[access-uk] Re: Rationale for moderator decisions
- From: "Angel" <angel238@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2012 04:42:53 -0400
Of course long canes for the blind and visually impaired was among the first
access technology ever available to us. Enabling us to be a lot more
independent than we had been when we were walking around using only sighted
guides, or dogs, or taps on our shoes to maximize echo location. How many on
this list remember hearing older blind people tapping their way through
buildings in which we were. I certainly do. If the long white, or any other
colored, cane isn't an example of access technology, are the abacus, and the
writing frame and stylus examples of access technology for us blind? I should
think they are. They write and calculate, as much as do the computers and note
takers we use today. I use them every day I live. Just because I am writing
this on a computer doesn't mean lower technology should be discounted as access
technology. When cars we blind can drive independently arrive will this list
ban them for discussion? I should think it wouldn't.
Because what will be higher tech than will they. What will be the difference
between they and the long cane? They each will be means by which we blind
travel. Just as the older methods by which we blind wrote are equal to the
more sophisticated methods most of us use today.
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Cassidy
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2012 2:49 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Rationale for moderator decisions
Hello listers,
Since when did a long cane have a computer in it, except perhaps for the
ultracane. Kindles and related products certainly do have IT-related products
in them. Let's have some common sense on this one. I deleted all of that thread
without reading it for this very reason; it's not access technology-related.
Cheers,
Mike
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Edward Green
Sent: 02 October 2012 23:01
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Rationale for moderator decisions
Hi Barry,
I would be interested to understand more about the reasons for your closure
of the long cane discussion.
The description of the Access UK list at
//www.freelists.org/list/access-uk is as follows:
"This group is designed for blind and visually impaired computer users to
discuss all aspects of their specialist software used to enable them to access
their computer. It provides a support network where users and professionals in
the field can help support each other and discuss and hopefully, resolve,
issues or problems surrounding the access technology."
According to the first sentence in the terms of reference, the group is
therefore entirely restricted to the discussion of computer software. Why,
therefore, have you not closed down discussions relating to the Kindle
Keyboard, Penfriend, computer recommendations, braille displays or useful
kitchen devices, none of which can be described as software?
Given that you haven't closed down such threads, I assume you agree with me
that limiting the group to software would neither be constructive nor useful.
Are you therefore saying that the group should be limited to the discussion
of high tech solutions? Discussions of the long cane, if you accept it as a low
tech solution, would seem to be to be entirely on topic given that it helps
blind people with access!
I'm also not sure that people have had to read off topic emails if they don't
want to. As far as I am aware, the subject line of this thread has made it
clear what this is about, giving people the ability to skip over or delete
messages that they are not interested in. This is what I have done with
threads in which I don't have an interest.
I'd be interested to hear your rationale.
Thanks,
Ed
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