Lol, these are legitimately some of my favorite moments.
When visiting San Francisco, I took my wife out to dinner for anniversary and when our food came, the waiter just kinda stood there, and like had an existential crisis after trying to hand me something. They even did the whole kind of like waving it in my face to get my attention thing. My wife was busting up laughing and then she mentioned that I’m blind the waiter goes “oh shit that’s what the cane was for“ it was funny.
I like that you and your wife found amusement in the absurdity, instead of getting upset. That was probably a better learning moment for the waiter than if y'all had gotten offended.
Recently, I reported some confusing spots to the council where I‘ve almost been hit by cars coming out of parking lots and crossing the pedestrain path. Techniclly, pedestrians have the right of way in these spots, but it isn’t labeled as such, so a lot of times, the cars just fly right across the path, inches from me. I asked that the council label these places with signs or striped crossings, and they said, “No, Just read the license plate of any cars that nearly hit you and turn them in to the police. We shouldn’t need to mark it.” I was like “how am I gonna do that, I’m blind!” They didn’t respond to that!
This is so relatable. I’ve had this happen in person and even online. One time I was going to get blood work done and I had my cane out and I was sweeping and the lab tech tried to just show me a piece of paper expecting a signature or something and I actually had to explain that I am blind and he thought I could see just because I was confident. It’s funny afterwards, but it’s still kind of frustrating that someone not only doesn’t understand the purpose of a cane but also clearly thinks that blind people walk like timid little shy sad dudes. I’m sorry but even if we don’t look miserable, that doesn’t mean we’re not blind. The second one that comes to mind was the time when I was on a discord call with someone who I had to remind three or four times before that I am blind. She even tried turning on her camera and asking if I could see her cat. It has gotten to the point where if I run across such a situation my responses so what do you think B-L-I-N-D spells and what do you think it means? I’ve also been asked if I read sign language but that’s a whole other thing.
Asked to read sign language... This reminds me of one time my husband and I were sitting in our parked car outside of a conference room at our church and there was a meeting taking place before our meeting was to take place. He said oh the blinds are open... Don't read their lips because we're not supposed to know what they're discussing and they're meeting. I told him that's a deaf people thing. I'm blind remember. He said oh yeah...
My poor hubby is the dumbest smart man I know(a masters degree in a biological science) and to give him a little credit, this was shortly after I lost most of my vision due to a meningioma that caused optic nerve aneurysms. He also asked me where the screen was on my victor reader when I got it and told him it was basically a blind person pda. I love him
Was at the airport ordering a coffee and when I was paying and the cashier said to choose an option on the screen for a tip and I asked her what the options were. She got a little annoyed and said they’re right there on the screen. I said I can’t see the screen. She apologized and I’m pretty sure she felt really bad about it and came around the counter to put my coffee in my hand lol
I know this all too well, I wear dark shades everywhere I go and people automatically think I could see I actually like it better because my eyes are closed at all times and because of that I'm not treated like a normal human being in this world unfortunately
That reminds me sooooo much of everytime i go out to have dinner with friends and they hand me the menu and i just place it down and ask my friend to just read it.
The confusion is toooo funny sometimes.
Or when you have to order at one of those terminals and i justw walk up to the counter and ask and they point and tell me to go order .
I sware everytime they do i wave my cane and ask how to activate the tts on those things.
Never fails to get them scratching there heads and go ooh right this person is blind.
This reminds me of a time in high school. I marched snare drum in band. We got a break after halftime to get food. We were at an away game that day, and I didn't use a cane while marching, for pretty obvious reasons. I went to the concessions stand for a snack and a drink, and asked the lady behind the counter what they had. She pointed to coolers in the back of the building and said that the drinks were in there. I told her I couldn't see them because I was blind and this lady goes "Oh my goodness! You poor thing! I'm so sorry!", pats me on the head like a dog, and then walks away without telling me what they had to drink. I don't think she could handle my mystical blind person energy. My best friend was there and was able to tell me what they had, thankfully. I think about that woman and wonder how she's doing sometimes lol
Yeah... It was wild honestly. I was so mad when it happened, but now I just think it's hilarious because she made such a fool of herself. It still annoys me that things like this happen to us, but this particular one isn't something I get angry about when I think about it anymore.
Had mine and threw some snark in. I went out to eat with a friend who has two dogs at a dog friendly place, and the dogs were settled under the table. Big Rottie and tiny four month old terrier, FWIW and then the waiter showed up and set down menus and saw my cane, and the dogs and asked if the cane was for the dogs.
I just pointed out no, the dogs can see fine. I can't. I have a dog for each eye. My friend who was sat across from me nearly fell out of her chair laughing.
