Movie BLINDNESS

typeingtornado19 · 10-01-2008, 01:39 AM

As you have probably realized due to my blind interpreter thread i am blind. There is a movie coming out this friday called Blindness. This movie portrays blind people in a very unfair and cruel way, showing that we cannot even find the toilet without assistance. THIS IS NOT TRUE! It spreads horrible lies and stereotypes of blindness that make no sense. It is an assault to the blind community. Just like Deafness there are things that are challenging, but that does not mean we can not live a normal and meaningful life just like everyone else in the world. Blindness is a challenge not a horrible, unbearable condition. I urge you to not see this movie, or if you do at least consider the source, this is the media, not real life. I do not live in a horrible slum or asylum. thank you for your time and patience, this is for questions and comments.

Wokamuka · 10-01-2008, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hjones711

As you have probably realized due to my blind interpreter thread i am blind. There is a movie coming out this friday called Blindness. This movie portrays blind people in a very unfair and cruel way, showing that we cannot even find the toilet without assistance. THIS IS NOT TRUE! It spreads horrible lies and stereotypes of blindness that make no sense. It is an assault to the blind community. Just like Deafness there are things that are challenging, but that does not mean we can not live a normal and meaningful life just like everyone else in the world. Blindness is a challenge not a horrible, unbearable condition. I urge you to not see this movie, or if you do at least consider the source, this is the media, not real life. I do not live in a horrible slum or asylum. thank you for your time and patience, this is for questions and comments.

People who cannot find the restrooms, initially, should be forgiven.

People who cannot find the restrooms, thereafter, are, either, begging the main character to hook-up with them or Hollywood.

There's a third reason: Hollywood.

You cannot win when Hollywood (i.e. storytelling/fiction) is in the equation.

typeingtornado19 · 10-01-2008, 01:48 AM

definitely, but no group of people should be portrayed that way, blind, Deaf, anything. its just pure wrong.

society's_child · 10-01-2008, 10:25 AM

Well, I've heard that the movie totally sucks big time, so that would be my main reason for not going to see it. That, and the fact it just doesn't peak my interest.

I provide you with the following reviews:

Blindness | Movie Review | Entertainment Weekly

Blindness - Review - Theater - New York Times

Blindness Review - Read Variety's Analysis Of The Movie Blindness

typeingtornado19 · 10-01-2008, 12:42 PM

thank you very much.

Bebonang · 10-01-2008, 11:07 PM

Making the movies are making big money for a lot of people in the movie industry. Yes, stereotyping no matter what culture we come from is bad enough. People who are watching the movies think that is real life or reality. Like for example, directors who make western movies gives us natives a bad name that we are savage and dangerous to them. Same with shark movies like Jaws also give shark bad names because poachers kill many sharks for fin only and throw out bodies into the ocean. The shark are more afraid of us than we are afraid of them. That is terrible. There is a lot of misunderstanding what the movies portray us and they are not teaching or telling people what is real or not real. Thank you for telling us not to watch the BLINDNESS because it is all wrong and stereotyping what blind people can and can not do. That is very sad.

***VamPyroX*** · 10-01-2008, 11:19 PM

Well, don't forget... the movie is about people who suddenly became blind.

You're right, blind people can find their way around because they've been blind for along time. They've developed better use of their other senses.

With people who can see, they take it for granted. When they become blind, it's a scary moment for them (especially if you suddenly became blind for no reason like in the movie)... so it would happen when people had a hard time doing things that they normally do daily.

typeingtornado19 · 10-01-2008, 11:52 PM

true, but if you are in a familiar place how do you not find the bathroom blind or not?

Steel X · 10-02-2008, 06:37 AM

The movie isnt showing any offense to the blind community at all. The movie is all about a possible virus outbreak that causes alot of people going blind.

Aleser · 10-02-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel X

The movie isnt showing any offense to the blind community at all. The movie is all about a possible virus outbreak that causes alot of people going blind.

Are you a part of the blind community? No? Then you cannot say we are not offended.

