[stylist] Canes and dogs

Tue May 10 18:43:33 UTC 2011

Steve,
    I feel the tone of Mr. Hendel's comments about taking a guide dog to a 
restaurant was set by the sentence, "I have sometimes not understood why my 
dog using friends drag their dog along." He then goes on to describe a visit 
to a restaurant in which he asserts a blind person does no independent 
travel. I admit my comments were extrapolations questioning whether or not 
Mr. Hendel uses a cane under such circumstances. It could be argued that, if 
a blind person is not doing any independent traveling and, therefore, has no 
need for a guide dog, that one would not have a need for a cane either. 
After all, the question could very well be, "What need has a blind person 
for a cane, since there is no independent travel?"
    I would also like to categorically state that I do not believe that a 
guide dog or a cane is the best told for independent travel, just as I would 
not assert that a hammer, screwdriver, plumb, level, saw, or any other tool 
of the carpentry trade is better. It depends upon the job for which the tool 
will be used. I have used a hammer on a screw and a screwdriver on a nail; 
however, the proper tool for the needed application would have worked better 
if I had it at my disposal.
    Although I missed the article that triggered Mr. Hendel's comments, it 
seemed to loathe the use of the white cane. I am not a guide dog user with 
such loathing. In fact, as I mentioned in my rebuttal earlier, I am as 
proficient with my white cane as I am with my guide dog. Furthermore, I am a 
strong advocate for maintaining such proficiency in order to maintain 
independence in a variety of circumstances.
    For instance, as a professional musician I am frequently asked to 
perform at private parties at people's homes. I will not, under any 
circumstances, ask a customer if it is okay for me to bring my guide dog. I 
know full well that, if I should ask, I may not get an honest answer. All 
too many people might feel as if it were disrespectful to say, "No!" to such 
a request, even though that is their desire. those who know me well enough 
to know that I am a guide dog user will let me know that it is alright; 
however, if they do not, I will not inquire. The same is true when I am 
invited to someone's home for other reasons. I am not one who asserts, "If 
they don't want my dog, they don't want me!" I think such assertions are 
ludicrous!In such circumstances, I need to be independent and that means 
using my cane.
    There are many other reasons I will opt for my white cane rather than my 
guide dog. I live in Florida and when the weather is nice, it is very nice. 
When it is not, though, it can be awful! I might need to go out when it is 
raining, but a wet dog is not pleasant, so I will leave him home and take my 
cane. I also enjoy concerts and many venues do not have adequate room for a 
100-pound dog, not to mention that many concert-goers tend to like to imbibe 
for the experience. Such a large, intoxicated crowd isn't the best for my 
dog! Then there are those times - like those of us who are parents know - 
that we just don't want the hassle of dealing with kids or dogs!
    There is so much more I could say on the subject line, but suffice it to 
say that I am not an absolutistic thinker when it comes to the subject. As 
my response to maid Ziegler said, I have had a dog in my life since I was 
four years old. I like dogs. I even have a dog for my dog! (grin) If I'm 
going to have a dog, why not have a guide dog? On the other hand, I have 
blind friends who do not like dogs and, therefore, would not consider a 
guide dog. I don't understand why people don't like dog, but I don't think 
they are bad people because they don't! I like beer; my wife likes rum! 
Well, I like rum, too, but know my wife won't drink my beer! It's all a 
matter of choice and preference!
    I am open to discussing more about the issue of guide dogs and white 
canes. I will never proclaim one is better than the other, though, so it 
will never be "guide dog vs. cane"! Now, let's have a beer....or some rum!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 10:44 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Canes and dogs


> 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
>
>>http://www.facebook.com/braddunse
>
>>http://www.twitter.com/braddunse
>
>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Writers Division web site:
>>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
>>stylist mailing list
>>stylist at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>stylist:
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/steve.jacobson%40visi.com
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/marion.gwizdala%40verizon.net