Thread: So, was I rude?

Ron,

There is a blind man in my neighborhood and as our block is pretty active with cookouts and such, I have had the opportunity to talk to him on few occasions and ask him about navigating.

He said that for the most part as long as he is paying attention when he leaves the house, he doesn't get lost. On the rare occasion that he does lose his bearings he has relied on strangers or neighbors to help him out. He said that he frequently finds himself explaining to folks who simply say "Oh, you need to go that way..." that they need to take his arm and turn him to face the direction they are wanting to indicate.

My guess is that the individual that you helped didn't feel strange about your approach at all but likely thought "Finally, someone who understands that I can't see!"

If you run into him again, you can always ask him. But just your being worried about it is a sure sign that you are already sympathetic to the situation and that more so than most.

-Rob

Ron,
I have never seen any reason to suggest your social skills are lacking. You are a delightful conversationalist, a well-rounded man with all kinds of fascinating life experiences and wisdom from them, and above all the fact that you worried about this at all shows what a gentleman you are. I think you did just fine.

not offensive. helpful. no worries.

and it is pathetic that others were too worried about being PC to help him.

Hello, Utopian:

You would have been rude and committed a profound offense had you not stopped to help him.

But you did stop to help him, and did you put a warm and gentle hand on his shoulder to point him in the right direction.

That was kind of you, and gracious, and responsible, and human. It was also noble.

Were I you, I probably would have added a few kind words. Then again, for you, your touch of understanding said it all.

Thank you for extending a helping hand to one in need.

Regards,
Obie

What Obie said...!

I don't think you were rude, and if the gentleman was fine about it then I see no reason be concerned!

IMHO, I think it's a shame that you should even have to ask if providing a service to a fellow human being in need was rude or not. Not every person that delivers help delivers it the same way, yet does it with the same heart.

I wish to believe that the man knew what was in your heart and accepted the much needed help in the spirit in which it was delivered. I wish that our world would encourage people such as youself rather that put shadow of doubt on their deeds.

Well done.
David

Id do it exactly the same way. Cant wait till you bump into him and let us all know.

Our society sucks, were so anti touch and offence. I used to hug all my friends at church but now i just stand next to them and give em a side hug. Its cool, i still get to show them i love them but in our corrupt world full of nasty people you have to be more careful.
But as said, a kind touch is a good thing.
One of my massage teachers said he was giving a massage to someone who had an amputation and when hed worked his way over the shoulder he just massaged the whole limb. The person cried and said think you, no one has been willing to touch me there.

Onya mate, hope i get over my self embarrassment if ever in a similar situation and go out of my comfort zone and help like you did.

+Sz

It speaks volumes of the nobility of your spirit, Sir Ron, that it concerns you so, whether you caused any offence to the gentleman. Courtesy needs to be not only practiced but also considered. You succeeded admirably on all counts, Sir.

Matt321 Articulated it perfectly.... Don`t worry about it and if it ever happens again, or maybe something similar happens... You cared enough to question yourself the first time, you`ll learned from it, if you even decided you NEED to learn any lessons and act in a way maybe you won`t question next time Perfik. I sued someone once. In the courtroom the judge was confused over the order of a certain event. There was a silence and then I spoke up. He laughed a little and then said to my brief, "Take instructions from you client will you!" I SHOULDN`T have opened my mouth unless I was in the box. But the judge knew that I didn`t know any better, and that I certainly meant nothing by it......

I think you did fine.

I was told years ago when we used to teach blind kids to sail at a local outdoors centre that you should allow a blind person to initiate any contact. So just for future reference, I believe the best approach would have been to invite him to hold your arm and then turn him in the correct direction that way. But it's far more important to offer assistance than to get precisely the right etiquette.

Looked at from another point of view, if you were lost in the dark, would you object to someone lightly touching your shoulder to point you in the right direction?