[stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Sat Feb 9 21:42:07 UTC 2013

Lynda,
It's weird that she would be like that in front of the other people in the
shop. You'd think she'd want to be seen in a more positive light. I think we
get these expectations of people because we think they'd know better or
they're in similar situations, and then we find out they may be worse than
those who have no reason to know how to act. I don't know, I just wish you'd
said Hi to her. I think that would have thrown her for a loop! What, you
thought I wanted you to do that out of kindness or politeness? No, it can be
a real wake up call and make people feel like crap. Talk about smug! *grin*
Donna 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 4:08 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Donna, I was asked to join the knitting group after I lost my sight so she
knows quite well I cannot see who she is. My friend who is a physical
therapist takes me to the knitting meetings. This was disappointing to me. 
I felt as though out in public she did not want to acknowledge she even knew
me. BTW, she has an adult autistic son! And, she works in a government
office that trains low income people for jobs. I think that is what really
stings - she is not a person who is unfamiliar with people who have
disabilities. I think it was smug! Hey, I have not heard or used that word
in my distant memory - smug!  What a nasty word that is! It felt like I was
swearing as I wrote it. lol

Lynda

----- Original Message -----
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

> Lynda,
> They deserve that little tap. On the other hand, you knew that woman; she
> could just as easily say that you ignored her. I'm sure that wasn't what 
> was
> actually going on, but just as an idea, why don't you consider saying
> something next time? It could be as inocent as, "Hi, you're Peg from
> knitting aren't you?" Some people are extremely uncomfortable about 
> talking
> to blind people. She might think you would probably start crying all over
> the place about how you miss knitting so much and wish you could still do
> it. She has prejudices that are not going to help either her or her loved
> ones should any of them lose their sight.
> Donna
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda 
> Lambert
> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 10:02 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
>
> Yes, Bridgit, I had just responded to this topic before I read your note
> here. I spoke of my husband's inability to spell - which he would not
> appreciate me talking about, I am sure. We will be  married 52 years in
> April,; I guess he would not be surprised that I said this about him.
>
> Yes, I also have retained my visual way of doing things but have had to
> adapt to make it work because I have to do most things non-visually these
> days. I am on the Krafters-Korner NFB list and have received many good 
> tops
> there to help me re-learn how to do things I used to do. That group has 
> been
> wonderful in helping each other through challenges we have in doing things
> non-visually.
>
> I have never been blind in my dreams - and I dream constantly. I am never
> blind in my own consciousness unless I am faced with an uncomfortable or
> frightening situation and then I find that I become very blind at times.
> Mostly that happens when I am out and come upon someone who knows me well,
> and they do not know that I can tell they are there - and they choose to 
> be
> silent and not even acknowlege I am there. This happened yesterday at the
> beauty shop.  I was aware that a woman came into the shop as she passed by
> me. I had a feeling I might know her because my hairdresser called her
> "Peg." That is an unusual name, and I have only known about two Pegs or
> Peggy's in my life. So I was alert, wondering if this was one that I know.
> Shortly, she was seated in the waiting area and I came in there to get my
> purse to pay for my services. I was only 3 feet from her, and she was 
> facing
> me. I see shadows, but no details, so I could tell the person was looking
> directly at me. Absolute quiet! Not a hint that she knew me.  As I had 
> been
> listening to her for awhile, I recognized her voice as she spoke with
> others. It was definitely a lady from my knitting group who has known me 
> for
> a couple of years. I have sat with her in small groups of knitters at
> different homes. I have been in her home on several occasions. Yet, when 
> she
> ran into me at the hair dressers, she chose to be quiet and wait it out -
> not in any way indicating we knew each other. My husband arrived, and as 
> we
> drove home I told him what has just happened to me. This is the kind of
> thing I mean, when I say at times I feel very blind. This is the kind of
> encounter only a blind person would have - because she has no idea I can
> tell who she is, so she chose to ignore me.
>
> My daughters and grand daughters often tell me how people will stare at me
> because they see me walking with a long white cane. It amazes them how a
