Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!samsung!olivea!oliveb!bunker!wtm
From: mgflax@phoenix.princeton.edu (Marshall G. Flax)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: People Asking For Help
Message-ID: <15469@handicap.news>
Date: 10 May 91 15:48:17 GMT
References: <19085@bunker.isc-br.com>
Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com
Reply-To: mgflax@phoenix.princeton.edu (Marshall G. Flax)
Organization: Princeton University
Lines: 32
Approved: wtm@hnews.fidonet.org
Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 15469

[Obligatory note: I'm not blind, or even disabled.]

In article <19085@bunker.isc-br.com> Donna.Siren@p19.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.org
writes:
>
>I've heard that said before, too, but I think that how a person
>refuses help will make more of an impression on a person than
>whether or not they accept it.  I've refused help on many
>occasions, but I've always been nice about it, just saying "no
>thank you".  I've also known people whose help was refused angrily
>and now they'll never ask another blind person if they need help,
>which is very sad.  I'm sure if those same people had refused
>graciously, these sighted people wouldn't feel that way.
>	       Donna
>

Unfortunately, Donna, you seem to include only half of the equation.
How a person offers help will make more of an impression than whether or
not that help is accepted.  Offering to take a blind person's arm is one
thing, grabbing it is another.  Enough grabs, enough refusals to
understand the word "no", and is it suprising that a person would never
want to accept help again?  I'm sure that if sighted people would treat
blind people more graciously, blind people wouldn't feel the way they
often do.  Courtesy is always a two-way street. 

marshall
/****************************************************************************/
/* Marshall Gene Flax '89       (609)258-6739  mgflax@phoenix.Princeton.EDU */
/* c/o Jack Gelfand|Psychology Dept|Princeton University|Princeton NJ 08544 */
/****************************************************************************/