Hi there:
Thanks to all who sent emails regarding our concerns about the blind person definition.  I'm happy to report that we have accomplished our task.
Read on!
Thanks again.
Martin

Subject: WordNet definition of "blind person"
   From: Ben <[log in to unmask]>
   Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 14:10:16 -0500
     To: WordNet <[log in to unmask]>
     Cc: George <[log in to unmask]>,
   Christiane <[log in to unmask]>,
   Randee <[log in to unmask]>

WordNet's definition of "blind person" has been changed to read: "a
person with a severe visual impairment".
"Blind man" is no longer listed as a synonym for "blind person", but
"visually impaired person" is.
WordNet is not an authoritative source for definitions, nor is that its
intent. Many of the definitions are somewhat antiquated, having reached
us via lists of words from other sources.
Unfortunately, releasing a new version of WordNet, as when publishing a
printed book, takes a good deal of time and money.
Thus, the corrected definition will not be publicly visible until the
next release of WordNet, and the Google result (via their "definitions"
service), which is not under our direct control, may take even longer to
reflect our internal correction.
It was never our intent to portray blind people as unemployable, and we
regret having done so inadvertently.
Sincerely,
Ben Haskell,
WordNet Technical Support Specialist



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