good on your comments about blind folks, i've had a couple of blind friends, living quite independently. one was a telephone operator back when long distance had not, in my area, been automated. blind people are in other respects quite normal, as demonstrated by the blind girl who tried to seduce me, (the answer was as gentle a "no" as i could make it, it was a nice compliment but i was married already.)
Several years ago in London, I arranged to meet a "friend of a friend". She was blind from birth. I'd called her, and arranged to meet her and go back to her place for dinner. I was amazed at the way she navigated London, including a complicated Underground route, before arriving back at her place (after Dark). We went inside, and she headed off to the kitchen to start preparing the meal. I stood like an idiot at the door.
"Ummm, where's the light switch?"
She replied, "Sorry, I forgot you need the light on". I had the sneaking suspicion she considered ME as the one with the disability. I know I did.
This story reminds me of an incident 25 years ago in East London, when "they" cancelled Christmas.
It was replaced by "The Winter Festival" and - it was explained by "them" - it was because Christmas offended the growing Muslim community.
There was uproar as you would imagine BUT not from our churches! - the biggest complaint came from the Muslim organisations that eventually had our Christmas restored.
It left us all a little dazed.... who then came up with the theory that the muslims would be offended if it was not the muslims themselves?
This was at the start of ZT and PC that has all spiralled out of control nowadays. I think we need to find "THEM" and see just who is taking upon themselves to judge what is offensive and what is not.
Love the blogs!
I've encountered such people for more than 40 years now, those who rush to defend those who need no defense. I've often wondered, there should be some kind of descriptive name for such busybodies (which, itself, is too general a term).
---
The term is "paternalistic". They think the disabled need to be defended because they can't defend themselves. By their actions, they're much more demeaning to the people involved than anyone else. As we saw, blind people can take care of themselves quite well, and can write to complain all by themselves if they're offended. None were offended by my comments; I wouldn't be surprised to hear they were offended by the complainers' ridiculous condescension. -rc
As a legally blind subscriber, I fail to see what all the fuss is about in jokes about blindness.
At work, the boss once decided I needed an escort in case of emergencies in order to evacuate. I pointed out that in a power failure plunging the building into darkness, which of us would likely be better at maneuvering and in any emergency? I didn't want someone slowing me down by trying to "help"; they will just get trampled if we have to get out. If the place is on fire, *I'm* not waiting for someone else. :0
I didn't see your Stevie Wonder joke when it first ran a couple of years ago but as a totally blind premium subscriber to This is True I want to say that I didn't find it offensive. Blind people make those kinds of jokes ourselves. Although jokes can be cruel and painful and discriminatory I think one must look at the whole picture first. Your discussion of how blind people access the computer is right on track although electronic Braille displays only have one line of text rather than two or more. And you are also right that more people use speech rather than Braille because of the cost and because, unfortunately, the professionals in the field of teaching the blind tend to believe that Braille isn't necessary now that we have talking computers and digital recordings. Those of us who are blind and working in the blindness field do not agree but what do we know.
---
Thanks for the correction. -rc
The commentary reminds me of the reaction when 'a Fish Called Wanda' came out. Do-gooders rushed to condemn the depiction of stuttering as insensitive. Then, several stuttering organizations came forward to say that they felt that the characterization was done with sensitivity and an appreciation for the problems of stutterers.
For the record, I once house-sat a house in the Hollywood Hills. The house at the end of the block with a 3 sided view of the area [gorgeous view] was owned by Stevie Wonder.
I remember when you first wrote the Stevie Wonder "quote" - and thought it was great!
I have one hand (think carefully about my name...) and I have a (sic) "second hand" shop filled with (sic) "offhanded" puns. I love meeting new folks & subjecting them to the jokes. I find that it helps them relax, especially conservative managers (I am a consultant for embedded computer systems). Many folks have a hard time knowing if they are going to offend me, so I do it for them...
In fact, I know I am blind - I cannot see the hand before my face. I need new glasses because I am starting to see two hands. BTW - Finger Food is only an expression. Also - watch the Palm Pilot - I used to keep notes on my palm, but the erase function got me. If someone asks you to lend a hand, get a receipt!! When they say "Give him a hand" - I gave at the office. Real reason: My folks wanted 1.95 kids. (My mother's favorite.)
I also offer my chop saw for those who want to join the club, and my consulting fees would be, umm, half of. So far, no takers (wimps :^)
Relax folks - it's only life & nobody gets out alive. I suspect Jesus used similar humor when appropriate, but Matthew, Mark, etc chickened out writing them down. I will ask Him when I can - after all, God made me this way, so I *know* He has a sense of humor, albeit "wicked" at times. (Just look at the differences between men and women, and tell me I am wrong.)
While not blind, I am extremely nearsighted, and I can only really focus on things within 2-3 inches of my eyes without my glasses.
The US Navy spent most of a day (twice!) in the 1970's trying to get wavers to allow me to join up.
I was told eventually that I couldn't join because if the ship caught fire and the companionways filled with smoke....
If you really want to *see* the humor in blindness, check out the film "If You Could See What I Hear." (1982) about musician Tom Sullivan's college life.
My favorite line: "Oh my God! I'm color-blind too!"
The Dumb Leading the Blind - Comments
good on your comments about blind folks, i've had a couple of blind friends, living quite independently. one was a telephone operator back when long distance had not, in my area, been automated. blind people are in other respects quite normal, as demonstrated by the blind girl who tried to seduce me, (the answer was as gentle a "no" as i could make it, it was a nice compliment but i was married already.)