Put it in a dress and call it a metaphor all you want, prance around it and throw pink paint on it if you will, but using blindness to express the negative is outright wrong.

If it was deafness dramatized and plastered over the screen, how would you feel? If it was a movie showing portrayed-as-pathetic newly deaf people unable to communicate and suddenly developing extreme 'deaf' accents, how would you feel?

If it was race used, if it was any other disability, that group (and any decent society-at-large) would be jumping down that movie's throat. But people don't think it's a mis-representation- they DO think blindness is an expression of horrible things. They DO think blind people are pathetic.

So, do not speak for 'the community' - speak for yourself, as an outsider attempting to speak FOR ME. I speak for myself.

typeingtornado19 · 10-02-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleser

Are you a part of the blind community? No? Then you cannot say we are not offended.

Put it in a dress and call it a metaphor all you want, prance around it and throw pink paint on it if you will, but using blindness to express the negative is outright wrong.

If it was deafness dramatized and plastered over the screen, how would you feel? If it was a movie showing portrayed-as-pathetic newly deaf people unable to communicate and suddenly developing extreme 'deaf' accents, how would you feel?

If it was race used, if it was any other disability, that group (and any decent society-at-large) would be jumping down that movie's throat. But people don't think it's a mis-representation- they DO think blindness is an expression of horrible things. They DO think blind people are pathetic.

So, do not speak for 'the community' - speak for yourself, as an outsider attempting to speak FOR ME. I speak for myself.

exactly. its is a horrible display of a stereotype. any group of people would be outraged. We as blind people are ticked.

society's_child · 10-02-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hjones711

exactly. its is a horrible display of a stereotype. any group of people would be outraged. We as blind people are ticked.

Well then i'm sure that if the movie tanks, you'll feel quite vindicated.

Banjo · 10-02-2008, 12:49 PM

It's about a whole town who suddenly went blind except for one woman. So yeah, I think you'll find a lot of blind people stumbling all over the town not knowing what's going on.

Besides, the movie is getting weak reviews anyway.

Like VamPyroX said, it would be different for people who were born blind or became blind gradually over the years. For a person who suddenly went blind, maybe it'll be more difficult and a shock to their body's ability to navigate.

It's just something to ponder. However, I don't believe the movie is making an attempt to speak up for the blind community.

Jiro · 10-02-2008, 12:56 PM

Offended? whoa.... whoa there.. calm down! This is not about blind people at all. This is about people who just went mysteriously blind due to virus. It is freaky. There was other movie where there was a mysterious virus that make people very suicidal - they just suddenly kill themselves. Should people living on antidepressant medications be offended about it? Should emo people be offended about it?

I understand that you're blind so it's understandable that you cannot see the movie trailer. Please take it easy. I've seen the trailer and please trust my eyes - It is in NO WAY portraying a stereotypical image of blind community/people at all. Not even by an inch.

typeingtornado19 · 10-02-2008, 01:13 PM

Yes i will feel quite vindicated. And yes i know the people suddenly go blind, but that dosent mean if you suddenly go blind you are suddenly incapable of doing anything. I do not just sit on my butt all day using a sighted person to help me get around. Yes, people who are newly blind may have a few problems until they get adjusted, but that dosent mean they go around using the restroom wherever they please. How would you feel if they made a movie named Deafness, and a town suddenly goes deaf and they just sit in a room and rock. how would the Deaf community feel? Ticked. It is discrimination, all of it. There is a 70 percent unemployment rate among the blind and things like this dont help. Adjustment problems are one thing, but we as Blind people do not go around living in squalor, and it is very offensive to us.

Banjo · 10-02-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

Offended? whoa.... whoa there.. calm down! This is not about blind people at all. This is about people who just went mysteriously blind due to virus. It is freaky. There was other movie where there was a mysterious virus that make people very suicidal - they just suddenly kill themselves. Should people living on antidepressant medications be offended about it? Should emo people be offended about it?

