For most of my life, my response to a classic hypothetical “would-you-rather” situation has been that I would MUCH rather be blind than deaf, since I’m such a very sound-oriented person; I just simply couldn’t imagine my life without music and sounds… until today. Now, I’m currently knocking on wood that neither would happen, but I think my answer was based on the fact that I never truly understood just how difficult being blind can be, and I’ve definitely gained some respect — if not admiration — for what a blind individual faces every day.
Earlier this afternoon, I saw — or rather, didn’t see — one of the most interesting experiences of my life: Dialog in the Dark. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s an exhibition presented by the same people who brought us Bodies that immerses you in 100% total darkness and allows you to experience simulated environments like busy streets, bridges, tunnels, and even a cafe with nothing but a cane and your remaining senses.
Surpringly, the basic navigation wasn’t the most challenging or frustrating part. It was actually trying to survive some of the most mundane, everyday tasks. Would you like a $2.00 bottled water? No problem! Oh wait… did I just hand the cashier $2, or $200? Furthermore, can I trust that she won’t rip me off? Hmm… I think I want to pick up a bag of coffee at the store. Easy enough… or not. Wow, lima bean tea is disgusting!
The exhibit also made me note a rather interesting point: I honestly can’t remember the last time I was in total darkness, if ever. While every other sense in the body can operate independently, it is impossible to see without some sort of light. As the lights in the opening gallery were slowly dimmed, I suddenly realized that — in that context — I am slightly afraid of the dark, or at least total darkness, and I’d bet everybody is to a certain extent. It can’t even be simulated by wearing a blindfold or closing your eyes, as even then, a little light still gets through. It was really hard to believe the guides as they prepared us to enter, but you really can’t even see your own hand in front of your face, so you really do feel quite vulnerable.
What’s also fascinating about the exhibit is the fact that the facilitator is actually a blind person, so it’s a true case of “the blind leading the blind”. Naturally, you can’t help but be a little frustrated with how effortless it seems to them.
Overall, I highly recommend the exhibit to anybody, and I probably won’t shut up about it for a while. As the tagline on all the billboards says, “your senses will never be the same”.
By the way, Dialog is currently being presented in the U.S. in Atlanta and Kansas City, but I believe it will be touring in other parts of the country soon.
