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Post by Manda2212 on Jun 16, 2019 18:58:28 GMT -5
Melatonin is awesome! It's a naturally occurring chemical in our bodies. Teenagers have lots of melatonin and that's why they tend to sleep so much. It slowly diminishes as we age and so supplementing helps a lot of people!
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DaredevilDev
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Post by DaredevilDev on Jun 16, 2019 19:30:39 GMT -5
Hey blindlover, thank you for the oportunity to ask you things. My question is not very deep though, what do you prefer: seeing-eye-dog, or a cane? And why?
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blindlover
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Post by blindlover on Jun 16, 2019 20:07:51 GMT -5
Hello blindlover . The majority of us feel an attraction for someone based on their physical appearance. Obviously this has to develop when we interact with them & learn about their personality. What would you say attracts you to someone? Is it their voice or manner of speaking or perhaps something else? So first of all , let me start by telling that we blind people are not necessarily less superficial in what attracts us than sighted people. Also the assumption which is sometimes made that physical appearance matters to us to a lesser degree is , even for most born blind people, nothing but a myth. Now the thing is , I am not most born blind people. I have been attracted to women of all sizes and body types and I honestly think they all have something attractive. I don't even have the clear preference for women with more pronounced curves. It's not that I wouldn't appreciate them if they were there, but it would not in the least define my level of attraction for someone.
So what is it that does attract me? I think that various things can potentially reduce or enhance my attraction for someone as I discover more and intimacy level grows. The one big constant here however is personality and social interactions. As these progress , they can off course greatly influence how I'll perceive someone. Below I'll list some things that can really allure me as I get closer. - voice: Yes , you were right. Voice does play an important role. Not only how someone uses it , language , vocabulary, intonation, but perhaps most importantly, texture. Your unique voice texture is what I will hear from you first, it is what I will safe to memory after and what I will recognize you when you greet me on the street. You can best compare its function to the profile picture on social media. I wouldn't say I'm very picky with my voices and there are many types of voices I consider nice to listen too. However, just like with pictures , there are voices I will swoon for immediately, and a very small percentage that puts me off. Sent/perfume: as I get into someone's personal space , what someone smells like can in certain cases have an influence on my level of physical attraction. This is not only about the perfume they use, but also about ones own personal smell. Again , I am not the most picky person here, but it is definitely a factor to consider.
- touch: Last but not least , how someone touches me really affects me and hence can also influence how I will feel when being close to them. This is not necessarily meant in a sexual sense however. Sometimes, hugs, cuddles, and simple caresses can say more than words for me. If someone feels like she belongs in my arms and if the touch of her hand sends shivers all over me, it'll just be very difficult for me to want her to be anywhere else than there. I hope reading how it works for me was useful to you. It is a personal account however, and it might work differently for other blind people. As always, feel free to ask follow-up questions if you want to know more.
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blindlover
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Post by blindlover on Jun 16, 2019 20:21:18 GMT -5
If you are out in a city, or wherever, do you ever get turned around or lose your sense of direction? If you do, how do you get back on track? How do you know exactly where a doorway, or a bus stop, or a stairway is?
Yes, this happens from time to time. In this case I use a variety of techniques ,depending on how far the object is i'm searching for. For very close objects,around two metres, simply feeling around with my cane usually suffices. For objects up to 10, metres usually basic echo localisation helps . This means interpreting the reflections of sounds around me to determine how larger objects like buildings or parked cars are oriented relative to me. If that is of no use, I just walk around in all directions, until I find a cue I recognize, this might be just about everything, an edge of a side walk, a building,, a tree , ... For more distant objects or environments where absolutely nothing recognizable is present ,gps in combination with compass directions help. If all else fails , usually there are people around me, with mouths that could help me by giving some indications, if I ask kindly.
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blindlover
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Post by blindlover on Jun 16, 2019 20:27:23 GMT -5
Really interested in the melatonin being mentioned. I have terrible insomnia and no one has ever mentioned it. Im going to look into it, thanks
Really great I could potentially help. You know where to find me if you need any additional info or the likes
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blindlover
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Post by blindlover on Jun 16, 2019 20:53:06 GMT -5
Hey blindlover , thank you for the oportunity to ask you things. My question is not very deep though, what do you prefer: seeing-eye-dog, or a cane? And why?
