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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2017 - 02 - 01 - ID#5rffb2
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Can blind people enjoy ___? How? (self.Blind)
submitted by questions4theblind
Would a blind person still be able to enjoy these things? How would you explain it.

* Skydiving
* Strip Clubs
* Collectables (toys, statues, etc.) - This one is the one I'm most curious about.
* Stage Performances (specifically dance performances or even theatre/acting)
* Dating (specifically online dating/tinder/etc.)

Thanks in advance
WhatWouldVaderDo 3 points 6y ago
Skydiving is easy, seeing is only one part of the experience. The feeling of freefall, the wind, the adrenalin, etc.


For collectables, being unable to see them may not diminish their value. They could be talking points, decoration, multimodal sensory experiences, etc. Even things that are visual, such as a painting, may be enjoyable. For example, I'm completely blind, and I have several posters in my bedroom. I put them up because they reflect my personality or likes in some way; their simple presence makes my environment more comfortable. I've also put up pictures for the same reason in my Livingroom.


Stage performances can likewise be enjoyed. Even when things get visual, there is sometimes descriptive narration, which is a wireless earpiece that some venues provide with a narrator speaking any salient visual information (facial expressions, description of props, etc.).


Online dating mostly works, for example profile driven sites such as OkCupid. Tinder in my experience isn't as useful, since it is picture driven.
PhotoJim99 3 points 6y ago
I have a blind friend that collects Morse code keys, so yes, blind people can collect.

Skydiving is a multi-sensory experience so as long as the blind person had someone to dive with, to control the landing (hard to see the ground without eyesight), why not?

Strip clubs, well, if touching is allowed, sure, but the visual stuff is obviously not of any interest.
questions4theblind [OP] 3 points 6y ago
Thanks very much for the answer. In regards to the collecting, how would a blind person respond if for example someone asks why they pay for expensive statues if they can't even see it?
PhotoJim99 2 points 6y ago
Blind people aren't going to collect anything that doesn't interest them, unless it's for economic reasons. People tend to collect things that interest them.

For a blind person (and speaking as a sighted person, though one who knows a blind person very well), blind people are going to be attracted to physical form that can be perceived by touching, as well as function. Visual attractiveness will do nothing for a blind person (unless the person has some sight and can actually see the beauty). On the other hand, textures that might matter little to most sighted people might be very interesting to blind people, since they relate to the world through touch so much. How the object sounds as you use it might be a part of the experience as well.

I don't think sculpture would be off the table - sculpture can be touched. But blind people probably wouldn't care much for paintings, unless they were trying to buy them for monetary gain later.

As an example of this, I have a nice skeleton watch that looks amazing, but my blind friend is far more interested in my $25 Soviet Raketa watch, even though it's very plain-looking, because she thinks the sound of the movement is more interesting.
djentlefish 2 points 6y ago
Recently blind guy's perspective here:
1. Skydiving: Soon after losing my sight I have done an indoor skydiving experience which was awesome. Sight would add to the experience of a real dive but it is still seriously intense.
2. Strip Clubs: Never been to wone so it would depend on the level of tactile / verbal interaction. If motorboating was allowed, I'd be a happy customer.
3. Collectables / toys: Sure, if i had an interest in the thing itself. As a formerly sighted person I have been tempted to get some toys/ figurines e.g asoiaf memorabilia, warhammer, etc yet I do have visual memory of these things. Also, I play guitar and currently own 5 and can see mayself collecting once I have a more steady income.
4. Stage, dance, etc: Not really my thing but I know many VI stage and dance enthusiasts which go to shows often. Audio description helps.
5. Personally not as I'm still adjusting to living as an almost totally blind man but have known good and bad experiences with online dating. In person, I am quite social and have hooked up with random people since severe sight loss.
0xdeadf001 2 points 6y ago
Yes, blind people date, including OkCupid, Tinder, etc. It's that simple.
questions4theblind [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thanks for the answers everyone.
KillerLag 1 points 6y ago
I've known a few people who are totally blind that have some interesting collections. One of my clients used to curate an art gallery, and had a few original paints from the group of Seven. I have another friend who is totally blind who collects board games. Not only an avid collector, but player as well, and adapts a lot of games so he can play.
GuideDogAndHisQueer 1 points 6y ago
I date on the gay sites.
ravenshadow2013 1 points 6y ago
im not completely blind but i have collected coffee cups my entire life as far as shows and clubs i sit a little closer in the theater and the girls kinda like the fact that i cant see real well i dont do any of that online stuff except facebook and reddit
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