MystyGlyttyr
09-21-2006, 06:20 PM
Okay, this might sound crazy but then again, I've figured out that when there's something I can't understand, very often the normally-brained (and I use the term loosely, heh :lol: ) can explain to me, so here goes.
When I see someone who is different in whatever way, be it a celebrity of some sort, or someone in a wheelchair, or a dwarf or whatever, I know "okay, this person is *blank*." And I file that away and so far as I'm concerned, that's the end of it. Naturally, of course, if they look different than normal, I look for a bit longer than usual because, let's face it, something looks different and I'm trying to decide what it is. But that's all I'm doing. The ones who continue to talk with me afterwards get the same treatment anyone else gets, unless I need to talk a little louder or come around to get something from them if they can't hand it to me, no big deal.
However, judging from reactions of some people and what others have said to me, people say it's extremely rude of me to even acknowledge any difference of these people. I'm not sure but I get the impression that I'm not supposed to even glance at them for longer than a second or two.
Now, what's the deal with that? I guess I understand that it might seem like I'm staring, but it's not that I mean to stare and be rude, I just want to be sure that I'm seeing right. It seems to me that it would be rude to NOT acknowledge people because if I don't look long enough to be sure whether a person needs any extra attention from me, then they'll have to point it out to me afterwards themselves. Doesn't it just save us both some time and effort for me to check these people over first and react accordingly? I mean, if a guy has a white walking stick and dark sunglasses, shouldn't I be sure he can find his way first or should I just let him come to me?
I mean, I don't get why I shouldn't acknowledge a person might have some diffeculties, but a lot of folks tell me that I'm being rude to do so. So what am I supposed to do with different people?
When I see someone who is different in whatever way, be it a celebrity of some sort, or someone in a wheelchair, or a dwarf or whatever, I know "okay, this person is *blank*." And I file that away and so far as I'm concerned, that's the end of it. Naturally, of course, if they look different than normal, I look for a bit longer than usual because, let's face it, something looks different and I'm trying to decide what it is. But that's all I'm doing. The ones who continue to talk with me afterwards get the same treatment anyone else gets, unless I need to talk a little louder or come around to get something from them if they can't hand it to me, no big deal.
However, judging from reactions of some people and what others have said to me, people say it's extremely rude of me to even acknowledge any difference of these people. I'm not sure but I get the impression that I'm not supposed to even glance at them for longer than a second or two.
Now, what's the deal with that? I guess I understand that it might seem like I'm staring, but it's not that I mean to stare and be rude, I just want to be sure that I'm seeing right. It seems to me that it would be rude to NOT acknowledge people because if I don't look long enough to be sure whether a person needs any extra attention from me, then they'll have to point it out to me afterwards themselves. Doesn't it just save us both some time and effort for me to check these people over first and react accordingly? I mean, if a guy has a white walking stick and dark sunglasses, shouldn't I be sure he can find his way first or should I just let him come to me?
I mean, I don't get why I shouldn't acknowledge a person might have some diffeculties, but a lot of folks tell me that I'm being rude to do so. So what am I supposed to do with different people?