I prefer a cane at the moment. Firstly, my current housing is to small to actually have enough place to host a dog cosily. Secondly, I feel I am already confident enough while moving and don't really feel that I miss the potential extra confidence a seeing eye dog can give me. At places where it is really diffucult to move , such as a busy traffic light without sound, there are usually people who can fill in the gaps. Moreover, when travelling abroad, which I tend to do a lot, getting the your dog to travel with you can be a real burden , and he would be less per formant in these new environments anyway. And finally the most controversial argument. Raising and training a seeing eye dog costs from $20,000 to $30,000. Sometimes this cost is carried by society , sometimes by massive fund raising activities where large amounts are collected from the public. But one has to realize that with those same $30,000, about 1000 lives could be saved in third world countries by investing it in vaccines or elementary medical care. If I had to make a choice between a potential boost in self-confidence while moving and saving 1000 lives, I'd know what to choose ...
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Post by devogirl on Jun 16, 2019 21:01:51 GMT -5
Thanks again for all your very interesting answers. This is a great thread! So are you currently using Braille display or voice reader to use your computer? Which do you prefer, reading Braille or listening to a machine voice?
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DaredevilDev
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Post by DaredevilDev on Jun 16, 2019 21:26:24 GMT -5
Hey blindlover , thank you for the oportunity to ask you things. My question is not very deep though, what do you prefer: seeing-eye-dog, or a cane? And why?
I prefer a cane at the moment. Firstly, my current housing is to small to actually have enough place to host a dog cosily. Secondly, I feel I am already confident enough while moving and don't really feel that I miss the potential extra confidence a seeing eye dog can give me. At places where it is really diffucult to move , such as a busy traffic light without sound, there are usually people who can fill in the gaps. Moreover, when travelling abroad, which I tend to do a lot, getting the your dog to travel with you can be a real burden , and he would be less per formant in these new environments anyway. And finally the most controversial argument. Raising and training a seeing eye dog costs from $20,000 to $30,000. Sometimes this cost is carried by society , sometimes by massive fund raising activities where large amounts are collected from the public. But one has to realize that with those same $30,000, about 1000 lives could be saved in third world countries by investing it in vaccines or elementary medical care. If I had to make a choice between a potential boost in self-confidence while moving and saving 1000 lives, I'd know what to choose ...
Interesting, I actually had a blind friend that had the same thoughts about traveling with guide dogs, but I'd never heard anybody talk about the cost of training a guide dog, so thank you so much for your insight
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Post by linda on Jun 17, 2019 6:53:58 GMT -5
This is all really so interesting, blindlover, and I really appreciate the detailed insight that you give us with your thorough answers. Looks like this turned out to become sort of a part-time-job... ;-) Thank you for your time and effort.
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loulou
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Post by loulou on Jun 17, 2019 16:55:49 GMT -5
Hello blindlover . The majority of us feel an attraction for someone based on their physical appearance. Obviously this has to develop when we interact with them & learn about their personality. What would you say attracts you to someone? Is it their voice or manner of speaking or perhaps something else? So first of all , let me start by telling that we blind people are not necessarily less superficial in what attracts us than sighted people. Also the assumption which is sometimes made that physical appearance matters to us to a lesser degree is , even for most born blind people, nothing but a myth. Now the thing is , I am not most born blind people. I have been attracted to women of all sizes and body types and I honestly think they all have something attractive. I don't even have the clear preference for women with more pronounced curves. It's not that I wouldn't appreciate them if they were there, but it would not in the least define my level of attraction for someone.
So what is it that does attract me? I think that various things can potentially reduce or enhance my attraction for someone as I discover more and intimacy level grows. The one big constant here however is personality and social interactions. As these progress , they can off course greatly influence how I'll perceive someone. Below I'll list some things that can really allure me as I get closer. - voice: Yes , you were right. Voice does play an important role. Not only how someone uses it , language , vocabulary, intonation, but perhaps most importantly, texture. Your unique voice texture is what I will hear from you first, it is what I will safe to memory after and what I will recognize you when you greet me on the street. You can best compare its function to the profile picture on social media. I wouldn't say I'm very picky with my voices and there are many types of voices I consider nice to listen too. However, just like with pictures , there are voices I will swoon for immediately, and a very small percentage that puts me off. Sent/perfume: as I get into someone's personal space , what someone smells like can in certain cases have an influence on my level of physical attraction. This is not only about the perfume they use, but also about ones own personal smell. Again , I am not the most picky person here, but it is definitely a factor to consider.
