>>> [log in to unmask] 09/26/00 05:00 >>>
>Hi ya'll,<
Hi Beth - me again - I'l reply to your massage..
>
I personally have a hard time with actually 'meeting' people - online is no
problem, I can type just fine. In person, I have a few physical problems, that
I imagine are probably very distracting to a "normal" individual. I sometimes
use a "walker", or a mobilator as I call it, to walk with - but sometimes I go
on my own. The thing with going on my own, is that I have a VERY limited
ability to "stand up", for more than 30 seconds, without "wobbling" a lot. I
have NO balance. So, if you get in a situation without the walker, you then are standing and wobbling, trying to carry on a conversation. NOT my favorite thing to do - the very first thing I do when I walk in a room, is look for a chair, and plant myself in it! This tends to look like I am an unfriendly person (to a 'normal' individual) probably........ but, I can't help it. Sitting down is my 'most comfortable', social position!"
<cut>
Me too - Im probably not as bad as you are - ie 30 seconds, - but I do find the nearest seat I can find - probably looks to most people that im un-social. - I am in groups of people - but on one-on-one chats im perfectly fine..
The hardest part for me - i think, is sitting beside someone / people, start to talk & then they (after 5-10 minutes), move around to a different desk / group...(they like me - so its not anything afgainst me - i think) - Im left there standing/ sitting, wondering who to talkk to next....
>As for meeting - I tend to look at it, the same way as I do WORK. I sometimes think a 'disabled' person has to work twice as hard, at the very same job that an 'able-bodied' person has, in order to prove themselves....... at least that is the way it feels to me. And, for meeting people, I have to work twice as hard, to 'get' a relationship. I'm lucky, that I own my mailing list, and have met a LOT of people all around the country. They "know" me - online. Whether or not they are 'surprised' at what they get 'in person', I don't know.
<
Yep - i own / run lots of mailing lists - mostly international - trying to promote some NZ ones...
I know lots of people through them, (& the on-line chats) & most of them think im a great guy (knowing of my CP as well) - though they live too far away..
ive never actually met anyone (in person) through a list...
- but Over the last 4 or so months, I hink my confidence has increased a lot.. and hopefully - when I get the nerve up, to meet a live person - I'll be ok..
Right now, im seeing about disabled / able-bodied places around my area.. - that would be a good place to start i think..
- PS - NZ is so dis-organised - TONNES of different agencies, etc.. - but no co-ordinated effort to organise / share information - Thats what im hoping to do with one of my lists... (basically the same as this list - but for all disabilities, and specifically in NZ)
Gordon.
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