NFB

[BrokenQuill92]

So I had a terrible moment over the weekend. I was at a NFB (national Federation of the blind) meeting. We got four new members,yay! One of things we do upon getting a new member, if they're comfortable is telling about the degree of sight and how they went blind. Usually we do this just in case anyone needs assistance. Well one of the new members went blind from type 2 diabetes. And I admit my first thought was "Ew" and my second was "Your fat ass doesn't need to be here." And yeah, Mark is fat. I'm trying to figure out what to do about this, I feel really awful.

[c172]

So I had a terrible moment over the weekend. I was at a NFB (national Federation of the blind) meeting. We got four new members,yay! One of things we do upon getting a new member, if they're comfortable is telling about the degree of sight and how they went blind. Usually we do this just in case anyone needs assistance. Well one of the new members went blind from type 2 diabetes. And I admit my first thought was "Ew" and my second was "Your fat ass doesn't need to be here." And yeah, Mark is fat. I'm trying to figure out what to do about this, I feel really awful.

Did you actually say this to him?

[BrokenQuill92]

Of course not!

[c172]

Ah, OK. You just said that you "feel really awful". That kind of implied to me that you did confront him on his weight.

I'm 50 pounds overweight. It's not something that makes me proud. My number one fear in life is blindness, which may become an issue for me if I'm not successful at curbing this. But I don't think it makes sense to be so put off by another person's weight. It may be you someday.

[BrokenQuill92]

Ah, OK. You just said that you "feel really awful". That kind of implied to me that you did confront him on his weight.

I'm 50 pounds overweight. It's not something that makes me proud. My number one fear in life is blindness, which may become an issue for me if I'm not successful at curbing this. But I don't think it makes sense to be so put off by another person's weight. It may be you someday.

I just feel awful for thinking it was kinda his own fault, and thinking he doesn't belong with the blind community. It was a really prejudice thought and I'm usually good about not boxing people. And I don't think it'll be me someday I'm already blind.

[SteelCurtain]

I have the same prejudice. I hate it about myself, BQ, and I challenge it (nearly) every time it comes up. It's really pervasive, though. I see morbidly obese people and I see "lazy." I know it's not always true, and I don't like being judgemental.

[Napoléon]

BQ sorry if this is off topic but it's been nagging at me for a while...

Are you like, fully blind or just partially? I see you make posts from time to time and you make a point of saying you 'watch' things and sometimes you'll say stuff and I would think someone must have some sight to make the comments you do. Sorry if I'm being insensitive by asking this or if you've already answered elsewhere, I was just under the impression you were fully blind. As in, no sight at all.

[BrokenQuill92]

BQ sorry if this is off topic but it's been nagging at me for a while...

Are you like, fully blind or just partially? I see you make posts from time to time and you make a point of saying you 'watch' things and sometimes you'll say stuff and I would think someone must have some sight to make the comments you do. Sorry if I'm being insensitive by asking this or if you've already answered elsewhere, I was just under the impression you were fully blind. As in, no sight at all.

I can sense light sources (I'm actually so light sensitive it hurts) and detect motion but it's not really seeing. Most of what I say is just remembering. I haven't seen since I was nineteen.

And of course I say I watch tv, it's just an expression. I also "read" books and "look" at clothes in the mall. Just because I'm blind I don't remove sight related verbs from my vocabulary. That's just awkward.

[rexbeccarox]

So I had a terrible moment over the weekend. I was at a NFB (national Federation of the blind) meeting. We got four new members,yay! One of things we do upon getting a new member, if they're comfortable is telling about the degree of sight and how they went blind. Usually we do this just in case anyone needs assistance. Well one of the new members went blind from type 2 diabetes. And I admit my first thought was "Ew" and my second was "Your fat ass doesn't need to be here." And yeah, Mark is fat. I'm trying to figure out what to do about this, I feel really awful.

Sweetie, please don't take offense, but I'm glad you feel awful. Obesity is a really sad thing, especially when it leads to diabetes, and then blindness. He probably feels a lot more than just disgust about himself without his blind community judging him. After all, he got diabetes, and then went blind because of his habits.

Yes, we can all keep ourselves from obesity, but in my experience (and I have a lot, not because I'm overweight, but because many in my family are), if people aren't taught good nutrition from the moment they come out of the womb, a lot of them are going to have weight problems which can lead to other conditions. No one is perfect, and this guy needs your support. You should give it to him, and I know you will because you're sweet and friendly and your experiences, while not identical, are probably similar.

[BrokenQuill92]

So I had a terrible moment over the weekend. I was at a NFB (national Federation of the blind) meeting. We got four new members,yay! One of things we do upon getting a new member, if they're comfortable is telling about the degree of sight and how they went blind. Usually we do this just in case anyone needs assistance. Well one of the new members went blind from type 2 diabetes. And I admit my first thought was "Ew" and my second was "Your fat ass doesn't need to be here." And yeah, Mark is fat. I'm trying to figure out what to do about this, I feel really awful.

Sweetie, please don't take offense, but I'm glad you feel awful. Obesity is a really sad thing, especially when it leads to diabetes, and then blindness. He probably feels a lot more than just disgust about himself without his blind community judging him. After all, he got diabetes, and then went blind because of his habits.

Yes, we can all keep ourselves from obesity, but in my experience (and I have a lot, not because I'm overweight, but because many in my family are), if people aren't taught good nutrition from the moment they come out of the womb, a lot of them are going to have weight problems which can lead to other conditions. No one is perfect, and this guy needs your support. You should give it to him, and I know you will because you're sweet and friendly and your experiences, while not identical, are probably similar.

Of course I don't take offense! I'm just horrified with myself that I could think such a thing. I'm glad a caught my self doing it. And we had a moment of bitter irony an hour ago. My uncle had to escorted home by the police because he's just lost his sight from diabetes. He's autistic so he isn't taking any of it well.