- touch: Last but not least , how someone touches me really affects me and hence can also influence how I will feel when being close to them. This is not necessarily meant in a sexual sense however. Sometimes, hugs, cuddles, and simple caresses can say more than words for me. If someone feels like she belongs in my arms and if the touch of her hand sends shivers all over me, it'll just be very difficult for me to want her to be anywhere else than there. I hope reading how it works for me was useful to you. It is a personal account however, and it might work differently for other blind people. As always, feel free to ask follow-up questions if you want to know more. Hello blindlover, I have to admit that this thread as a whole is fascinating. The opportunity to hear from someone blind is one I never expected & I want to thank you for taking the time & having the patience to answer our questions. I think it’s easy for us to believe that if you are unable to see a person then their physical appearance is of no account & that’s obviously not the case; you’re just as interested as the rest of us. But yes their personality is of paramount importance & perhaps you are able to take more time in getting to know someone than some of us who may disregard a person more readily if they ‘don’t float my boat’. So yes I can see how a voice & the way it’s used & a smell be it perfume or a personal smell can influence your attraction. I’ve never heard anyone mention the ‘texture’ of a voice before & I’m not sure I fully understand it. Simply how someone touches you & the phrase ‘if someone feels like she belongs in my arms’ is wonderful, so evocative. Thank you blindlover.
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blindlover
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Post by blindlover on Jun 17, 2019 18:48:27 GMT -5
Thanks again for all your very interesting answers. This is a great thread! So are you currently using Braille display or voice reader to use your computer? Which do you prefer, reading Braille or listening to a machine voice?
Right now I am using my computer with speech, although I also can read Braille. I do prefer speech, as my braille reading skills have never been the best despite years of training. Some think I have dyslexia on top of my blindness. Some others think this is a contradiction in terms. Whatever it may be, I don't think Braille is out dated or of lesser value , as an alphabetical system is really key to be able to form a good idea of spelling, which is something you may miss if you work with speech only.
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blindlover
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Post by blindlover on Jun 17, 2019 19:44:40 GMT -5
I just wanted to say thank you for all the appreciation I received for this tread. I do have to admit it does take a considerable amount of time to write answers thoroughly , certainly given I think it takes substantially longer for me to write than all of you who have working eyes in general. But then when I see you guys like it and are interested, it's more than worth the effort. Also, your questions are, besides here off course, welcome on Zello as well , where a good bunch of the PD community seems to be chatting and talking nowadays. This would be a more fluid , more voice centred and for me less time consuming way of discussing things . I'm there as theprotector0405 . Anyway, thank you all so much and keep the questions coming, the more difficult , the better
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Post by feelsunshine on Jun 20, 2019 11:04:30 GMT -5
Hi blindloverI really enjoyed to read your answers. And sure I would like to keep this thread alive. So let’s say we were out on the street together. What would be the easiest way to guide you and to let you know that something is coming up. I mean the term “watch your step” is kind of stupid I would assume.
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blindlover
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Post by blindlover on Jun 24, 2019 18:10:50 GMT -5
Hi blindlover I really enjoyed to read your answers. And sure I would like to keep this thread alive. So let’s say we were out on the street together. What would be the easiest way to guide you and to let you know that something is coming up. I mean the term “watch your step” is kind of stupid I would assume.
Hi there,
Firstly, I'm sorry for this shamefully late answer, it has been a pretty hectic weekend for me , but in a good way.
Well, the best way to guide me would be with my arm hooked into yours. I know, this seems counter-intuitive as traditional gendered patterns would want you to inverse the hooking. This way however, normally I'd walk a few inches behind you and my arm would touch your side. That would not only allow me to feel steps and the likes slightly before I have to take them, but also enable me to feel subtle turns my guide would take. That way, minimal interruptions of the conversations are necessary. Turns should not be reported. Neither should normal side walk steps. For other kinds of steps, up or down can be used , as this is indeed more informative. I won't be able to watch my step, after all .
Another related question that sometimes is asked is why I would prefer to be guided instead of following behind with my cane. The latter is certainly possible, but demands much higher amounts of concentration, making having conversations while walking to a hardship. Also the verbal guidance needed to lead me through difficult or dangerous traffic situations would have to be much more extended and interventions if it goes wrong are not immediate. This might make guiding more challenging for the guide, in my opinion. So The arms hook up is a win-win situation I think
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Post by devogirl on Jun 24, 2019 23:23:15 GMT -5
Don’t feel bad about taking a while to answer, we’re just glad you are continuing to post such thoughtful and interesting answers. So how does your screen reader read emojis? Does it say “smiley face”? If someone writes does it say “colon parenthesis”? Does it seem weird or natural? Also a deeper question, what in your experience are some differences between yourself being born blind versus people who lost their sight later?
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