Category: Let's talk
Hey all
I've seen this happen a lot here and I'm just wondering why people do it? For example, people put the word blind in their username or some form of it and I don't see why people do this? It doesn't really bother me, so I'm most certainly not picking on anyone in particular, but to me, your blindness is just part of who you are, it's a characteristic, kind of like the color of your hair or eyes or whatever. I've just seen this happen so much in the blind community with folks doing this on the zone, in their e-mail addresses, msn and aim screen names, etc. To me your blindness doesn't matter. I want to know you as a person, rather than wether you're blind or not. If you are that's great and if you're not, that's fine too. I just don't see why people do it, so I'd be interested in anyone's responses.
Thanks.
i personally don't do this. my blindnes needs recognition as far as it needs to be recognised in my daily life, such as when reading mail eetc. but otherwise, as in who I am? then no. my blindness is part of me, as is the sighted bit of me which I still use to inform my daily life. even though i lost my sight over eighteen years ago.
My blindness is just that, a characteristic. It never crossed my mind to use the word blind in my username when I first signed up for The Zone.
Yeah I'm exactly the same way. But i'm hoping that people with some form of the word blind in their username will see this and respond. Again I'm not against it and I'm most certainly not saying nobody should do it or anything, I'm just curious as to why people do it, because that would be sort of like a sighted person refering to themselves as that and in my life I've never seen someone calling themselves sighted guy.
It never had crossed my mind to use "blind" in any usernames or e-mails, but I really don't have a problem with people doing it themselves. Just like what was pointed out, it's just like hair colour or eye colour, or any other characteristic, and there are thousands of people who use words like "girl" "guy" "blonde" "sexy" "tall" "short" "happy" "emo" etc., in their usernames, right down to their interests and hobbies, and I don't see it as being any different then those.
In the dog communities I'm a part of, there are tons of members with names like "topdogtrainer" "doglover" "3dogs" "ilikepuppies" so identifying blatant characteristics is rampid in any specialized community I'd guess.
If your blindness is, as you say, just a physical characteristic, how is it different from using a name like "blondie" or "tall boy 1990"? If there were such a username on the zone, it would not be the topic of a board post, I think.
I think this all stems from the fact that I've seen so much of the word blind in people's usernames on here and in other places, rather than the other characteristics we spoke about. They could just refer to themselves as such, yet they actually go out of their way to let everyone know that they're blind. When I meet someone new on here, or on LJ or myspace or any other site I happen to be on or even if i'm introduced to someone new, my first question is, what's this person like? It's not, are they blind? I simply do not understand the idea of telling everyone that you're blind, first thing.
This post is, for lack of a word more germane to the topic, blind. That is to say: over-analytical, hypersensitive, self-conscious, and a complete waste of time. I agree wholeheartedly with Dave. If people flaunting this "characteristic" wasn't burdensome to your psyche in some form, you'd have gone on reading such proclamations with nary a word or query.
In short: get over it, lest we're forced to bear others' railings against words like tall, fat, thin, green-haired, etc, in user names and messenger tags. If it really does bother you, might I suggest therapy?
The blindest-actin' of all blindies,
Jim
It was just a question man; does it really bother you so much? If so, take some of your own advice.
In my experience, people who put the word "blind" somewhere in their names often seem to center at least part of their lifestyles and/or personalities on this topic. But, it's certainly not always the case, and unless I have another reason to think down on someone, their user name isn’t going to bring any judgment from me.
Just where, in my original post, did I say the word blind *should not* be used on this site or other places? Go back and read it again and tell me where i said, stop using it! I didn't and if you had read the original post you would know that. How many fucking times do i have to say it. I don't want to stop people from using the word blind in their zone BBS user names or in any other places. I can't get people to stop using a particular word, anymore than I can keep the sun from rising. The original question was, and still is, *why* people choose the word blind, over other words? Sighted people don't refer to themselves as sighted, so why do blind people feel compelled to identify their disability right there for everyone to see? and as for theropy, I don't need any. I am very secure with who I am as a person, thank you very much.
Variation, moderation, lack of creativity, or because they feel like being unique. Ever thought of that? And I beg anyone to argue 'blind' isn't being unique. Everyone did not grow up just like every other Blind person in the world; everyone did not know being 'blind' was what they were (I didn't know that's what they didn't call someone who couldn't see until I was at least 10). I just could not see, as it were.
bTW: You're missing the point to post 8 by miles.