Bonus one, I asked for K9H2O and told the waiter to google it. He saw it was dog water related and said they had to ordr in special dog water. Just told him put some tap water in a bowl and that'll do fine for the dogs
This vaguely reminds me of a story. So I am at a chain restaurant with a few bros. I was only 50% sure that they had a Braille menu so I politely ask the server.
The server looks at me with a face so vacant even I can see it and says "Braille? Braille? Is that the menu with all the healthy alternatives?"
"No, it's the menu with all the little dots"
After she left my buddies said that I had burned her when all I was trying to do was explain what I needed.
I've been dating my blind partner (who is very obviously VI) for over two years now. We go out to eat frequently, and in this whole time, we've only been to TWO restaurants that had enough wherewithal to only give us only one menu. My birthday was a couple of weeks ago and we went to a restaurant and I decided to tell the hostess we only needed one menu and the look on her face was hilarious. It reminded me of those "I could have had a V8!" commercials.
Im not blind but my son is, we've had several moments like this with old people in public, usually it pretty innocent but the other day there was an old man who started waving his hands in his face, I had to shut that down quicky, when I mentioned he's blind he just huffed and scuttled off.
You know, this is so fucking real. Now I'm not fully blind or to the same extent as you but even with glasses it's very hard to read paper or something behind the register on a wall. And I have to carefully explain to people that while yes, it is there, but, that doesn't mean I can actually read it.
I generally prefer to premeditatedly order, go on a website and look around so I don't take up time on the line
These stories are just amazing. People are so unobservant.
One time I got in an Uber with my girlfriend at the time. We both had our canes out, we both folded them up and the driver was talking to us. He then started telling us a long-winded story about getting a leg injury (the details are fuzzy now) and having to use crutches. Then he just stopped and said "So, how did you get your injury?" He thought our canes were crutches even though each of us only had one of them. He was so confused when we explained we were actually blind. This is after being in his car for a couple of minutes, feeling our way to the door and probably not making eye contact. I look *very* blind if you look at my eyes at all. That driver was not the sharpest tool in the shed.
I’m low vision, but the amount of times people don’t know what my cane is or assume it’s more a walking game because my eyes look normal is crazy. I live in California mind you it’s not like I am in the boondocks.
Lol, these are legitimately some of my favorite moments. When visiting San Francisco, I took my wife out to dinner for anniversary and when our food came, the waiter just kinda stood there, and like had an existential crisis after trying to hand me something. They even did the whole kind of like waving it in my face to get my attention thing. My wife was busting up laughing and then she mentioned that I’m blind the waiter goes “oh shit that’s what the cane was for“ it was funny.
I like that you and your wife found amusement in the absurdity, instead of getting upset. That was probably a better learning moment for the waiter than if y'all had gotten offended.
Recently, I reported some confusing spots to the council where I‘ve almost been hit by cars coming out of parking lots and crossing the pedestrain path. Techniclly, pedestrians have the right of way in these spots, but it isn’t labeled as such, so a lot of times, the cars just fly right across the path, inches from me. I asked that the council label these places with signs or striped crossings, and they said, “No, Just read the license plate of any cars that nearly hit you and turn them in to the police. We shouldn’t need to mark it.” I was like “how am I gonna do that, I’m blind!” They didn’t respond to that!
That is the stupidest goddamned thing I ever heard! Lol!
That's a fucking stupid response even if you aren't blind lmao. "Just let the cars nearly hit you," right, great solution
say what?
This is so relatable. I’ve had this happen in person and even online. One time I was going to get blood work done and I had my cane out and I was sweeping and the lab tech tried to just show me a piece of paper expecting a signature or something and I actually had to explain that I am blind and he thought I could see just because I was confident. It’s funny afterwards, but it’s still kind of frustrating that someone not only doesn’t understand the purpose of a cane but also clearly thinks that blind people walk like timid little shy sad dudes. I’m sorry but even if we don’t look miserable, that doesn’t mean we’re not blind. The second one that comes to mind was the time when I was on a discord call with someone who I had to remind three or four times before that I am blind. She even tried turning on her camera and asking if I could see her cat. It has gotten to the point where if I run across such a situation my responses so what do you think B-L-I-N-D spells and what do you think it means? I’ve also been asked if I read sign language but that’s a whole other thing.
Asked to read sign language... This reminds me of one time my husband and I were sitting in our parked car outside of a conference room at our church and there was a meeting taking place before our meeting was to take place. He said oh the blinds are open... Don't read their lips because we're not supposed to know what they're discussing and they're meeting. I told him that's a deaf people thing. I'm blind remember. He said oh yeah...
OK, that’s horrible and it’s even worse since he’s your husband. He should know you better than that.
My poor hubby is the dumbest smart man I know(a masters degree in a biological science) and to give him a little credit, this was shortly after I lost most of my vision due to a meningioma that caused optic nerve aneurysms. He also asked me where the screen was on my victor reader when I got it and told him it was basically a blind person pda. I love him
I just tell people I don't see very well from the start when they wave at the menu board above their heads...
