Being helpful

[cosmolinguist]

At the gym, I spotted someone holding what looked like a guide cane. (There are different kinds of white canes.)

He was just standing around, looking kinda vague. So when I finished the exercise I was doing, I went over and asked him if he would like any help.

We didn't share much language, but I got the impression he didn't want to be bothered, so I cheerfully went on my way.

But when I was doing my next exercise, he came over and said something about "check weights."

I hopped up with a confidence I soon realized was unearned. I was at that time actually using the only machine I can read the weight numbers on...because they've been repainted by hand. I rarely use the free weights because I can't find the dumbbells I need most of the time -- everything is labeled black-on-black! Why?!

Anyway, he didn't actually want help setting the weights for a machine or finding free weights. He wanted me to read his weight, from a scale that I hadn't even known was in the gym.

The numbers on the scale were so tiny.

Oops: I quickly realized I'm the worst person in the gym for him to ask!

Luckily I had my phone on me, so I could do what I usually do when I'm out and about and something is too small for me to read: took a photo on my phone and zoomed in.

I read out the number to him, and he seemed dismayed. He actually handed me his cane and asked me to read his weight again.

Guide canes are only a meter long, they're hollow, and they're very light. White canes working properly depends on them being very light! Sorry my friend: the number was the same the second time.

Anyway, moral of the story is: sighted people should offer help to a blind person, because if you don't another blind person is gonna recognize their cane and be excited about it and offer help that it turns out I'm shit at actually providing.

Comments

[otter]

Yes, someone else should have asked if he needed help and offered. You did end up giving the help that was requested, though.

[cosmolinguist]

Yep, it all ended well.

[jesse_the_k]

Deploying your expertise with time and technology, you answered his question.

[cosmolinguist]

Yeah I'm glad it worked out!

[barakta]

I'm guessing he didn't work out that you too were visually impaired and the language barrier made that harder too.

[cosmolinguist]

Yeah exactly; he didn't seem to notice my own visual impairment and the language barrier meant I didn't bother to try explaining. It worked out. :)

[cmcmck]

Good of you to help.

A friend at uni was blind in the days when braille was still done manually so I spent ages reading for her to braille!

[cosmolinguist]

Oh interesting!

[zhelana]

I can see pretty well, to the point I was shocked when the DMV informed me I needed glasses because I can see just fine and don't wear them except to drive. I still can't see the black numbers on the black weights. I don't know who made the decision that that should be standard but they should be fired.

[cosmolinguist]

Yeah it's a terrible standard!

[silveradept]

Seems likely that you were the only person recognizing the potential need for help, even if you think you were the worst person to actually provide it. Better than no help at all.

[cosmolinguist]

Yep, done is better than perfect!