16 May 2023, 01:19 PM
DanielIf you had to be blind or deaf...
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.
16 May 2023, 03:48 PM
ShiroKuroquote:
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.
16 May 2023, 04:30 PM
dolmansaxlilThere 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.
16 May 2023, 05:22 PM
DanielI 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.