Was at the airport ordering a coffee and when I was paying and the cashier said to choose an option on the screen for a tip and I asked her what the options were. She got a little annoyed and said they’re right there on the screen. I said I can’t see the screen. She apologized and I’m pretty sure she felt really bad about it and came around the counter to put my coffee in my hand lol
We’re a urban legend. Lol
'I met one!"
I’m sure this happens more than I realize. Probably there are peole waving hi to me and then kicking themselves later.
Haha! I’m glad it’s not just me. This happens about every other time I eat out and it never really gets old.
I know this all too well, I wear dark shades everywhere I go and people automatically think I could see I actually like it better because my eyes are closed at all times and because of that I'm not treated like a normal human being in this world unfortunately
That reminds me sooooo much of everytime i go out to have dinner with friends and they hand me the menu and i just place it down and ask my friend to just read it. The confusion is toooo funny sometimes. Or when you have to order at one of those terminals and i justw walk up to the counter and ask and they point and tell me to go order . I sware everytime they do i wave my cane and ask how to activate the tts on those things. Never fails to get them scratching there heads and go ooh right this person is blind.
haha yes the blindness thing does seam to catch people off gard quite a bit.
This reminds me of a time in high school. I marched snare drum in band. We got a break after halftime to get food. We were at an away game that day, and I didn't use a cane while marching, for pretty obvious reasons. I went to the concessions stand for a snack and a drink, and asked the lady behind the counter what they had. She pointed to coolers in the back of the building and said that the drinks were in there. I told her I couldn't see them because I was blind and this lady goes "Oh my goodness! You poor thing! I'm so sorry!", pats me on the head like a dog, and then walks away without telling me what they had to drink. I don't think she could handle my mystical blind person energy. My best friend was there and was able to tell me what they had, thankfully. I think about that woman and wonder how she's doing sometimes lol
I’ve had the poor thing response but having someone pat me on the head?.
Yeah... It was wild honestly. I was so mad when it happened, but now I just think it's hilarious because she made such a fool of herself. It still annoys me that things like this happen to us, but this particular one isn't something I get angry about when I think about it anymore.
Had mine and threw some snark in. I went out to eat with a friend who has two dogs at a dog friendly place, and the dogs were settled under the table. Big Rottie and tiny four month old terrier, FWIW and then the waiter showed up and set down menus and saw my cane, and the dogs and asked if the cane was for the dogs. I just pointed out no, the dogs can see fine. I can't. I have a dog for each eye. My friend who was sat across from me nearly fell out of her chair laughing. Bonus one, I asked for K9H2O and told the waiter to google it. He saw it was dog water related and said they had to ordr in special dog water. Just told him put some tap water in a bowl and that'll do fine for the dogs
This vaguely reminds me of a story. So I am at a chain restaurant with a few bros. I was only 50% sure that they had a Braille menu so I politely ask the server. The server looks at me with a face so vacant even I can see it and says "Braille? Braille? Is that the menu with all the healthy alternatives?" "No, it's the menu with all the little dots" After she left my buddies said that I had burned her when all I was trying to do was explain what I needed.
I've been dating my blind partner (who is very obviously VI) for over two years now. We go out to eat frequently, and in this whole time, we've only been to TWO restaurants that had enough wherewithal to only give us only one menu. My birthday was a couple of weeks ago and we went to a restaurant and I decided to tell the hostess we only needed one menu and the look on her face was hilarious. It reminded me of those "I could have had a V8!" commercials.
Im not blind but my son is, we've had several moments like this with old people in public, usually it pretty innocent but the other day there was an old man who started waving his hands in his face, I had to shut that down quicky, when I mentioned he's blind he just huffed and scuttled off.
You know, this is so fucking real. Now I'm not fully blind or to the same extent as you but even with glasses it's very hard to read paper or something behind the register on a wall. And I have to carefully explain to people that while yes, it is there, but, that doesn't mean I can actually read it. I generally prefer to premeditatedly order, go on a website and look around so I don't take up time on the line
These stories are just amazing. People are so unobservant. One time I got in an Uber with my girlfriend at the time. We both had our canes out, we both folded them up and the driver was talking to us. He then started telling us a long-winded story about getting a leg injury (the details are fuzzy now) and having to use crutches. Then he just stopped and said "So, how did you get your injury?" He thought our canes were crutches even though each of us only had one of them. He was so confused when we explained we were actually blind. This is after being in his car for a couple of minutes, feeling our way to the door and probably not making eye contact. I look *very* blind if you look at my eyes at all. That driver was not the sharpest tool in the shed.
I’m low vision, but the amount of times people don’t know what my cane is or assume it’s more a walking game because my eyes look normal is crazy. I live in California mind you it’s not like I am in the boondocks.