Category: Let's talk
So I hear people refer to something called the blind community. How do you define it, and does it actually exist? I dunno, when I think community, I think of people who live together and at least live in a civil manner. First of all, unless there are clusters of us that live in the same general area and get together on a regular basis, I just don't think that happens too much. Some blind folks even frown upon the idea of being social with other blind folks, let alone living in the same place with one or more of them. Nightmares of institutionalization, perhaps? We blind folks might interact on-line, at least those of us who have computer access, but it's not always civil. Get into discussions of blindness topics and at some point it will degenerate into a giant hair-pulling contest. So nope, the blind community is either a concept or a buzzword, haven't decided which yet.
I think it's a general term to refer to blind people as a group; not implying that such a community actually exists. I definitely agree that no such community really does exist, for all the reasons you mentioned, but I'd still rather use the term "blind community" than terms like "blink" or "blindy". After all, you don't hear sighted people going around calling each other "sighties", do you?
I am not in "the blind community", but I acknowledge its existence. It is not a geographical community, nor is it restricted to blind institutions such as residential schoos, rehabilitation centres and charities.
It is an interest-based community, with the primary interest being visual impairment, not just in terms of eye conditions and the medical/ginetic/biological aspect, but in terms of assistive technology, accessibility and daily living. "The blind community" also has a culture, which includes blind games, blind sports, listening to audio books, and performing.
I'm not in the blind comunity either, but I think it's just talking about blind people as a group, but not saying that they all live together or know each other.
Well Senior after being on this site and seeing some things on Twitter, I agree with you.
Beforehand, I thought of the idea of a blind community as preposterous: what with us not congregating geographically and all.
Perhaps it's one of the many 'communities' the Internet has brought us?
I agree with the other posters here. I think that term may also refer to the fact that so many blind folks know each other in person, or at the least know of each other. It's not as bad as society's popular misconception that every single blind person knows every single other one, just because they both happen to be blind. But, especially since so much went online, and with sites like the Zone or Blinknation, various email lists, etc, it has increased the number of blind folks who at least know of each other. It's said that there are six degrees of separation between people in the world, and a lot of times, that seems true. Blind community, in my opinion, refers to the fact that among us, there tends to be more like three or four degrees of separation. And, in some ways, it resembles a small town, or at least, sites like the Zone do. Everyone seems to know everyone else's business, whether you want them to or not. I use the term blind community as well, and the above reasons are why.
Leo, the blind community existed before this site and the internet. The internet has strengthened "the blind community" by enabling more people to be part of it, making it easier for blind people to share information and experiences with each other, and making it easier for blind people to make new blind friends who have similar experiences and interests.
Places existed and still exist where blind people are part of geographical blind communities, but these communities are part of a wider, globalised blind community, and have been for decades.
On the second topic alluded to by Post 1:
I agree with the general opinion of everyone who posted here so far - I don't think the turm "blind comunity" is meant to suggest that all blind people in any particular area regularly associate with each other, although that can sometimes be the case. I'm pretty sure it's mostly meant to be used in reference to the blind populous in general; but On a slightly different note, I personally wouldn't associate with another visually impaired person just because they are blind, but because other atributes of said person caused me to be interested in associating with them. And I'm pretty sure there are quite a few things I failed to point out, but either they've been mentioned in earlier posts, or my brain is just not functional enough to remember what else I have to say at the moment. :p
I completely agree with "Your Face!" here. there are plenty of other blind people I am friendly with, but only because we have countless other things in common as well. I don't have very many sighted friends, but the ones I do have have been around for a long time, and are very loyal. I'm sure this is the case for many other people as well.
To associate, or disassociate, on the basis of a biological characteristic like blindness, skin color, height, whatever, is moronic.
Granted lower life forms make these distinctions: birds will actually disassociate from their own kind where profound color differences exist, and the black wolf born into a gray pack gets killed usually.
So, if you're a lower life form, go ahead and make those distinctions based on biology.
I must agree with senior here, except I do playy the games more for amusement relaxation, and things like that, I mean sighted folks play card games too and I certainly can't play those so I do that. and audio books and scanned ones are the only way I know how to read except braille and that's a very blind thing too, so I do those. but not because of the blind community. I am not really part of one except for here. I have more sighted then blind friends though I have quite a few. I'd often call people over the internet my friends but I really don't know..... but I generally enjoy the company of sighted folks and they seem to except me so.....
Very good question. I think I agree with the general consensus here. My boyfriend's blind, and he hates to refer to himself as a member of the blind community. I think because he just doesn't like the stigmas attached to blindness in general, but I really don't see anything wrong with it. It may not be a geographical community in most cases, but it's a global, virtual community. But, to each their own way of thinking.
What really disturbs me is that blind people as a rule are very quick to point out that the blind community does exist, and even quicker to point out the,... "But I'm not a part of it!" is it that most blind people think they're a bit too good to allow someone to think that they might be associated with a quote "Blind Community?" Even the zone is it's own community, of sorts. No? So, there's people in this horrid blind community that everyone knows about, and these people sit around and play games for the blind! These people actually listen to audio books! These people actually stoop so low as to use screenreaders or even worse, Braille!
