7. Keep all conversation firmly focused on blindness. If we try to
>>> interject by discussing our education or interests, just redirect us.
>>> We get carried
>>> away trying to be all normal, so it’s helpful to keep us on track!
>>> 8. Be sure to describe all the other blind people you’ve ever met, in
>>> extravagant detail. We couldn’t be more fascinated by that blind guy
>>> who skied, and
>>> that other blind guy who went to school with you, and that blind girl
>>> you met on the train once—the one with the cute puppy…
>>> 9. Make a habit of asking us why we’re “here”. If we’re on the bus,
>>> ask us why we’re out alone. If we’re at work, ask us how we got the
>>> job. If we’re in
>>> class, ask us why we’re in university. If we seem offended, ignore us:
>>> deep down inside, we really enjoy presumptuous interrogation!
>>> 10. Dispense advice about how we should live our lives; the less you
>>> know us, the more valuable your feedback will be. If you need a good
>>> starting point,
>>> you can begin by analyzing our mobility tool of choice (cane or dog)
>>> and emphatically demanding that we switch. We love that.
>>> 11. Involve yourself in our love lives, specifying exactly the type of
>>> person we should date and why. If you think we should date a sighted
>>> person because
>>> they’ll be able to take care of us, we’ll want to hear all about it.
>>> If you think we should date a blind person because we should “stick to
>>> our own kind”
>>> we will be all ears!
>>> 12. Give us things—money, coupons, whatever—because you pity us and
>>> want to make our day better. Don’t be phased by any apparent
>>> expressions of confusion.
>>> (“Oh, that’s just my gratitude face!”)
>>> 13. Stop us on the street and thank whomever we’re with for
>>> helping/taking care of/being so kind to us. It’s not as though we have
>>> real friends who genuinely
>>> enjoy our company. No: if we’re out with a sighted person, they are
>>> fulfilling a purely charitable role. They will appreciate your praise,
>>> and we will
>>> feel extra extra grateful!
>>> 14. Place your hands on us in any public place and pray. If we gently
>>> explain that we don’t want to be prayed for, rest assured that it’s
>>> just the secular
>>> cynicism doing the talking. When our sight is miraculously restored,
>>> you’ll be the first to know.
>>> 15. Make as many potentially dangerous practical jokes as you can
>>> think of. A few good ideas include warning us of imaginary obstacles
>>> (“Watch out for
>>> that tree-just kidding!”), concealing our possessions, and encouraging
>>> us to “find” you while you run gleefully around us in circles. These
>>> were a staple
>>> of primary school, and I treasure many pleasant memories from that
>>> era. Do me a favour, and bring back the nostalgia!
>>> 16. Refer to us as “that blind person” even after you know our names.
>>> Blindness is so integral to our identities that our names are really
>>> just decorative,
>>> so there’s no need to remember or use them. If we fail to answer to
>>> “Hey, blind girl/guy!” just keep trying. We’ll learn to love it.
>>> 17. Assume that our default status is “Help!” If we reassure you that
>>> we’re okay, thanks, don’t fall for it. Insisting upon rescuing us
>>> every time we cross
>>> paths places us into a position of dependence, which is exactly where we
>>> belong.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>> (513) 607-6053
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Oagdu mailing list
>>> Oagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/oagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Oagdu:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/oagdu_nfbnet.org/angel238%40sbcglobal.net
>>> List archives:  http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/oagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Oagdu mailing list
>> Oagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/oagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Oagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/oagdu_nfbnet.org/marianne%40denningweb.com
>> List archives:  http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/oagdu_nfbnet.org
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
>
> _______________________________________________
> Oagdu mailing list
> Oagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/oagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Oagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/oagdu_nfbnet.org/angel238%40sbcglobal.net
> List archives:  http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/oagdu_nfbnet.org
>