[nagdu] Some people Do Know...

Mon Dec 12 15:34:57 UTC 2011

I think all humans ask for stuff tey are pretty sure they won't get. Hope springs eternal.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tami Kinney
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 12:02 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some people Do Know...

Nicole and Marion,

For myself, I appreciate when people ask. I start with a polite
response, always thanking them for asking. My tone will vary, depending
on their tone in asking and whether they are reaching out or in contact
with the curls before the question is out of their mouth, though. /lol/

When I do accept a greeting, I also point out to the person that a lot
of guide and service dog users do *not* allow greetings or petting while
the dog is in harness, and they generally have their reasons. The
thanking them for asking and the calm but firm information about the
subject also gives me a handle on the interaction so that I am in
control of it, not the person who asked or the dog. I'm fortunate with
Mitzi in this insanely dog-friendly town, since she can graciously
accept the distraction then get right back to work. Whew! If I I had a
dog where I absolutely had to say no every time I would get nothing
done. Given our local culture, it is more effective for my busy schedule
to take the opportunity to communicate not only with the person who
asked but with the crowds watching the cute poodle guide.

I know a lot of guide dog users who appreciate being asked, so long as
the person asking respects the answer. If I say "no," I mean no, don't
pet the dog. I try to take a firm tone then without biting the person's
head off, although I will admit at those times it can be tempting.

Honestly, one reason I keep considering switching breeds next time, to
dobie, is because those dogs are a lot like poodles in temperament and
all, only without the grooming expense, and people are not inspired to
mush over them and coo and try to touch them. /lol/ There are days when
my part in the whole social butterfly scene we play nearly everywhere we
go just gets old. I like people, and I've always enjoyed random chats
with strangers, but... Not every five steps when I'm in a hurry! /lol/

Every now and then we find ourselves in a more reserved milieu where
Mitzi gets to just do her job, and I have noticed that she seems to
appreciate this once she gets over the surprise of not being the center
of attention. The same applies to me. /lol/ Every now and then, I find
myself longing to move to someplace super unfriendly, like Vermont or
New York or something. /lol/ When I'm in a bad mood and would like to
shout cusswords at annoying people, which does not go over here, I think
New York is the place. /lol/ Here in Portland, we all just go around
smiling and chatting and everything, no matter what. Haw awful! Just
kidding. I've been told that if I ever go to someplace like New York
city, I will cause mass hysteria because I've lived so long in this
culture that I just automatically smile and say hi to everybody.
Someday, when we do New York, I will have to try it to see what happens.
/evil grin/

Tami

On 12/10/2011 09:08 AM, Nicole B. Torcolini at Home wrote:
> I am slightly surprised that the women was offended. Perhaps she was
> offended by the tone of the reply rather than the reply itself. I do not
> usually get firm/terse until someone has actually started petting. I
> have a lot of people, particularly the people I see regularly around the
> campus, ask in that way of "I know ... can I ...". My response and its
> tone depends on several factors, but rarely, if ever, have I had someone
> whom I had told no do it anyway.
>
> Nicole
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 3:01 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some people Do Know...
>
>
>> Will,
>> What is interesting about your story is the level of disrespect
>> exhibited by the employee. You had already said your dog didn't get
>> attention while on duty and he said he "knew about guide dogs";
>> however, he must have thought the "No Petting" rule only applied to
>> those who know nothing about guide dogs, huh?
>> Merry and I had a similar encounter a couple of weeks ago. We were
>> shopping in WalMart when a woman walked up to us and said, "You have
>> beautiful dogs! I know I'm not supposed to pet them, but they are just
>> so beautiful! Can I pet them?" Merry replied in a very terse tone,
>> "No! They are on duty!" Later Merry acknowledged that she was very
>> stern in her reply and the woman seemed a bit offended; however, she
>> knew better and shouldn't have asked!
>>
>> Peace!
>> Marion
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Burley"
>> <william.burley3 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 8:22 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Some people Do Know...
>>
>>
>>> Hi all.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I had a really great experience today. I went to the winery to
>>> purchase for
>>> a fundraising event I'm having tomorrow and I had my pup with me. It was
>>> really crowded there I assume because folks are preparing for the
>>> Christmas
>>> and New Year's Eve parties. I had a personal shopper helping me and
>>> he was
>>> enthralled by my pup. I casually threw in how people try and give her
>>> attention even when she's not supposed to have it. He said he knew about
>>> guide dogs and such.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Well, we are going throughout the store and a woman comes right
>>> behind us
>>> and scolds the worker because he was about to sneak a pet from the
>>> pup. She
>>> yfussed and said he's not supposed to touch the dog while it's working.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It was just nice to run across that 1 person out of many who had some
>>> knowledge and made sure somebody else had it too.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> William Burley
>>>
>>> William.burley3 at gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Follow Burley-Wilson & Associates, L.L.C.
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>>>
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>>>
>>> Skype: BurleyWilson
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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