tom,

Whining in an of itself does not accomplish much.  However, before
solutions can be generated, problems need to be identified
and.  Additionally, proposed and new solutions should be and need to be
evaluated.  Further, people seek to learn if their personal experience or
opinion is particular to them or if it is a shared one requiring a
community response.

I think it is too easy to harp on what doesn't work, what problems people
have, and what particular companies have not done.  We neglect often to
notice the increased usability of the technology, increased options
available, the successes people are having with all of this, and the
increased commitment by some companies and organizations.  is the problem
that of balance, a focus on limitation without consideration of benefit,
or is it that we are experiencing the general expressions of
dissatisfaction online that can be experienced offline in the blind
community?

kelly





On Wed, 22 Nov 2000, Tom Dekker wrote:

> As far as MicroSoft, or Pulse data, or whatever goes, I can't help but ask
> the question:
>
> How does all the whining on these lists about what we don't have, or what a
> company didn't do that they said they'd do really change anything!  Isn't it
> sort o' like "preaching to the choir"?  Or, put another way, I guess I'm
> just wondering how many of the people who ultimately make the decisions
> about these things actually monitor these lists?  After all, we need all the
> available energy directed to the political process if change is going to
> happen.  Otherwise, the corporate world will do its usual -- continuing to
> look after its own interests, ignoring as much to do with special needs as
> it can get away with.  Better that our energies be directed to developing
> strategies for taking action to affect change.
>
> Now I'm not very savvy in the political department and I'm the first to say
> it.  But "whining blind" syndrome sure gets boring after a while, and I
> don't think it accomplishes squat!
>
> Tom Dekker
> Access Technology Consultant
> f/t Blind and Reading-Disabled
> Houston/Toronto
>
> http://www.technability.net
>
>
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>


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html