If someone wants to have "blind" in their user name, msn or aim screen name or email, then that is the business of the individual person. It's just like having "dj" or having just random letters as your name or email adress. Personally, I wouldn't do it, but that's just me. I'm not about to go out and announce my blindness to every person that gets my personal details, or where ever my email adress will be used, and I chose to have it that way (not that I'm not proud to be blind, it's just that it's not who I am). Plus, has anyone ever thought that doing that, is easy for the person to remember for one reason or another? Most people (not saying all) have multiple email adresses, or have msn and aim. Just like most people have pass words for every websight, email adress, or even skype. So, maybe putting the word "blind" helps the person identify that particular thing.
My name starts with the letters bl which is braille for blind. I chose that to go along with my name bob (bobby) because that's my name. I had to put something unique about myself to distinguish me from all those other bobs roberts bobbys etc.
My blindness is usually unique (except for here on the zone).
So what's with all the DJ wanna bees here on the zone?
Bob
LOL Bob, I sometimes ask that question myself. Hey, if it's used as an identifier, to set you apart from other folks, that really does make sense. It's not something I would do personally, but if it works for you, rock on and do your thing.
I find it interesting that I guess ever since electronica became popular, deejays started using the word "Deejay" like a title, such as Doctor or Father or Professor. I'm waiting for the day when places like Yahoo have "Deejay" available as a title along with Dr. or Mr. or any of those. LOL!
Perhaps some people, but not all, find their main identity is blind. It is similar to people who define themelves by their occupation (doctor, lawyer, farmer, etc.) I remember when I lived in San Francisco some gay people would do the same thing. No matter what the discussion was about, they would announce that they were gay. It didn't matter to me, but they felt they needed to say it.
I'm just throwing this out here just to continue the discussion. I'm not judging anyone or putting anyone down.
I think that people will associate you with the things that they first notice upon meeting. If you want one of the strongest associations to be blindness, mentioning it in your name or email address is a great way as that may be what they first see.
Agreed with that Chris. Thing is though (and this is just an idea) wouldn't it be better if the first thing a person associates you with is not the fact that you are blind? I mean, that would soon be obvious, specially if a meeting takes place. Let's face it, a guide dog or a cane is pretty hard to hide. I myself would like to kno that people associate me with other things, and not my blindness.
I'm not trying to put anyone down, or anything like that, but I just think that being blind isn't all that any of us should be judged on, or the first thing that we should have associated with us. Think about it. Wouldn't you rather be associated with something like your personality, or how you talk to someone, then have the first thing that is noticed, is that your blind? I mean, yeah, our blindness is a part of who we are, but it's not all of us. I'm sorry if my posts don't make any sense, and I do have a point, but I'm just trying not to upset a lot of people.
it is the first thing people notice about us though, and to not accnoledge that can seem to be just the same as putting it right out there in front. We might be comfortable with the whole being blind thing, but the majority of people we come into contact with aren't. it takes a bit of time for people to get past. I don't see a problem with putting it in your screen name. I don't cause I thought puggle was cuter than blind Krystel or something. That isn't to say that if I thought of something creative that had blind in it I wouldn't use it. I am blind, just like I am blonde short and Australian, all of that, and a whole lot more, make me who I am. It would be nice to not have to deal with the misconceptions that come with being blind, and perhaps to ot be remembered as the blind girl. but hey. I got this quality, so use it to my advantage I say. For example, I have my name Krystel in braille on my business cards and people think it's great, it sets my card apart from everyone elses, and that's what marketing is all about.
I've had many people not want to talk to me or associate themselves with me in school because the first thing they saw was a blind person with some pole or stick or something. Just saying, that is their perspective, and that's not to say that if any of us met up with a weird person we wouldn't judge them. Some of us wouldn't, but some of us would. Just trying to get the point across that people're going to notice that you're blind, so not come out and tell them, hey, I'm blind. I wouldn't do it, but why not? The reason I don't do it is because they're going to notice anyway, and if I can portray a good human with good intention in my writing, then why do they have to find out that I'm blind when reading my posts? If the people don't find out until I meet them, then they're more likely to have a better perception of me then if they just seen me walking down the street.
Kenny
There are a lot of DJs on here, aren't there? Nearly as many as there people with blind in their username.