I understand that you're blind so it's understandable that you cannot see the movie trailer. Please take it easy. I've seen the trailer and please trust my eyes - It is in NO WAY portraying a stereotypical image of blind community/people at all. Not even by an inch.

Right, I saw the preview too... it was pretty obvious that everybody went blind due to some sort of virus.

typeingtornado19 · 10-02-2008, 01:21 PM

yes, thats not the issue. its how they portray blind people. we dont need people to see that

Jiro · 10-02-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hjones711

Yes i will feel quite vindicated. And yes i know the people suddenly go blind, but that dosent mean if you suddenly go blind you are suddenly incapable of doing anything. I do not just sit on my butt all day using a sighted person to help me get around. Yes, people who are newly blind may have a few problems until they get adjusted, but that dosent mean they go around using the restroom wherever they please. How would you feel if they made a movie named Deafness, and a town suddenly goes deaf and they just sit in a room and rock. how would the Deaf community feel? Ticked. It is discrimination, all of it. There is a 70 percent unemployment rate among the blind and things like this dont help. Adjustment problems are one thing, but we as Blind people do not go around living in squalor, and it is very offensive to us.

ok but all I can tell you is that you're being extremely overly-sensitive about this. We're not talking about a small group of people. This movie is about hundred of thousands, if not... MILLIONS of people who just went blind suddenly. Don't you think they would be freaking out if they just lost their eyesight? They won't know what to do once they went blind. It's easy for you to say that the blind people are not incapable because you already know how to manage but they don't. Please try your best to understand that this is about million of people who do not know anything about blindness.

On the scale of fear and helplessness.... eyesight would probably rank #1 worst thing to lose.... for general population. Hearing is probably ranked #2. Rest of the senses are not that important. This movie is not about people going around living in a squalor nor about adjusting to it nor trying to find a toilet. NOTHING AT ALL. Hollywood likes to produce movies based on people's common fear - man-eating shark, man-eating sheep, Jason and Freddy, murderous doll like Chucky, psychopath murderer, so on. This is simply about mysterious virus causing sudden blindness. No different from mysterious virus causing people to start bleeding everywhere upon direct physical contact which could be viewed as offensive for people with AIDS or leprosy.

Deep breath, hjones711... Deep breath... Please trust what I'm telling you. Believe me - I am very understanding to your concern. I've seen the trailer and this movie is NOT offensive to blind community at all.

Aleser · 10-02-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

Deep breath, hjones711... Deep breath... Please trust what I'm telling you. Believe me - I am very understanding to your concern. I've seen the trailer and this movie is NOT offensive to blind community at all.

I love that you both assume that he/she cannot see the trailer (because, you know, legal blindness doesn't exist) and that you speak FOR them and say they shouldn't be offensive. YOU are being offensive because you're acting much like an adult talking down to a child.

Jiro · 10-02-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleser

I love that you both assume that he/she cannot see the trailer (because, you know, legal blindness doesn't exist) and that you speak FOR them and say they shouldn't be offensive. YOU are being offensive because you're acting much like an adult talking down to a child.

OK. Let's put this in another way. Let's say I'm deaf and I cannot hear any sound. You're my hearing friend. We're walking down the street and then we encounter this person. This person was talking to me but did not realize i'm deaf. He has some angry facial expression and some odd body gesture while talking to me. I try to lip-read him and only picked out certain keywords.. He was "mumbling" about deaf. I, as a deaf person, may think he is insulting me - based on his facial expression and body language.

But no... you, as my hearing friend, tell me that he was just asking for a direction to deaf place because he needs to get some information there to learn about ASL. And you tell me that he's one of those type of people who talk loud and use a wild body gestures.

Clearly - I misunderstood the situation and you corrected me. hjones711 is a blind person and I'm telling him that the trailer was not offensive for blind people. Now you understand?

imdeafsowhat · 10-02-2008, 05:14 PM

It's a movie. Gosh.

