Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
8
↓
Was so excited. (self.Blind)
submitted by my-kitties-are-life
I couldn’t wait to get a call for be my eyes (which is an app to help the blind) but I was told that not many get many calls because there’s more helpers then there are blind, anyway got the call but I had to go into a private room because of my sibling, only I was to late when I finally did answer.
[deleted] 13 points 2y ago
[deleted]
ThisBlindChickReads 6 points 2y ago
I am sorry you had to experience that ... Some people are just awful.
Yeah, I read the adds for these apps but inviting strangers into my home or life scares the sh!t out of me for this reason. After reading your experience, and others', I won't use these until they can have some sort of background check or something. I would rather frustration caused by my vision loss than to invite yet another awful person in to take advantage.
I feel for those that sign up to help for the right reasons ... In theory this is an amazing service, but it takes just one creep to ruin a good thing.
Yeah, I read the adds for these apps but inviting strangers into my home or life scares the sh!t out of me for this reason. After reading your experience, and others', I won't use these until they can have some sort of background check or something. I would rather frustration caused by my vision loss than to invite yet another awful person in to take advantage.
I feel for those that sign up to help for the right reasons ... In theory this is an amazing service, but it takes just one creep to ruin a good thing.
[deleted] 3 points 2y ago
[deleted]
ThisBlindChickReads 3 points 2y ago
Thank you for the info ... Its definitely good to know. Guess I did jump to a conclusion to quickly. Honestly thanks
TwoSunsRise 5 points 2y ago
Wow. Hopefully you reported them!
my-kitties-are-life [OP] 5 points 2y ago
What? That’s terrible I love helping people and animals once I heard about this app I was so quick to download it hey if you ever do need help feel free to call me do you have any social media’s or something?
You don’t have to tell me lol I’m just offering.
You don’t have to tell me lol I’m just offering.
princesspooball 4 points 2y ago
There is another app called Be Specular. It doesn't seem as popular as Be My Eyes but I like it better because i can type out a message instead of speaking and stammering. I never got to help someone with Be My Eyes but I got a few with Be Specular.
Wild-King 1 points 2y ago
Hey, I have BeSpecular (as a sighted helper). Only problem is that quite often the requests don't really specify how much detail they would like. Sometimes it's packaging and I don't know if they really want almost everything that's written or just the big things, and I don't want to be useless and not give them what they're looking for but I also don't want them to have to sit through an unnecessarily long transcription. Sometimes it's something like a family photo they just took and they probably know most of what I describe and likely don't need it, and I could be super descriptive with the background but it's probably unnecessary to that degree. I want to be helpful but don't want to be annoying.
With Be My Eyes you're talking directly to them so you can get feedback and specification. Anyway, I've had two or three missed calls - either someone else picks up in the second it takes to even look at my phone, or I wasn't in private and took too long to go into a room/there wasn't anywhere for me to go. But there are so many volunteers (and the calls get sent to many at the same time) that someone always answers within seconds. I had a successful call and it was all good, except there wasn't any indication of language of the caller so I answered in the wrong language and took a few seconds to realize and switch from English, so I felt bad stumbling at first.
With Be My Eyes you're talking directly to them so you can get feedback and specification. Anyway, I've had two or three missed calls - either someone else picks up in the second it takes to even look at my phone, or I wasn't in private and took too long to go into a room/there wasn't anywhere for me to go. But there are so many volunteers (and the calls get sent to many at the same time) that someone always answers within seconds. I had a successful call and it was all good, except there wasn't any indication of language of the caller so I answered in the wrong language and took a few seconds to realize and switch from English, so I felt bad stumbling at first.
retrolental_morose 1 points 2y ago
as a totally blind person I love BeSpecular. Of course I'm also quite independent so don't use it very much, but I'd certainly want to support people to keep it running for the times I use it I have no alternative and it's epic.
my-kitties-are-life [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I tried downloading it but it told me I couldn’t join yet
siriuslylupin6 2 points 2y ago
Similar here.
siriuslylupin6 2 points 2y ago
Used it once to find the correct title.yes I could have used a scanner. But meh.
The lady was a businesswoman, and very proper and boring. Asked if that was it formally and ended the call. Not very chatty. Sincerely nice person but not super friendly or chatty more to the point and businesslike.
The lady was a businesswoman, and very proper and boring. Asked if that was it formally and ended the call. Not very chatty. Sincerely nice person but not super friendly or chatty more to the point and businesslike.
my-kitties-are-life [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I don’t like businessy people I have adhd im all over the place I prefer people like that they are more fun to talk to I think tho some people prefer that business stuff it’s easier idk where I’m going with this but yeah have a good day
siriuslylupin6 2 points 2y ago
I see interesting for sure some do and some don’t I was okay with it I just thought it was overly formal and proper
Superfreq2 2 points 2y ago
Once again this is why I really think Be My Eyes should do a full purge of volunteers with ample warning, then make everyone go through a tutorial and simple comprehension test before being allowed back in. A new user flag might be nice too, so that blind people who are willing/able to do some educating can toggle calls to those folks in settings.
We have soooo many well meaning but completely incapable volunteers on that app that I hardly even bother with it any more. I don't have 15 minutes to keep calling and find someone who's somewhat experienced or can be communicated with effectively while trying to use an ATM because my card didn't work at the restaurant. Nor is it fair that so many people who sign up for the app and might be a real asset get sidelined by the incredible number of other volunteers.
Yet Be My Eyes doesn't seem like they want to change, even bragging about the volunteer to VI ratio as if that's a selling point when probably 70% of those volunteers either won't pick up or don't know how any of this works when they do.
We have soooo many well meaning but completely incapable volunteers on that app that I hardly even bother with it any more. I don't have 15 minutes to keep calling and find someone who's somewhat experienced or can be communicated with effectively while trying to use an ATM because my card didn't work at the restaurant. Nor is it fair that so many people who sign up for the app and might be a real asset get sidelined by the incredible number of other volunteers.
Yet Be My Eyes doesn't seem like they want to change, even bragging about the volunteer to VI ratio as if that's a selling point when probably 70% of those volunteers either won't pick up or don't know how any of this works when they do.
my-kitties-are-life [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Your right it is wrong I’d just been having it pretty rough and want to help people it hurt when I couldn’t
siwy4don 2 points 2y ago
I used it once to ask someone if my trausers were clean and the guy was really cool and that was a pleasant experiance for me.
EndlessReverberation 2 points 2y ago
I'm very sorry about your experience. As a blind person I appreciate your eagerness. By the way, I love your user name, and so does my kitty.
my-kitties-are-life [OP] 0 points 2y ago
Thank you lol my username there I had to take almost a half hour trying to find it lol then my cats walked by lol and well I have adhd and well know what it’s like to go with out help and so now I’m always trying to do whatever it is a can to help others I even volunteer at an animal shelter to help some who can’t ask for help.
Also if you want my snap it’s kristen_cloney my insta is author_mythical_ hehe lol
Also if you want my snap it’s kristen_cloney my insta is author_mythical_ hehe lol
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.