Posted by: "gunner", vermont | May 2, 2008 10:24 PM
Several years ago in London, I arranged to meet a "friend of a friend". She was blind from birth. I'd called her, and arranged to meet her and go back to her place for dinner. I was amazed at the way she navigated London, including a complicated Underground route, before arriving back at her place (after Dark). We went inside, and she headed off to the kitchen to start preparing the meal. I stood like an idiot at the door.
"Ummm, where's the light switch?"
She replied, "Sorry, I forgot you need the light on". I had the sneaking suspicion she considered ME as the one with the disability. I know I did.
Posted by: Graham, Australia | May 3, 2008 12:06 AM
This story reminds me of an incident 25 years ago in East London, when "they" cancelled Christmas.
It was replaced by "The Winter Festival" and - it was explained by "them" - it was because Christmas offended the growing Muslim community.
There was uproar as you would imagine BUT not from our churches! - the biggest complaint came from the Muslim organisations that eventually had our Christmas restored.
It left us all a little dazed.... who then came up with the theory that the muslims would be offended if it was not the muslims themselves?
This was at the start of ZT and PC that has all spiralled out of control nowadays. I think we need to find "THEM" and see just who is taking upon themselves to judge what is offensive and what is not.
Love the blogs!
Posted by: Sheri Smith - Spain | May 3, 2008 1:23 AM
I've encountered such people for more than 40 years now, those who rush to defend those who need no defense. I've often wondered, there should be some kind of descriptive name for such busybodies (which, itself, is too general a term).
---
The term is "paternalistic". They think the disabled need to be defended because they can't defend themselves. By their actions, they're much more demeaning to the people involved than anyone else. As we saw, blind people can take care of themselves quite well, and can write to complain all by themselves if they're offended. None were offended by my comments; I wouldn't be surprised to hear they were offended by the complainers' ridiculous condescension. -rc
Posted by: Mike from Dallas | May 4, 2008 9:14 PM
As a legally blind subscriber, I fail to see what all the fuss is about in jokes about blindness.
At work, the boss once decided I needed an escort in case of emergencies in order to evacuate. I pointed out that in a power failure plunging the building into darkness, which of us would likely be better at maneuvering and in any emergency? I didn't want someone slowing me down by trying to "help"; they will just get trampled if we have to get out. If the place is on fire, *I'm* not waiting for someone else. :0
Posted by: Jim. Los Angeles | May 5, 2008 10:32 PM
I didn't see your Stevie Wonder joke when it first ran a couple of years ago but as a totally blind premium subscriber to This is True I want to say that I didn't find it offensive. Blind people make those kinds of jokes ourselves. Although jokes can be cruel and painful and discriminatory I think one must look at the whole picture first. Your discussion of how blind people access the computer is right on track although electronic Braille displays only have one line of text rather than two or more. And you are also right that more people use speech rather than Braille because of the cost and because, unfortunately, the professionals in the field of teaching the blind tend to believe that Braille isn't necessary now that we have talking computers and digital recordings. Those of us who are blind and working in the blindness field do not agree but what do we know.
---
Thanks for the correction. -rc
Posted by: Karl, Utah | May 6, 2008 9:51 AM
The commentary reminds me of the reaction when 'a Fish Called Wanda' came out. Do-gooders rushed to condemn the depiction of stuttering as insensitive. Then, several stuttering organizations came forward to say that they felt that the characterization was done with sensitivity and an appreciation for the problems of stutterers.
For the record, I once house-sat a house in the Hollywood Hills. The house at the end of the block with a 3 sided view of the area [gorgeous view] was owned by Stevie Wonder.
Posted by: Marc, Chicago Burbs | May 6, 2008 4:26 PM
I remember when you first wrote the Stevie Wonder "quote" - and thought it was great!
I have one hand (think carefully about my name...) and I have a (sic) "second hand" shop filled with (sic) "offhanded" puns. I love meeting new folks & subjecting them to the jokes. I find that it helps them relax, especially conservative managers (I am a consultant for embedded computer systems). Many folks have a hard time knowing if they are going to offend me, so I do it for them...
In fact, I know I am blind - I cannot see the hand before my face. I need new glasses because I am starting to see two hands. BTW - Finger Food is only an expression. Also - watch the Palm Pilot - I used to keep notes on my palm, but the erase function got me. If someone asks you to lend a hand, get a receipt!! When they say "Give him a hand" - I gave at the office. Real reason: My folks wanted 1.95 kids. (My mother's favorite.)
I also offer my chop saw for those who want to join the club, and my consulting fees would be, umm, half of. So far, no takers (wimps :^)
Relax folks - it's only life & nobody gets out alive. I suspect Jesus used similar humor when appropriate, but Matthew, Mark, etc chickened out writing them down. I will ask Him when I can - after all, God made me this way, so I *know* He has a sense of humor, albeit "wicked" at times. (Just look at the differences between men and women, and tell me I am wrong.)
Posted by: bandit, Albuquerque | May 6, 2008 9:41 PM
While not blind, I am extremely nearsighted, and I can only really focus on things within 2-3 inches of my eyes without my glasses.
The US Navy spent most of a day (twice!) in the 1970's trying to get wavers to allow me to join up.
I was told eventually that I couldn't join because if the ship caught fire and the companionways filled with smoke....
If you really want to *see* the humor in blindness, check out the film "If You Could See What I Hear." (1982) about musician Tom Sullivan's college life.
My favorite line: "Oh my God! I'm color-blind too!"
Posted by: Charles, Wisconsin | May 7, 2008 7:28 AM
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.