If they made a movie like "DEAFNESS" and everyone became deaf due to a virus. They can't find their way around the caves because at the exit, there's a music playing, "Beethoven". Does that offend you? I'd laugh if they failed because I'd use my NOSE. The key to survival is indeed to use your nose, instinct.

typeingtornado19 · 10-02-2008, 06:59 PM

well this is cool. some of you really get it, and some of you dont. We as the nations blind have been trying to show people that we can live normal lives. this movie shows the opposite.

Banjo · 10-02-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hjones711

well this is cool. some of you really get it, and some of you dont. We as the nations blind have been trying to show people that we can live normal lives. this movie shows the opposite.

I do get what you're saying. However, this movie is not about blind people. It is about a virus affecting everybody to suffer white blindness, then shows the chaos that unravels as a result. It's basically a disaster movie rather than about blindness itself.

You can read the summary on the plot of the novel which the movie is based on to get a better idea of what the movie will be about.

Blindness (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've seen some movies where they portrayed the blind people badly and to get laughs from the audience. Like in the movie, "Road Trip." That was kind of tasteless.

Let's just not turn this into another The Passion of the Christ-style controversy because it's not going to be.

***VamPyroX*** · 10-02-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

I do get what you're saying. However, this movie is not about blind people. It is about a virus affecting everybody to suffer white blindness, then shows the chaos that unravels as a result. It's basically a disaster movie rather than about blindness itself.

You can read the summary on the plot of the novel which the movie is based on to get a better idea of what the movie will be about.

Blindness (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've seen some movies where they portrayed the blind people badly and to get laughs from the audience. Like in the movie, "Road Trip." That was kind of tasteless.

Let's just not turn this into another The Passion of the Christ-style controversy because it's not going to be.

I agree.

We should keep an open mind when watching these kinds of movies.

typeingtornado19 · 10-02-2008, 07:45 PM

i know, and i know its just a movie, but do we really need to reinforce stereotypes? A lot of people already think bad enough we dont need things to get harder.

typeingtornado19 · 10-02-2008, 07:50 PM

NFB - NFB

you should really read this. it explains everything. we have seen the whole movie.

10-01-2008, 01:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	Movie BLINDNESS As you have probably realized due to my blind interpreter thread i am blind. There is a movie coming out this friday called Blindness. This movie portrays blind people in a very unfair and cruel way, showing that we cannot even find the toilet without assistance. THIS IS NOT TRUE! It spreads horrible lies and stereotypes of blindness that make no sense. It is an assault to the blind community. Just like Deafness there are things that are challenging, but that does not mean we can not live a normal and meaningful life just like everyone else in the world. Blindness is a challenge not a horrible, unbearable condition. I urge you to not see this movie, or if you do at least consider the source, this is the media, not real life. I do not live in a horrible slum or asylum. thank you for your time and patience, this is for questions and comments. __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

10-01-2008, 01:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	definitely, but no group of people should be portrayed that way, blind, Deaf, anything. its just pure wrong. __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

10-01-2008, 10:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
society's_child what it is. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The big MD Posts: 819	Well, I've heard that the movie totally sucks big time, so that would be my main reason for not going to see it. That, and the fact it just doesn't peak my interest. I provide you with the following reviews: Blindness \| Movie Review \| Entertainment Weekly Blindness - Review - Theater - New York Times Blindness Review - Read Variety's Analysis Of The Movie Blindness __________________ ...just passing thru, y'all.

10-01-2008, 12:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	thank you very much. __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

10-01-2008, 11:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hell Posts: 27,844	Well, don't forget... the movie is about people who suddenly became blind. You're right, blind people can find their way around because they've been blind for along time. They've developed better use of their other senses. With people who can see, they take it for granted. When they become blind, it's a scary moment for them (especially if you suddenly became blind for no reason like in the movie)... so it would happen when people had a hard time doing things that they normally do daily. __________________ Check out my city... CLICK HERE! (If you already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

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Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

