"Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood."
because you can ;)
Published on August 31, 2004 By Sally jacobs In Just Hanging Out
My eyes are wide open. I see where I'm going, I choose my next steps carefully, I calculate them in my head. One step in front of the other, what's so difficult to understand about that? You need to hold your head up high. Sometimes that's tough, sometimes you want your eyes not to meet others. Sometimes the floor is your friend. To look the world in the eyes is just difficult. If you do manage to hold your head up high, and walk, one foot in front of the other, confidently, there are other problems to face. Things get in your way. Some unmoving. You simply walk around them, avoid them. Some are more difficult, some are also moving, so you have to move to suit them, work out where to go to avoid them. For a short time they control your movement, that is of course presuming you are avoiding contact. You are in control though, really, deep down. You know it too. You choose where your feet carry you. What turns you take, to avoid danger. You. No one holds your hand and guides you, no one pushes you, it's down to you, so many people forget to hold their head up high, and that's only the first step.

I watched a show, where three people were blindfolded for a week. They were only allowed to take the blindfold off at night when they were sleeping. They were given a guide dog, some advice, and sent on their travels. They all had to reach certain destinations. Blindfolded. Holding their head high didn't matter. They couldn't see. They had to rely on their other senses, and the kindness of strangers, or not, as the case maybe. Now there are some obvious implications of this experiment. How transport doesn't cater for those with difficulties, how public places in general don't. Pardon the expression, but it was an eye opener.

The thing that touched me the most was these people relying on the help of strangers. When it was impossible for the dog to guide them, they asked the help of strangers, to lead them somewhere. They placed their trust in people they didn't know. Strangers as a whole, can usally be pretty nice people when you're in need of help, but the way some of the ways these people were treated was disgusting. One girl walked one of these blind folded people into a lamp-post, and thought it was funny. It was an accident, but it really shuck the blind folded lass up. She'd placed her trust in this person, because basically she had no other choice, and this person had done that. She wasn't expecting it, and then that happened, I think it was more shock than anything. I felt for her. I really did. Poor lass. We should all embrace the fact we can hold our heads up and see where we going. We rely on ourselves, and ourselves only. Hold them heads high folks.

Comments
on Aug 31, 2004
Good Blog Sally

Strangers are abit of an enigma - sometimes they can be the kindest people you will ever meet, other times they will be rotten and filthy... although I like to say it often - you cant really depend on the kindness of strangers, because there really are some bitter and jaded people out there...

although. as far as strangers go, as my good friend Miggy would say - avoid strangers by introducing yourself!!!

BAM!!!
on Aug 31, 2004
This is great, it is amazing also upon how much you can tell about a person not only by the way they walk, but how they interact with people walking around them or in/against their direction.

The kindness of strangers can not be relied on at all, i remember reading some news articles shortly after the Twin Towers fell. After a huge accident/tragedy (call it what you will) like that there were still looters on the streets, stealing from shops that had their windows blown out. Granted this occurred up to 24hours after the incident and the sick and injured had been cared for accordingly, but how low can you go! I am sure the looters wonderful 'snatch and grab' skills would of been better put to use in sorting the rubble as opposed to stealing a TV set, potentially from someone who may have lost a loved one in the accident
on Aug 31, 2004
Sally,
I guess the lesson learned is that some people you can trust and others you can't and you have to be prepared for both at all times:)
on Sep 01, 2004
sometimes they can be the kindest people you will ever meet, other times they will be rotten and filthy...


Yeah I know this. I just think when you're in need there are alot of decent people out there and we shouldn't forget that. Mig says it perfectly as usual....

avoid strangers by introducing yourself


This is great, it is amazing also upon how much you can tell about a person not only by the way they walk, but how they interact with people walking around them or in/against their direction.


I'm obsessed by with this! I have this thing about walking in the street, and what side people pass you on, like I think men should pass you on the outside...I'm weird...I just think if a car goes psycho on the pavement, he should take it, hehe...

I am sure the looters wonderful 'snatch and grab' skills would of been better put to use in sorting the rubble as opposed to stealing a TV set, potentially from someone who may have lost a loved one in the accident


yeah I agree, there will always be people out there who can't be relied upon, but compared to the people who did help, I'm sure these people were in the minority!

I guess the lesson learned is that some people you can trust and others you can't and you have to be prepared for both at all times


The only person you can trust is yourself!

Thanks for the comments guys xxx
on Sep 01, 2004
Interesting and insightful article, Sally. I do see blind people at the busstop where I take the bus to work. There's always someone (and usually more than one are eager to offer help) who will ask the blind man if he needs any help, after he gets on the bus, sometimes other people will either give up their seat or ask him where he is going. I would say that people are generally helpful when they see someone with a disadvantage like that.
on Sep 01, 2004
Yep, its the case with everything these days, more often than not we only hear about the negative things that occur, when really from day to day the most people out there are doing good deeds

The news is a perfect example
on Sep 01, 2004
I just think if a car goes psycho on the pavement, he should take it

It would be the only gentlemanly thing to do

I find strangers to be generally helpful and nice, even the ones that don't look like they would/should be. But agreed... it's the few that make a bad name for all the rest.
on Sep 01, 2004
I would say that people are generally helpful when they see someone with a disadvantage like that.


I'd have to agree with you. From what I've seen people are generally nice, it's just the odd few who let us down.

Yep, its the case with everything these days, more often than not we only hear about the negative things that occur, when really from day to day the most people out there are doing good deeds


People take more interest in the bad. Nice is boring apparently. Sad but harsh truth.

It would be the only gentlemanly thing to do


Ha! I totally agree, glad you see my pov!

Thanks for the comments xxx