I just wonder... I'm picturing a sighted woman sitting in a restaurant and talking with her sighted friends. We'll call her Nyla. One of her friends suggests an audio book, saying that not only is it a great read, but she can listen to it while she drives to and from work, so she saves time and still gets to listen to the story. Nyla is shocked and embarrassed. "An audio book? Isn't that what those blind people listen to? Oh, I couldn't do that. What would people think?" This would go on, with people agreeing with Nyla, since maybe nyla is the popular one. And before long, the suggester of the audio book would become an outcast. Oh sure. they all know her. she's that nut who drives around listening to audio books, but they're very quick to point out that they haven't associated with her in years. Oh, they did try to make her feel welcome, at first, but they always knew she was, um, well, just, different.
Hahaha. Okay Okay... I sat down to respond to the board, and this is what came to mind. I'm sure that any and all wholes in this analogy will quickly be pointed out. just musings and ramblings from the blind luny.
Oh, and I forgot to point out, in my little vision, all of the friends rush out of the restaurant and go to different towns, to purchase the audio book. They sneak it home and listen to it secretly, but they all learned from the other woman's mistake, so noone ever admits that they too, enjoyed that audio book very much. they're too afraid of what the others would think, and they don't want to become an outcast like her. Hmmm, this might even be an interesting little short story. Well well. i've managed to amuse myself. <insane smile>
I do have many many sighted friends but if there are two sets of people, I'll surely give preference talking or interacting with blind group first. As I always wish I could visit all my blind friends in person. What is wrong with socialising with blind people? sighted people can divert their attentions with various things. they can even use their vision to see what he or she is wearing, what color handbag he is holding and what type of watch he or she is having, which cell phone she is using and so on. rather we blind people can know only by talking and communicating it one another.
I personally feel blind people must have more and more inter-communications. so that we can able to know the new inventions, accessibility problems and solutions, what are all the difficulties in that field, how to get rid of them and etc etc.
On the other hand, I won't say that we have to get separated all alone. we do want sighted friends as per our preferences. we've to socialise with whomever they are willing to.
Raaj
Anthony I find your post entertaining, not because it's fiction, but precisely because you can see it in reality among any number of groups of people who attempt at thwarting real and imagined Stereotypes.
Raaj, more and more I agree with you.
I have learned so much being on here. The Internet for any widespread group such as the blind, bird observers, pipe smokers, any group where your local circle of friends can't necessarily consist of your alleged "kind", groups can gather a lot of useful insight into things that relate to what they're doing.
And so, yes, the Internet is full of virtual communities whose advantage rests in people's ability to engage and disengage at will.
The worst and least useful thing anyone can do is precisely what Anthony is talking about. I still contend friendships aren't made on the basis of biology, but where common experience or common ground occurs there is a lot that can be mutually gained. It's just made easier online for a number of reasons.
Lol Anthony! Great image, that.
And no, Leo. Whom we associate with shouldn't really have anything to do with biological similarities or whatever; it should be based on mutual common ground, or even simple curiosity.
but, the blind community doesn't really exist.
Now, I'm not really sure if there's a blind community or not. However, if there is, I think I'd not be one of those claiming I'm not a member. I think I am if there is one, and at this point in my life that's all right with me. I've said it before, you have to find the group of folks that makes you the happiest in life, there's no time to hang with the right people that'll send the right message to the masses. The masses are not watching you.
However, I wonder if I'm right on this decidedly crackpot idea. This is about people who say there's a blind community but do not claim membership in it. Are people, either consciously or unconsciously, needing to distance themselves from other blind people by taking on the ableist attitudes of the sighted in order to at least feel they fit in all the more. I know elsewhere I think I asked if for some, sighted people were viewed as a kind of ideal or social holy grail, as in, once you're in with the sighted you've acquired a kind of high social status you wouldn't get with other blind folks. Crackpot idea or not, it's an interesting question.
I believe there is a blind community. I define blind community as a term referring to the general blind population. Therefore, anyone who says they are not a part of the blind community is not blind. If you are blind and say there is such a community, yet you quickly point out that you are not apart of it, it makes me think you are arrogant--you think the general blind population is involved in something dirty, dispicable, lowlife-esque, or whatever, and so you're better than those who are a part of a blind community.
In my opinion, to say there is no blind community is to say there are no blind people. When a status is placed before the word community, it just refers to the group of people in general--blind community, vegetarian community, African-American community, Asian community, and on.
How silly would it be for me to say there is an African-American/black community, then right after say I am not a part of it, even though I am a black woman. It would be rather silly to me.
As Jess said in post 2, it is a general term. Just a way to refer to blind people. So, when someone says, "we in the blind community..." we refer to the blind. The craziness comes in when some use it to refer to blind people they know. I. E "our little comunity." It is odd indeed and quite missleading but that's it in a nutshell.