Vision

[SamIam]

I am legaly blind without my glasses or contacts, so I already have a pretty good idea of how bad life would suck if I was blind. I have to be very careful to put my glasses on the same spot on the nightstand before I go to sleep. Once my cats knocked my glasses off the nightstand and I spent a panicky half hour groping around for them on the floor. I have nightmares where I find myself trying to drive on a busy street without my glasses. If I take my glasses off and sit for a while in a room full of people, I become very anxious . You are welcome to have my natural vision for a week. But, I think your idea is crazy.

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by SamIam

I am legaly blind without my glasses or contacts, so I already have a pretty good idea of how bad life would suck if I was blind. I have to be very careful to put my glasses on the same spot on the nightstand before I go to sleep. Once my cats knocked my glasses off the nightstand and I spent a panicky half hour groping around for them on the floor. I have nightmares where I find myself trying to drive on a busy street without my glasses. If I take my glasses off and sit for a while in a room full of people, I become very anxious . You are welcome to have my natural vision for a week. But, I think your idea is crazy.

I so totally know what you mean! About that panicky feeling while searching for your glasses. Also, if I would take my glasses off while someone was talking to me, I had a harder time registering what they were saying.

Even though my vision is still not good since my lasik surgery, that, thankfully, is in the past.

[limey]

I think what I'd have most trouble with, mentally, are the things you can't plan for - the unexpected sight of a rainbow, or an animal doing something cute or remarkable, or a happy accidental juxtaposition of colour, or idea, or anything. The good surprises that being sighted can bring.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I do personally know two blind people. It's a reality that they can't go out and do everything they'd like to do on their own, and they are quite aware of it. They're both happy people who are living fulfilling lives... but they do it with the help of others, and recognizing that there are things in life unavailable to them. They do not do their own grocery shopping, for example. So part of the "blind experience" in that case would be sitting at home waiting for your groceries to be delivered like they do, not wandering the store aisles attempting to learn the canned goods by touch.



Ah. Part of my reaction stems from the locale I pictured you living in. Around here, there is not a square, restaurant, movie theatre, or bar within walking distance. If the things listed above are the only things you imagined doing, then I'd say your daily activities are already fairly minimized, so maybe this would provide you with a valid comparison to your normal life after all.

I'm sorry I came off as rude as I did. I just find it... self-serving, I guess, to emulate someone's very real disability as some kind of thought experiment. It's like that program high school kids sometimes do where they pretend to be homeless for a night so they can understand what it's really like to live on the streets--except they don't really, because in the morning Mommy comes and gets them and they go home and take a shower. I think it would be far more enlightening, and a far better use of your time, to find yourself a real blind person, and learn what their life is like by helping them with the things they struggle with.

Open. Your. Mind. How boring it must be inside your head. Unless, of course, you are as easily amused as it sounds like you might be.

And for the record, the only thing you said that I found 'rude', was calling the idea in general 'retarded'. Well, the "you must not have a job" thing kinda rubbed my fur the wrong way. But, that's because it's kinda beyond my control, and I'm a little sensitive about it. At least I'm not sitting around like a lump on a log.

Oh, and I lived on the street for a good long while. And I sure as fucking hell didn't get up in the morning to be picked by mommy and go home and take a shower.

Seems I'm already learning things from this project, and I ain't even started it yet.

ETA: Did you really expect me to list and itemize every single thing I was going to try to do. The whole idea is to just try do things. I don't give a fig how blind people live day to day. I'm going to do this in order to better appreciate MY GIFT, not THEIR HANDICAP.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Open. Your. Mind.
I don't give a fig how blind people live day to day. I'm going to do this in order to better appreciate MY GIFT, not THEIR HANDICAP.

Gah! Some people don't see it that way. I don't like your verbiage.

That being said, I wholeheartedly endorse your idea and efforts. I think this would be a very interesting and informative exercise if done properly. Length of time . . .Couple days and take it from there.
PLEASE do not let a few perceived closed minds or negative comments deter you from posting here about it though. There are definitely posters who are looking forward to your feedback.

Good luck!

[Gravdigr]

I'm gonna try everyone of those!

[Shawnee123]

Good post, clod.

I interviewed a blind man in town for an access cable show, some years ago. It was interesting to hear of his challenges. He's well known around town.

