Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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I'm so tired of ignorant sighted folk 😠 (self.Blind)
submitted by HDMILex
Today I was walking in a shopping center, hanging out and minding my own business when a sighted person asked if I needed assistance getting somewhere. I accepted, and while she was taking me she was making comments on how I'm "so brave for going out on my own" and "why don't you have one of those dogs to take you around anywhere"? I respectfully told her that not all blind people use guide dogs and my personal preference was using a cane, and she goes on about how the dog can take care of me etc etc etc.
Second incident was when I was walking back home, and this person comes up behind me, tells me I'm not by the wall (duh, I know) and proceeds to grab my cane and pull it towards the wall like he's trying to guide me with it (without permission, of course). So I told him to leave me alone, whacked him across the shins and walked off.
Some people are either rude or just plane ignorant. Like who grabs somebody's cane without even asking, expecting to help someone this way?
I'm tired of sympathy. I'm tired of being treated like I'm so fucking different to everybody else because I'm blind. I'm tired of being told by ignorant people who have no clue about blindness that I "need to have something because I can't do something myself".
tl;dr: ignorant scumbags crossed my path, so I'm ranting on a subreddit full of blind people lol
Second incident was when I was walking back home, and this person comes up behind me, tells me I'm not by the wall (duh, I know) and proceeds to grab my cane and pull it towards the wall like he's trying to guide me with it (without permission, of course). So I told him to leave me alone, whacked him across the shins and walked off.
Some people are either rude or just plane ignorant. Like who grabs somebody's cane without even asking, expecting to help someone this way?
I'm tired of sympathy. I'm tired of being treated like I'm so fucking different to everybody else because I'm blind. I'm tired of being told by ignorant people who have no clue about blindness that I "need to have something because I can't do something myself".
tl;dr: ignorant scumbags crossed my path, so I'm ranting on a subreddit full of blind people lol
pokersnek 26 points 4y ago
O&M specialist here.
I think that people have the need to feel helpful. They might get some sort of feel good self-praise from “helping” you. Unfortunately, the general public is grossly misinformed. They get wild ideas about blindness from the media. It boils down to two theories: either you are helpless or you have super powers. Since you’re not fighting crime, you must be helpless. It sucks, but the only way to combat these perspectives is education. And , unfortunately, you have to be the one to educate them.
Here’s a tip. It’s an O&M move called the Hines Break. It’s the second thing I teach new students, after sighted guide. If someone grabs you (or their cane), your first move is to grab their hand. Then, you’re in control. You can choose to reposition yourself to let the person guide you, or you can decline their help.
I know it’s not much. I try to inform the public as much as I can, but I’m only one person. Hell, my family doesn’t even believe me half the time, and I went to school for this.
I think that people have the need to feel helpful. They might get some sort of feel good self-praise from “helping” you. Unfortunately, the general public is grossly misinformed. They get wild ideas about blindness from the media. It boils down to two theories: either you are helpless or you have super powers. Since you’re not fighting crime, you must be helpless. It sucks, but the only way to combat these perspectives is education. And , unfortunately, you have to be the one to educate them.
Here’s a tip. It’s an O&M move called the Hines Break. It’s the second thing I teach new students, after sighted guide. If someone grabs you (or their cane), your first move is to grab their hand. Then, you’re in control. You can choose to reposition yourself to let the person guide you, or you can decline their help.
I know it’s not much. I try to inform the public as much as I can, but I’m only one person. Hell, my family doesn’t even believe me half the time, and I went to school for this.
mirhagk 7 points 4y ago
You're absolutely right and it just comes down to exposure. Most people aren't exposed to it so they just assume the worst.
I appreciate a lot of people's patience with sighted people in answering questions. Being open to answering questions leads to people becoming educated and not just assuming.
I appreciate a lot of people's patience with sighted people in answering questions. Being open to answering questions leads to people becoming educated and not just assuming.
