As is being found out through this thread, it isn't only the sighted people
who notice, and probably judge us, on our ability to accurately communicate
through Emails. Blind people cannot decipher a lot of messages that were
written by screen reader users because they weren't punctuated or correctly
spelled.
A screen reader, JAWS for example, will put pauses and inflection into
messages as indicated by how they were written.. A lack of punctuation
indicates one sentence that runs on, and on, and on! The screen reader
pronounces it how it sees it. Funy isn't funny, and pupy isn't puppy. If
you listen to your message before you send it, you should hear this
mistakes, and you should go back over your message and correct them. Nobody
will even know you made the mistakes, but if you leave them in, people will
notice. And, when someone constructively criticizes you by showing that
puzle should be puzzle, for example, it's not being picky. It's trying to
be helpful. On the other side of the coin, screen readers can be strange at
times. Videogame is correct, even though it should be pronounced "video
game", so, at times, it does pay to pay attention when reading, keeping in
mind that screen readers are not perfect.
When it comes to proofreading, those of us fortunate enough to have a
refreshable braille display can usually do a better job at it, because
braille is the best and most immediate and accurate method. It can be done
with speech, but just takes a bit more time and effort, but it still doesn't
take all that much.
---
Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mich" <mi...@eastlink.ca>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Blind Gamers Being Taken Seriously?
Hi I agree with this as well. I will go one step further and admit that my
spelling is not grate either. thank goodness for spell check. and I also
agree that I to have shot off messages before with out spell checking them
first. so I can sertenley understand where a sighted person would come off
with the wrong idea about blind people if they are reading a message full
of spelling mistakes. well these are my thoughts. from Mich.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bryan Peterson" <bpeterson2...@cableone.net>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Blind Gamers Being Taken Seriously?
I agree. I'll be the first to admit I've probably more than occasionally
shot off such messages but I like to think I generally at least try to
proofread beforehand because I'd much rather be understood than do the
"convenient" thing and have someone go what? because my message wasn't
understood. It's why, as I said in another topic, I absolutely refuse to
use internet shorthand even while texting. And as a contributor to the
Game FAQs web site it always set my teeth on edge when I'd get an Email
that said something like Plz help me w Lufia. i cant kill the boss. Thx 4
your time.
They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas Ward" <thomasward1...@gmail.com>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 7:49 AM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Blind Gamers Being Taken Seriously?
Hi Jeremy,
Yes, you definitely raise some very good points in your message. As
you pointed out the biggest problem in communicating with sighted
developers and the public at large is ignorance on their part. Most
sighted people have never met a blind person before, and even if they
have there is no way of knowing what their experience was if any. Its
our job to correct their impressions through by educating them a step
at a time, and to do it in a way that makes us look like intelligent,
competent, and mature individuals who have something worthwhile to say
about their products and services.
Its for that reason every time I see a poorly written message on
Audyssey or some other access list I inwardly cringe. I can't tell you
how many blind individuals just shoot off a message filled with poor
grammar, lack of proper punctuation, and spelling errors. Like it or
not if a sighted person reads those messages we will be judged one and
all as not very intelligent, as lacking communication skills, etc.
Bottom line, if we want the mainstream public's respect we have to
work for it, and not forgo proper language and writing skills for
convenience sake.
Here at Audyssey we considered adding proofreading to the list
guidelines to improve the quality and clarity of the posts.
Unfortunately, there were some individuals that took serious offense
to that, and felt that the moderators were going too far. All I can
draw from their reaction is they don't care about being taken
seriously and want the rest of the sighted world to view us
negatively, because that's exactly what will happen if they send a
poorly written message to a person or company who has no experience
with the blind. In short, good communication skills will go a long
ways to bridging the gap between the blind and sighted communities.
Cheers!
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