Category: the Rant Board
So my two blind friends moved into an apartment yesterday. I wasn't there, but here is the story one of them told me:
It's one of those places for students. Each unit has four bedrooms, and everyone shares the rest of the space. Apparently the previous tenants had just moved out the day before and left the place a mess.
According to my friend, one of the apartment managers told her dad (in front of her) that since they couldn't see the mess, they shouldn't care about it.
I've been in a blissed-out mood all day since swimming this morning, so instead of getting angry I'm trying to imagine how in the world someone's brain could operate like that. How's it supposed to work? If I blindly move into a place full of junk will I just assume it's my own junk? I mean, students are pretty much all alike anyway. One stack of pizza boxes or mound of empty beer bottles is as good as another. Will this same line of reasoning apply if I move into a place where the last person left behind a stereo, a Macbook and a wallet full of cash? "wow! I had no idea I owned all this stuff. I must have just missed it because, ya know, I'm blind."
Or, do they think blind students can't create disaster areas independently? Is it really all about the help?
Call me an optimist, but maybe this is actually a sign that we're moving up in the world. Instead of living with our parents forever, we're now expected to hold down our own pigsties just like the rest of the early 20-somethings.
Oh, I got that treatment about the carpet. Then, had to pay for it. Granted, a spill or two was mine, but I shouldn't have been charged the full price. Only reason I was, is I have no real witness that can remember what happened. Next time, I'll go in with a tape recorder. Yeah yeah. Right out of the past. Sue me! LOL
1 recording's as good as another. Grin!
Blessings,
Sarah
to answer your question Voyager, most people's brains can't work when faced with a blind person. At least that is how it appears.
I agree with margrop here. You see, the apartment manager could've just you know, thought that we don't know how to clean. But, if I were your friend, I would've said "Oh really? You think I'll do that? Idiot!"
I think it has more to do with the fact that they don't know what we're capable of picking up on. For things like carpet stains or smoke stains on the wallpaper or dust on the ceiling fan, we might very well miss those things, so while it would be stupid and shortsighted to try and pawn off necessary cleaning because your next tenant is blind, I suppose I can sort of see why someone might try the "well, they're blind, they're not gonna know" card in cases like that. Bear in mind, when I say "I can sorta see it" that doesn't mean I agree with doing it; it's disrespectful, no two ways about it.
But if the mess is actual junk? Like garbage and things? Absolutely no excuse.
Ah, the brilliance of some people. *Sighs* Just like we're not supposed to care about personal grooming and appearance because we can't see. I've gotten that one over the years, too, as have other blind people I know.
Might just have been a smart assed remark and nothing to do with them actually being blind.
You call a person out on something they know they should have done, the reaction is to cover embarrassment with a same comment like this one.
If they were guys, for example, the remark may have been. “Well, you’re guys, and guys aren’t neat anyway.”
Just an idea.
I know because of the blind being used how it sounded, but every time blind gets used as a rebuttal doesn’t always mean the person slinging it is unaware.
The one thing college taught me was about people, and how they will try to get buy.
It also taught me I needed an even thicker skin than I already had, or to see people with more outlook than what the surface was showing me.
Also let's remember that many people seem to think that a blind person is also deaf. Case in point:
A sighted person will talk about a blind person as if they are not in the room to people around said blind person.
How incredibly stupid can someone be! Just because they're blind, they're not expected to care if the previous tennants left behind a mess? I could understand something like "they won't mind the colour scheme" or "don't worry that the curtains make it dark", especially if they were totally blind. But we, of all people, need organisation!
Who the fuck does that? I don't like whne sighted people do that. Talk about you as if they can't talk directly to you. like if I'm somewhere and a little kid goes to my mom or something can she see? I say you can ask me questions. Geez
In my experience little kids are just as likely to ask me as the person I'm with. I usually don't find it easy to interact with children but I appreciate their lack of tact. Adults are often too subtle, and afraid to ask questions for some reason.
I agree. The parents shy away.