So_Motarded 3 points 4y ago
People will often value their need to feel helpful above a stranger's comfort. I've been made to feel special, or different, or "inspirational" for unrelated reasons, when I haven't done anything other than belong to an unusual demographic for my hobbies.
Whenever that happens, I have to remind myself that they're not doing it to make me feel different; they're doing it to feel satisfied with themselves.
Whenever that happens, I have to remind myself that they're not doing it to make me feel different; they're doing it to feel satisfied with themselves.
WittiePenguin 2 points 4y ago
So much this, it sucks sometimes always having to constantly educate but nost people mean well and are eager to learn.
retrolental_morose 16 points 4y ago
I've sort of built my career around my blindness, so I don't often feel that I can explode at people.
But hell sometimes I wanna... ,
My pet theory about sighted people is that they are afraid. They see a blind person, think "shit, I couldn't do that with my eyes closed" and shovel all that emotive stress out in the form of a cane-grab, a gush about bravery etc.
But hell sometimes I wanna... ,
My pet theory about sighted people is that they are afraid. They see a blind person, think "shit, I couldn't do that with my eyes closed" and shovel all that emotive stress out in the form of a cane-grab, a gush about bravery etc.
Nighthawk321 11 points 4y ago
Both of your reactions were perfectly justified. I don't like it when people do that either. I was in the airport and I had a guy grab my dog's harness handle and try to pull me along. I had a few choice words to say to him. People are just ignorant man, plane and simple. TBH, it's part of the reason why I made my Youtube channel, to hopefully educate a fraction of the people who do things like that.
King_of_the_Dot 2 points 4y ago
Link?
Nighthawk321 2 points 4y ago
https://www.youtube.com/RossMinor
dankswed 6 points 4y ago
I can't believe someone grabbed your fucking cane. Straight up, that's fucking rude as _hell_.
singwhatyoucantsay 5 points 4y ago
I once had someone tell me I was inspirational when I was just standing in the lunch line at school.
I have some vision, and it irritates me even more when people ask ne if I'll ever be able to drive, just because I hace sight in one eye.
I have some vision, and it irritates me even more when people ask ne if I'll ever be able to drive, just because I hace sight in one eye.
Myntrith 4 points 4y ago
I'm sighted, and I'm offended! (I mean, I'm offended on your behalf, but still. Seriously, who grabs someone's cane?!?!?!?)
Cattus_deam 3 points 4y ago
Late here but my husband laughed at the shin whack. He says he'd like to do that himself sometimes.
Anianna 3 points 4y ago
On behalf of sighted individuals who aren't quite that ignorant but may still lack a full understanding, I'm so sorry that happened to you, particularly the guy grabbing your cane. I think some people have no concept of their actions. I'm female with no apparent disabilities and have experienced other people grabbing my arm or pushing my back to guide me somewhere. One man who did this had a particular habit of doing it to everybody and, at one point, I angrily told him "I am not a piece of luggage to be dragged about" and I could just see the light bulb come on in his head. He made a concerted effort after that to not just drag people around. It just boggles my mind that some people have no concept of personal space and keeping their hands to theselves. I think you really have to tell people like that that what they're doing is not helpful and just plain rude.
GreenKreature 2 points 4y ago
Sighted person here... I feel you on this. I see other sighted or other people try to help people of all types of disabilities and it almost never works out. I myself never step in because I feel like if they are in the middle of downtown by themselves getting around then they obviously are fully capable. The couples times I have said something is when I could clearly tell by the street intersection situation or environment that there was an issue. Anyway... I think it's totally cool for you to put people in their place. Maybe not be too shitty about it but, people literally don't know what to do and most people really want to be helpful in their heart AND way too many people over steps their bounds in many different ways. Those same people that are asking why you don't have a dog are the same people who ask single people why they aren't married or other bullshit questions like that. :)
dysconfigurated 1 points 4y ago
I’d be careful with the whacking but I completely understand the frustration.
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