[nabs-l] Am I the only one?Two Questions

[Jedi]

Well, the sighted sometimes cling to procedure, too. I think clinging 
to procedure is les a blindness thing and more a control freak thing. 
I'm not specifically calling anyone a control freak, but it's 
definitely evident that people who seek to have as much control in 
their lives as possible are also those who feel the most out of control 
or who feel that life is out of their control. I could see how 
blindness might make some feel this way especially since we blind are 
often taught that we have no power and/or no grasp of reality. Both are 
nonsense.

As for me, I have some vision and can tell those of you wish none that 
you're not missing as much as the sighted would have you believe. i 
think Michael May puts it best in his seeeches related to have retained 
some vision. Basically, he says that while having a little sight is a 
convenience, that's all it is. Having sight does not get one a better 
job or a better life circumstance. The only thing sight will really 
gain any of us is normalcy or the ability to be invisible because we'd 
be like everyone else for whom the world is made. This is neither good 
or bad. It just is. As for me personally, I don't have a problem being 
blind, and I don't have a problem with the possibility of losing more 
sight, nor would I have a significant problem with gaining some other 
disability. In any case, adjustment would certainly \be part of the 
process, but human beins are certainly adaptable. When I weigh the 
benefits of being a sighted person with the benefits of who I am now, I 
think I'll take the latter as it's certainly true that I'd know none of 
you had I been sighted, and no amount of visual affects will replace 
the people and relationships I would miss.

Respectfully,
Jedi


Original message:
> I'm perfectly comfortable with my blindness and would have to think long and
> hard before undergoing a procedure that could potentially restore my vision.
> That said, I am completely in favor of research and procedures to reduce
> blindness in future generations.  Even with so-called universal design I
> think we will find that technology will outpace accessibility.  Is it
> respectable to be blind?  Yes, but it's not exactly a luxury.

> Joe Orozco

> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Courtney Stover
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 6:19 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Am I the only one?Two Questions

> Gen,

> Your first question is a complicated one, and the answer will vary
> according to who in the blind community you ask.  I'm somewhat of an
> anomaly, or at least feel like one, in the sense that not only do I
> sometimes "wish" to see, but it's becoming more and more of a goal for
> me.  The research/technology for giving blind individuals at least
> some vision is progressing at an astonishing rate.  I'm actively
> seeking to be part of the movement, through applying for research
> trials.. etc. etc.

> The reasons I want to see are precisely the ones you innumerated here.
>  I know that blind people can be competent travelers and live/work
> independently.  But I want to see people dancing across a stage or the
> brilliant specail effects in a movie or.. a million things.

> As to the second question.. I, too, am overly procedurally reliant.  I
> really do believe it's a blindness thing.  We're afraid of missing
> visual clues e.g. seeing sighted students taking out their books and
> looking incompetent that we tend to follow procedures in the hope that
> we don't stand out.  Unfortunately, as I know from personal
> experience, that can have the reverse effect.  Oftentimes, you can be
> the only person with a book on your desk, which rather defeats the
> purpose.
> Hope this post answers at least some of your questions,
> Courtney

> On 3/15/10, Jen <spiderweb1 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> 1. Am I the only one who sometimes wishes he / she could see?

>> I am comfortable with my blindness and would not want to be
> sighted, but
>> still wonder and am fascinated by what things look like at times (for
>> new members, I have been blind since birth.)

>> Yesterday, I took my my to a River Dance concert for her birthday. I
>> loved the music but wanted to see the dancing that went with
> it as well.
>> It was hard to try to picture it based on the music...

>> 2. I love / cling to procedural order in life - follow all steps, and
>> nothing can or will go wrong. I also try to make rules for everything
>> that won't change so everything is in a contained "box" in my mind out
>> of which it can't escape. I also find rules comforting so I don't have
>> to think and can just do something automatically. An example of such a
>> rule is "always take out your book in class [even if the
> professor isn't
>> using it that day.] If you do this, you will always be a good student.
>> If you don't, you are a bad student."

>> I know there are no guarantees for things but still cling to the
>> procedural mind set to keep my mental boxes of rules intact. Is being
>> overly procedure-oriented a "blindism" or something with which the
>> sighted struggle as well?

>> Thanks for your input.


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