I learned, among other things, to leave assistance dogs alone, no matter how cute they may be. Though I'm sure I wasn't dumb enough before that to be all like "nice doggy, here buddy" I didn't realize how important it is that the dog is working, and it's not the time to play.

[skysidhe]

@ gravdigr

Having worked with blind people I applaud your wanting to understand. I've wondered how it would be too.
Just the other day in fact I was in the shower and having soap in my eyes was trying to adjust the water temperature and wondered how blind people feel showering in the dark.

.....but I have had other more extreme experiments in blindness. At the beginning of the school year the staff went through empathy training classes. We were blindfolded and ''LED''
(sighted guide) to a starting point then told where the dish cart was ect. We were served a meal without being told what it was or given any information about fork and knife placement or have that placement be wrong. This is not a pleasant experience.

If I may I would suggest just starting from your home and NOT go outside without a guide. Blind people do and the techniques you can find here.

http://brailleinstitute.org/docs/Sig...Techniques.pdf


Since blind people do not explore unknown areas on their own. I suggest doing like pico said. Get to know one room and map out everythings placement by the number of steps. Once you are ready enter the room and place your back against the wall inside the door. Count the steps to a particular destination with your arms outstretched.
Then have your wife serve you dinner blindfolded., Make your bed, do the dishes ect. Of course you have your own ideas I'm sure.

Sounds like a fun challenge! good luck!

[Gravdigr]

Skysidhe, thanks for your input, and for not slapping me in the face like most everyone else here. Almost everyone seems to think I'm too stupid to walk upright without dragging my knuckles on the ground. With my eyes open.

As far as orientation goes, I've tried and can do just about everything inside my own home without the benefit of vision. I can find just about everything without stumbling, bumbling, or fumbling. Wash dishes, check. Change bedlinens, check.

I'll probably let this subject die, on the Cellar, anyway. I will go through with my experiment (at some point), but I probably won't discuss it any further. Seems most dwellars that responded, were only interested in bringing me down and telling me how dumb I am for it. I'm depressed enough, don't respond well to malicious criticism for criticism's sake. Plus, I just don't need it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Almost everyone seems to think I'm too stupid to walk upright without dragging my knuckles on the ground.

I think that's a function of arm length, rather than intelligence.

I'm wondering why you chose a week? (Yeah, I'm weird) A day or two should give you the experience of basic functioning/maneuvering around the house and the immediate neighborhood. Of course it would take a year to experience the problems of weather, seasons, holidays, and that sort of thing.

Hopefully your wife is cool with this... and not planning to bump you off. "Gosh officer, he was doing this blind experience thing, and stepped in front of my car.. four times."

[Spexxvet]

Grav, I wouldn't mess with my eyes, if I were you. Just appreciate that you have vision, and have fun for a week.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

I'll probably let this subject die, on the Cellar, anyway. I will go through with my experiment (at some point), but I probably won't discuss it any further. Seems most dwellars that responded, were only interested in bringing me down and telling me how dumb I am for it. I'm depressed enough, don't respond well to malicious criticism for criticism's sake. Plus, I just don't need it.

I think it's a shame you're dismissing comments, especially clodfobble's, because they aren't exactly what you wanted to hear. She made several good points, and her suggestion to actually get involved in helping someone who is blind makes a lot more sense than you pretending to be blind... if you actually want to gain insight and accomplish something.
If you don't need it (opinions) don't ask for it. Ask for what you do need and people here usually some thru for ya.

[skysidhe]

If you can do all that with your eyes closed then you are a bigger man than me. lol ( I'm not a man )

I think your willingness to learn and experience something new shows an active and healthy mind. Experimenting and learning even when times are tough is an admirable trait.

I just dig holes for flowers. WAY less admirable

[Shawnee123]

I'm gonna shoot myself in the face, just to see what it would feel like to be a gunshot victim.



edit: I'm just jokin' grav. I don't think I said anything bad about you in my post, but as you know, I'm evil and cold.

[Pico and ME]

What he really should do is grow a thicker skin, cuz this place can be brutal. He should just take Clod's comments with a grain of salt, instead of taking them to heart. I think all he is after is what it would feel like for him to be sightless and whether he could manage it. I dont think he wants to do it so that he has more insight into the plight of the blind...thats a whole different issue. No big deal.