10-01-2008, 11:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bebonang Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manitoulin Island on Lake Huron in Canada Posts: 1,566	Making the movies are making big money for a lot of people in the movie industry. Yes, stereotyping no matter what culture we come from is bad enough. People who are watching the movies think that is real life or reality. Like for example, directors who make western movies gives us natives a bad name that we are savage and dangerous to them. Same with shark movies like Jaws also give shark bad names because poachers kill many sharks for fin only and throw out bodies into the ocean. The shark are more afraid of us than we are afraid of them. That is terrible. There is a lot of misunderstanding what the movies portray us and they are not teaching or telling people what is real or not real. Thank you for telling us not to watch the BLINDNESS because it is all wrong and stereotyping what blind people can and can not do. That is very sad.

10-01-2008, 11:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	true, but if you are in a familiar place how do you not find the bathroom blind or not? __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

10-02-2008, 06:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
Steel X Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 10,956	The movie isnt showing any offense to the blind community at all. The movie is all about a possible virus outbreak that causes alot of people going blind. __________________

10-02-2008, 12:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Banjo Mr. Movie Guy Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,128 Blog Entries: 1	It's about a whole town who suddenly went blind except for one woman. So yeah, I think you'll find a lot of blind people stumbling all over the town not knowing what's going on. Besides, the movie is getting weak reviews anyway. Like VamPyroX said, it would be different for people who were born blind or became blind gradually over the years. For a person who suddenly went blind, maybe it'll be more difficult and a shock to their body's ability to navigate. It's just something to ponder. However, I don't believe the movie is making an attempt to speak up for the blind community.

10-02-2008, 12:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
Jiro YOU DOMESTIC DISSENT! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 7,356	Offended? whoa.... whoa there.. calm down! This is not about blind people at all. This is about people who just went mysteriously blind due to virus. It is freaky. There was other movie where there was a mysterious virus that make people very suicidal - they just suddenly kill themselves. Should people living on antidepressant medications be offended about it? Should emo people be offended about it? I understand that you're blind so it's understandable that you cannot see the movie trailer. Please take it easy. I've seen the trailer and please trust my eyes - It is in NO WAY portraying a stereotypical image of blind community/people at all. Not even by an inch.

10-02-2008, 01:13 PM	#15 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	Yes i will feel quite vindicated. And yes i know the people suddenly go blind, but that dosent mean if you suddenly go blind you are suddenly incapable of doing anything. I do not just sit on my butt all day using a sighted person to help me get around. Yes, people who are newly blind may have a few problems until they get adjusted, but that dosent mean they go around using the restroom wherever they please. How would you feel if they made a movie named Deafness, and a town suddenly goes deaf and they just sit in a room and rock. how would the Deaf community feel? Ticked. It is discrimination, all of it. There is a 70 percent unemployment rate among the blind and things like this dont help. Adjustment problems are one thing, but we as Blind people do not go around living in squalor, and it is very offensive to us. __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

10-02-2008, 01:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	yes, thats not the issue. its how they portray blind people. we dont need people to see that __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

10-02-2008, 05:14 PM	#21 (permalink)
imdeafsowhat Banned Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Golden Coast Posts: 1,654	It's a movie. Gosh. If they made a movie like "DEAFNESS" and everyone became deaf due to a virus. They can't find their way around the caves because at the exit, there's a music playing, "Beethoven". Does that offend you? I'd laugh if they failed because I'd use my NOSE. The key to survival is indeed to use your nose, instinct.

10-02-2008, 06:59 PM	#22 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	well this is cool. some of you really get it, and some of you dont. We as the nations blind have been trying to show people that we can live normal lives. this movie shows the opposite. __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

10-02-2008, 07:45 PM	#25 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	i know, and i know its just a movie, but do we really need to reinforce stereotypes? A lot of people already think bad enough we dont need things to get harder. __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

10-02-2008, 07:50 PM	#26 (permalink)
typeingtornado19 interpreter in training Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 778	NFB - NFB you should really read this. it explains everything. we have seen the whole movie. __________________ Jesus Rules!!! this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.