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Rockbox mail archiveSubject: RE: Help for blind/vision-impaired usersRE: Help for blind/vision-impaired users
From: Ross Doerr <rumpole_at_roadrunner.com>
Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 09:40:11 -0400 You wrote: \There is a list set up for users of Rockboxed Sansa MP3 players on which questions are asked and answered from the perspective of a blind/vision-impaired person and where top posting is the preferred posting method, as it is on most blind lists. ** Hello Laz: I must disagree with you on one point. I've been blind for several decades and have been using web/email etc to do my job for more than 20 years. I'm an attorney who practices law in two states, and who deals with state and federal court systems, federal agencies and law offices all over the United States. My professional clients span the spectrum of job types. Without exception, I have not had one bit of trouble, nor did I even knnow what top posting was, to lists until I logged onto this one to post a compliment to the developers. I was curtly told to stop top posting, and directed to the list rules and told to read them before posting again. I had to ask what top posting was. I need to add that my email use spanning 20 years is to professional lists and offices and only rarely to predominantly "blind lists". My point here is that blind users are not very different from sighted users. If you folks want over-written drivel and drool, get on to some legal lists. What goes on in this list is pretty darn pale by comparison. I don't have any trouble following someone's rules. Having stated this, I would go on to add that there is no better way to generate hard feelings than to criticize and publically disciplin someone for the manner they used to pay you a compliment. This is the very definition of "form over substance". I have represented software engineers, developers and related businesses on numerous ocasions over the years and know that "they" are just as insistant upon rules as "we" are. By that I refer to lawyers. Folks, lawyers get more jokes and criticism leveled against us than software developer engineering types do. We've been around since the days of ancient Rome, and nobody has, to the best of my knowledge, ever said: "First, hang all the software engineers". What we have been experiencing here, in my view, is two very different groups of individuals meeting head-on. If we want tolerance, we need to be demonstrating it. I could go on, but this isn't a cultural list, it's a software list. And, by the way, I really do like Rockbox. I used it to listen to the FM radio on my MP3 player at the Red Sox game while I was at Fenway Park on Memorial day with my wife and son. We trounced the Detroit Tigers 7 to 4, and beat them again last night. I would like to offer this alternative mailing list to any blind or vision-impaired individuals who have -----Original Message----- From: rockbox-bounces_at_cool.haxx.se [mailto:rockbox-bounces_at_cool.haxx.se] On Behalf Of Laz Mesa Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 7:42 PM To: rockbox Subject: Help for blind/vision-impaired users I've been on this list for a while now and have observed that although the help is forthcoming, there appears to be some sort of differences in viewpoint, perspective, or understanding between the sighted person providing the help and the blind or vision-impaired individual asking the questions. It appears that the developers and others who do answer questions on this list, sometimes lack either the viewpoint, perspective, or understanding that another person who is blind would have when answering a question from a blind or vision-impaired user. This affects how well the blind person is able to follow the directions and thereby achieve the expected results on their Rockboxed player. Also there is the fact that many blind lists are set up for top posting, while this list is set up for bottom posting and apparently this is not remembered by most blind or vision-impaired individuals very well, and there doesn't seem to be a very high tolerance level when anyone top post to the list. The fact is, this list seems to be mainly designed for sighted users who have no trouble finding the answer at the bottom of the post without having to listen to a screen reader read everything else in the message before reaching the answer. Yes, this is the reason blind users usually top post. It's not because they want to break the rules, it's just that it's what they're used to doing, and top posting is far more efficient for those who have to use a screen reader to get through email messages. There is a list set up for users of Rockboxed Sansa MP3 players on which questions are asked and answered from the perspective of a blind/vision-impaired person and where top posting is the preferred posting method, as it is on most blind lists. I would like to offer this alternative mailing list to any blind or vision-impaired individuals who have questions about using Rockbox with their players, using VoiceBox, or using the Rockbox Utility. If you are a blind or vision-impaired individual and wish to find out about this list, please contact me at lazaro6_at_gmail.com and I'll provide you with the subscription information. The list is not for developer type questions though, so if you're interested in the in and outs of programming and developing Rockbox, then this wouldn't be the list for you. It's meant for those who have questions about using their player as a blind/vision-impaired user, voicing the menus, creating talk files, etc. I'm a blind individual and have used Rockbox on most models of Sansa MP3 players, have used VoiceBox, and am familiar with using the Rockbox Utility. I have set up players manually and with the use of the Rockbox Utility. I am in no way as knowledgeable as any of the Rockbox developers, nor could I replace them in any way except as I've stated above in regards to helping answer questions from a blind perspective from blind or vision-impaired individuals. Regards, Laz ------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://cool.haxx.se/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/rockbox FAQ: http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/GeneralFAQ Etiquette: http://www.rockbox.org/mail/etiquette.html ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2425/5032 - Release Date: 05/29/12 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://cool.haxx.se/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/rockbox FAQ: http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/GeneralFAQ Etiquette: http://www.rockbox.org/mail/etiquette.html Received on 2012-05-30 Page template was last modified "Tue Sep 7 00:00:02 2021" The Rockbox Crew -- Privacy Policy |