which would choose?

I've thought about this hypothetical question for some time.

I used to think I'd rather be blind. There wasn't any question in my mind.

On second thought, maybe I'd rather be deaf.

Being blind might be a bigger handicap.

quote:

Being blind might be a bigger handicap.

I have several colleagues who are Deaf, and while I don't presume to speak for them, I would guess that they would agree that blindness would impose more limitations. I don't think they see themselves as disabled at all actually.

For me personally.... music is such a big part of my life, it would be hard to give that up.

With regard to my job... in many ways, I could continue the same kind of research even if I were blind, but I would have to shift if I were deaf.

Separate from that, I studied ASL years ago, and these days I use it at a sort of beginner level to talk to my colleagues, so the communication aspect of deafness doesn't scare me.

There is a deaf community, and even deaf culture, in a way that doesn’t exist for the blind. Between that and how visual our built world is, I think deafness would be the one I would choose. Assuming we are talking about complete loss of sight vs, complete loss of hearing, I would lose my job if I was to be blind, but I would imagine I could find work as a teacher (of deaf students) if I were deaf. My hobbies are largely visual as well, so I think my sight would be a greater impact on my quality of life.

I posted a TikTok video a month or two ago of Diana, Princess of Wales communicating with a group of deaf people.

I was impressed by her mastery of sign language.

SK, music is the exact reason I used to be certain I'd choose to be blind.

I've changed my mind.