> perfect stranger will stand beside me in line at a restaurant and actually
> turn around and be looking directly at me because they think I cannot see
> them. But, I can tell they are doing it. It is times like this when I
> "accidently" hit them with my cane as I walk by.
>
>
> Lynda
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
> To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 3:29 AM
> Subject: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
>
>
>> Lynda,
>>
>> I agree with you on this topic. Despite my blindness, I'm a very visual
>> person. I lost my sight nine years ago, but I continue to be an
>> extremely visual person.
>>
>> I have learned Braille though, and studies have shown that when learning
>> Braille, even when not able to see at all, the brain is using its visual
>> aspect.
>>
>> Each Braille character represents a letter in the alphabet and the exact
>> punctuation as print. Essentially it's a tactile form of print. People
>> assume it's paramount to a foreign language, but Braille is the exact
>> same language using the same rules for grammar, punctuation and
>> spelling, just in a tactile form. Various languages have their version
>> of Braille since many languages have nuances.
>>
>> I too have wondered how people who have never been able to see visualize
>> things. I once asked a friend if he "saw" his dreams, and he said he
>> dreams with his other senses, which is very interesting.
>>
>> I also met a fellow Federationist who is totally blind and always been,
>> and she was an art major at one of the big universities in Texas. Of
>> course there are blind medical doctors and engineers along with others
>> working in what would seem like very visual fields, and this doesn't
>> cover all the interests and hobbies like crafts, cars and athletics.
>>
>> I think more and more blind people are facing challenges, and instead of
>> thinking about limitations, they are figuring out how to hurdle that
>> obstacle.
>>
>> I do agree that I've met several blind people who misspell words
>> frequently, but I don't know if this is due to an inability to spell, if
>> they were not taught correctly or if they just don't edit before sending
>> material. I think a lot of people have this problem, blind and sighted.
>> JAWS is great for this because you actually hear the word, that is if
>> you take time to read through what you wrote, grin. But yes, I think
>> people who only know Braille can find difficulties when switching to
>> print on a keyboard. Many choose to use a Braille display and/or Braille
>> keyboard. I' not saying all Braille users are like this, but I have met
>> many who are.
>>
>> Ultimately, these things are most likely unique to individuals and not
>> necessarily a result of a disability. If you can't spell when blind,
>> chances are good you couldn't spell if sighted, smile.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, editor, Slate & Style
>> Read my blog at:
>> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>>
>> "If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can
>> satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for
>> another world."
>> C. S. Lewis
>>
>>
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2013 13:02:00 -0500
>> From: "Lynda Lambert" <llambert at zoominternet.net>
>> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Quote to ponder - taken to another level
>> Message-ID: <D52994C7F7964817A957168910B552B3 at Lambert>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>> reply-type=original
>>
>> This is a really good question, Robert.
>> I have noticed that so many blind people spell things so wonky, and
>> maybe
>> this is why. I always wonder is spelling is  really taught and learned
>> visually. I really have no experience with any of the discussion on
>> Braille
>> because I do not use it - I do everything with electronics and some
>> things
>> with a CCTV.   I have only had sight loss for 5 years, so I really have
>> no
>> idea how blind children learn things like spelling, grammar, formatting,
>> and
>> punctuation. To me, they are all visual, and it is very hard for me to
>> understand it any other way - well, I really don't understand it any
>> other
>> way. When I am reading (listening to a voice on a machine) I am still
>> listening visually. I see it in my mind, and if I cannot see it that
>> way,
>> it's confusing to me.  Auditory skills  would rate very low  for me.
>> Everyone has strength in certain skills and ways of learning - and I am
>> a
>> Visual learner above all else. That did not change - I still have to be
>> able
>> to SEE it to remember it - I have to stop and SEE a picture in my mind
>> before it sticks with me.
>> Writing and reading, for me, has always been a visual experience.  This
>> makes me wonder, can a person who has always been blind be a Visual
>> learner?
>> And, then, I wonder, how does a blind person visualize things?  These
>> are
>> some things I am thinking about and working with a blind painter friend
>> to
>> put together an exhibition on how people  see and visualize.
>>
>>
>>
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