As a blind woman, I encounter some truly bizarre comments and questions from sighted individuals. I often wonder how they manage daily tasks like brushing their teeth or tying their shoes. One particularly memorable incident involved a woman who asked me how I knew when I started my period.
Years ago, before I trained for my first guide dog, I was working out at the gym. As I was leaving, a woman looked directly at me and remarked, “It’s remarkable that you can go up and down a flight of stairs.” It took me a moment to comprehend her words. After a second, I turned to her and said, “Really? You should see me tie my shoes. It’s an incredible sight.”
Most of the time, I’m unsure whether to feel insulted or laugh at these comments. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that getting angry doesn’t solve anything. The only effective way to combat ignorance is to respond in kind. This approach often stops people in their tracks and makes them realize the absurdity of their remarks.
On other occasions, when acquaintances ask me silly questions, I find it best to respond in kind, but I make sure to convey that I’m not offended by their silliness.
One summer, I attended a friend’s barbecue to meet her family. She was to be married to one of my close friends later that year. I brought my guide dog with me so that she could explore their house. Since they had never encountered a blind person before, I knew this would be an interesting experience.
My best friend’s brother asked me the most anticipated question a blind person can expect: “How many fingers am I holding up?” As an adult, I was excited about this question. I looked at him seriously and raised my middle finger, repeating the question, “How many fingers am I holding up?”
To my delight, her family found it hilarious. This incident effectively broke the ice and helped them understand that blind people are not easily offended.
I came across a TikTok video where an unknown creator expressed his preference for death ov
