A Personal Experiment
UPDATE: So, upon reading the entry below, I realized it drastically misrepresented my motivation and--in point of fact--sounded kind of gross. So, let me clarify: This is a venture for wholly personal gain. While I do hope it gets me thinking more about certain issues, that is not the primary objective. And I'm def. not planning on using it as justification to co-opt the experience of PWD (because I think parts of it sound a bit like that was My Master Plan).
No, it's just that...I haven't relied on my own eyesight for any period of time longer than a haircut since I was...five years old. That's, like, thirteen years. Thirteen years where I have had no idea how I, myself, actually see the world without artificial aid.
I find that really weird. And I want to rectify the situation. So really, this is about self-discovery more than anything.
We now return you to the original post.
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So, I've decided to try an experiment of sorts.
As many of you are aware, I wear glasses pretty much constantly from when I get up until when I go to bed. I'm quite short-sighted, so without them, anything beyond 6-7 inches is essentially a blur.
However. I don't actually need to focus on most non-text things, I have recently realized. So I'm going to try and cut back on my glasses use, only using them when I actually need to, y'know. Read something, or something similarly vision-dependent.
I'm honestly not really certain why I'm doing this, except that I'm kind of fed up with being as dependent on my glasses as I am. I mean, no doubt they're a wonderful invention--because of them, less-than-extreme visual impairment isn't even really thought of as a disability in the public discourse. But there's no denying that they shape my life--I'm used to thinking that, if I lose my glasses, I'm TOTALLY FUCKED. Which, y'know, is a mindset I'd like to get out of.
In addition, it appeals to me solely as an experiment--how well can I function in day-to-day life without my vision? I mean, it's not like the glasses are an intrinsic part of me--they're an aide. One that not everyone's able to access (and I realize this experiment is a very dilettante-ish way of denying myself privilege--I mean, I'm planning to put them back on when I need to read something, for gods' sakes).
I'm just going to try it. And see what thoughts it provokes. It could go in any number of directions, and I'm interested in stuff like that.
Plus, I really like my eyes. And no-one else can see them properly under normal circumstances. So there's that.
No, it's just that...I haven't relied on my own eyesight for any period of time longer than a haircut since I was...five years old. That's, like, thirteen years. Thirteen years where I have had no idea how I, myself, actually see the world without artificial aid.
I find that really weird. And I want to rectify the situation. So really, this is about self-discovery more than anything.
We now return you to the original post.
--------
So, I've decided to try an experiment of sorts.
As many of you are aware, I wear glasses pretty much constantly from when I get up until when I go to bed. I'm quite short-sighted, so without them, anything beyond 6-7 inches is essentially a blur.
However. I don't actually need to focus on most non-text things, I have recently realized. So I'm going to try and cut back on my glasses use, only using them when I actually need to, y'know. Read something, or something similarly vision-dependent.
I'm honestly not really certain why I'm doing this, except that I'm kind of fed up with being as dependent on my glasses as I am. I mean, no doubt they're a wonderful invention--because of them, less-than-extreme visual impairment isn't even really thought of as a disability in the public discourse. But there's no denying that they shape my life--I'm used to thinking that, if I lose my glasses, I'm TOTALLY FUCKED. Which, y'know, is a mindset I'd like to get out of.
In addition, it appeals to me solely as an experiment--how well can I function in day-to-day life without my vision? I mean, it's not like the glasses are an intrinsic part of me--they're an aide. One that not everyone's able to access (and I realize this experiment is a very dilettante-ish way of denying myself privilege--I mean, I'm planning to put them back on when I need to read something, for gods' sakes).
I'm just going to try it. And see what thoughts it provokes. It could go in any number of directions, and I'm interested in stuff like that.
Plus, I really like my eyes. And no-one else can see them properly under normal circumstances. So there's that.