[stylist] Canes and dogs

Tue May 10 02:44:17 UTC 2011

Hi,

This subject has always been one that has interested me.  As a cane user who has tried to be careful to defend the 
rights of persons using canes or dogs, I have always been one who has tried to understand both methods.  What I 
have found in general, though, that no serious discussion of the differences, the strengths and weaknesses of each, 
the attributes of what might make one method work for some and the other for others, can ever occur without things 
breaking down.  I did not see everything that was written in the magazine but have only seen what was written here 
so perhaps I have missed something.  However, I didn't see anything written that said that a dog should not be taken 
to a restaurant, only an interest in understanding why it might be done in the particular situation described.  I did not 
see him say that sighted guide need to be used, I interpreted him to be assuming that a cane would be used because 
it is my understanding that persons who use dogs generally know how to use a cane as well.  What I saw in his writing 
was a guy who was clearly a cane user but who wondered.  I thought he was simply saying that each was a tool and 
why wouldn't one just use whatever tool fit in the same way that those of us prefer to use straight canes might switch 
to a telescopic cane in some cases.  From my perspective, I do understand that people and dogs work as a team and 
that there are always risks when the team is not working together, and that may be the best answer that one might 
give him along with some of the others that were given here.  I can think of a few more answers that I might have 
given such as what if my plans changed.  What if after a nice dinner I decided to walk home instead of taking a cab, 
or if I was on a date, what if the opportunity arose to not return directly home.  There are simply a lot of responses and 
areas to explore without assuming that the question was raised as a die-hard intollerant cane user.  There are some of 
those who use canes, and there are even some who use dogs.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Mon, 09 May 2011 15:56:35 -0500, Brad Dunse' wrote:

>>You know I saw a Chevy in the ditch the other day, they can't even 
>>stay on the road... people just can't drive right when they drive a 
>>Chevy. Always bumping into things and stuff. Now I know if they had 
>>a Toyota... well, that just wouldn't have happened at all. I mean I 
>>drive a Toyota and never have issues running off the road or bumping 
>>into stuff. Driver's are going to get a bad reputation for 
>>running   off roads. I've told them time and time again  I'm right 
>>about this but they don't listen. We ought eliminate Chevy's before 
>>pedestrians get the wrong idea  about people behind the wheel.
>Plagerized word exchange below...

>In response to Feature Writer Alena Roberts - Deciding When to Take Your
>flip flops With You
>I would like to express my opinion on the question posed by Alena Roberts;
>namely, when to take and when not to take your flip flops. I come at this
>from a point of view which Alena may not have expected--I am a blind person
>who has always used sneakers and does not want flip flops. I have sometimes
>not understood why my flip flop using friends drag their flip flops 
>along. Here is a
>scenario which is difficult for me to understand.
>You are taking a cab to a restaurant, maybe by yourself, maybe to meet a
>friend. You will then take a cab home.
>1. You go from the door of your house to the cab.
>2. You go from the cab to the door of the restaurant, where the host or a
>waiter/waitress helps you find a table.
>3. You repeat the process in reverse, restaurant to cab, cab to home.
>You are not really doing any independent travel. Why, then, do you need your
>flip flops? It seems to me that it's a lot of trouble and hassle to 
>take flip flops on
>such an occasion, not to mention that the flip flops may be in the way at the
>table, or in the cab. Why not use your sneakers?
>I don't even understand why Ms. Roberts says she "dislikes using 
>sneakers. Sneakers are merely a tool, like a hammer or screw driver. 
>I use it when I need
>it, and I'm glad to have it. I can't even imagine wanting flip flops.

>Brad Dunse

>Inspiration is sweating over the pen...
>  then smiling at  what was written. --Anonymous

>http://www.braddunsemusic.com

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