To think this woman was massively insensitive... wwyd?

[Flynnshine]

We took our blind DD (6) to the theatre yesterday with some other families with blind children for an audio described performance.

When we took our seats we were sat in front of a couple in their 50's.

My DD carries a large white cane which the couple clearly saw as we took our seats and then watched as we sorted out the headphones for the audio description.

The woman then proceeded to very loudly say to her husband;

"I've always wondered what I would choose if I had to choose between losing my sight or my hearing... I honestly didn't know but I think I would definitely choose my hearing, I couldn't imagine living without my sight, how would anything be enjoyable!?"

All of this in total earshot of my DD who lost her sight only a few years ago. She looked up at me with the most heartbreaking look on her face.

I was absolutely gobsmacked and desperately wanted to turn and say something scathing to her but my mind was blank and only full of swear words. I squeezed my DD's hand and had to stop myself from bursting into tears.

AIBU to think that she was just fucking rude or perhaps just didn't consider what an inappropriate comment that was?

Also, help me here so I am armed for the future... what would you have said to her in that moment?

Thank you ladies x

Thank you so much for your lovely replies ladies! I've learnt some great comebacks for the future!

To those who are asking; she loved the show had an amazing time and can't wait to go to another one the nasty hag didn't ruin it for her and she hasn't mentioned it since which I'm so happy about - she hears a lot of comments unfortunately, you would be surprised the amount of people who assume she can't hear them when they loud whisper "SHE'S BLIND!" it was worse when she was on chemotherapy and bald!!

Thankfully the majority of people in the world are wonderful, the shame is the ones who aren't are the ones who's actions and words are most memorable!

I need to brush up on my witty comebacks!

Thank you again x

I havent read the full thread but there is an amazing woman in the USA called Haben Girma who is a deaf and blind law grad from Harvard and a disability rights campaigners. I think she'd be an amazing role model for your daughter. She is on twitter if you want to follow her. (I realise your daughter is blind and not deafblind but just thought id mention it).

Im sorry you and your daughter had to hear such an awful nasty comment

I'm so sorry you and your daughter had to experience that. Some people are just incredibly stupid and shouldn't really be let out to mingle with the general population.

My son has a visual impairment and part of that is nystagmus (involuntary movement of his eyes from side to side) so we sometimes get some funny looks. I always imagined if someone was downright rude or nasty I'd have a witty and scathing someback. It fortunately has only happened once but when it did (a horrible man in a lift in the Tate Modern of all places, when DS was only about 4 months old) I was so dumbfounded I just stood with mouth agape then had to find a corner to cry in.

Obviously I thought of many many brilliant comebacks about three hours later!

Fortunately I have a good amount of faith in the kindness of most people - makes the twunts stand out even more!

@NanooCov so true! My daughter has slight nystagmus too. Mostly she just laughs about people's comments but I fear as she gets older they may start to get to her a bit more. She's super sarcastic though so I'll get training her with a good response to the common ones!

I'd love her to whisper back one day to the people who think they're really discrete and say "my ears still work though!"

Thank you @MargoChanning I'll look her up!

Fucking hell, I actually gasped out loud! I am as non confrontational as they come but I wouldn't have been able to refrain myself from saying something, and it wouldn't have been diplomatic or well thought out.

My cousin is blind, gradually from his early 20s. I really hope he doesn't have to put up with this shit but he doesn't go out a huge amount and he doesn't like using his stick, now I know why!

Bloody hell, she's been through a lot hasn't she, poor little dot x. Other than her sight loss 😢 how is she doing now?

I do love a good bit of sarcasm & adore kids who 'get it' so young. Teach her well Flynn!!

I'm glad she was still able to enjoy the show & I hope there are many others you can take her to.

My late DF was blind, he was a clever, kind and gentle man but always to the point and occasionally would say "I lost my sight, not my hearing!" in response to an ignorant remark. So sorry your DD had to deal with that idiocy on a special trip out

My DH is blind and has had his (sizeable) share of this over the years. In the first years (mid to late teens) he always said something back, kind of sarcastic or funny but never rude. Then he decided he just didn't mind so has never wasted any more time in replies.
When our eldest DD was about 3 or 4 she used to pull faces to 'staring' (or commenting) strangers and embarrass us a little bit but we have managed to turn the waves and she has grown out of it, thankfully.
OP, I think your DD has the right attitude. Keep her on the right direction.
Xxx

That fuckwit woman may have her sight and hearing, but she has clearly lost her wits, her manners, and any sense of decency. Appalling.

You did the right thing, holding your dds hand.

I would have followed the bastard to the toilets and given her hell. I would love to now.

But you did do the best thing, any confrontation would have made it worse for your dd. Good woman