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AIBU?

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Original poster

Unless you're legally blind - Very

52 replies

Rainbow1781 · 18/04/2019 19:01

AIBU to feel disgusted that a business would use a disability in a marketing campaign this way. It was a subject line on an email sent out to customers.

DS was born with no eyes so no doubt this will bother me more than most. I hope the press pick this up.

Unless you're legally blind - Very
OP posts:
NoCauseRebel · 18/04/2019 19:34

Their apology on twitter is the most insincere thing I think I’ve ever seen. And I’ve told them as much.

Thing is, I don’t think it’s e.g. offensive to talk about “put your eyes on this” in and of itself, but by talking about “unless you’re legally blind” specifically implies that this email is not for the visually impaired.

CallMeOnMyCell · 18/04/2019 19:36

WTF! That’s terrible, and a poor excuse too Hmm

Almahart · 18/04/2019 19:38

This is terrible

KateyKube · 18/04/2019 19:39

Shocking!

SciFiScream · 18/04/2019 19:40

Many legally blind people (ouch, even typing that wording feels wrong) will have some sort of read-text app on their computers or smartphones.

BelulahBlanca · 18/04/2019 19:40

Awful- a close friend of mine lost her sight suddenly.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 18/04/2019 19:41

That’s a bullshit non apology.

olderthanyouthink · 18/04/2019 19:41

Thaaats right blame the AI Hmm

I'm going with it was put in a list of tag lines and wasn't supposed to go out (god I hope it was vetoed) but was mistakenly used

I actually walked passed a blind person (a few of them actually) today and thought they can probably see me

caughtinanet · 18/04/2019 19:41

Is "put your eyes on this" a saying? I've never heard that, does it mean to look at something? Very strange email

Original poster
Rainbow1781 · 18/04/2019 19:43

Yes it's the 'unless you're legally blind' bit that's poor taste.

If it just said something like 'Put your eyes on this' i wouldn't get riled up about it as it's just every day language.

Eye related stuff does bother me but I accept the vast majority of the population have eyes and it's not offensive to say things like that.

OP posts:
rosamacrose · 18/04/2019 19:44

I'm not an expert Rainbow I didn't mean to seem so, just that my company look into this and that technology is looking like the future.
I've tried to contact them using the phone I'm using now.
There's no option for that.
Only viewing and ordering.
I'm so sorry. I dont normally get involved but I think this is dreadful.

rosamacrose · 18/04/2019 19:52

Rainbow1781
'unless you're legally blind' ????
What ever posessed them?
For goodness sake!
I so hope there is a serious look at whoever is handling the email marketing.

5BlueHydrangea · 18/04/2019 19:57

What a ridiculous thing to write! I have a close family member who is 'legally blind' -and is actually totally blind which is quite unusual. She does however have very good software that reads everything out to her.... I will ask what she thinks of this mess!

brizzlemint · 18/04/2019 19:58

It's disgusting. Is it the sort of thing that the ASA would deal with?

FeloniusGru · 18/04/2019 20:01

My DSis is “legally blind”. I’ve just sent her this, and yes, she can see it 🙄 Ridiculous.

mineofuselessinformation · 18/04/2019 20:02

Yes, it's very offensive.
DC 2 is registered blind (but does have some useful vision) and is old enough to be horrified by this.
On a side note OP, I hope you and your son are getting all of the support you need. Thanks

minesasaugagesupper · 18/04/2019 20:07

Bit like those horrendous Spec Savers hearing aid ads with the police officers. As if being deaf is funny.

Jayblue · 18/04/2019 21:02

I agree this is in poor taste. For some reason, the "legally blind" phrasing makes it seem even more inappropriate to me, although I'm not sure why.

I'm also skeptical of the AI claim. I'm pretty sure that even if the tagline is AI generated, it will have some human input at some stage- and someone has given it input which has produced this tagline, which is clearly inappropriate.

WiddlinDiddlin · 18/04/2019 21:10

The email is ill thought out, clumsy, stupid, shouldn't have happened.

The response is DREADFUL and frankly worse than the offence itself.

Imagine if htat said ' Unless you are a wheelchair user, Walk this way..'.. that would not have made it through, why on earth did this.

Guyliner · 18/04/2019 21:13

unless you're legally blind

Hmm what a fucking bizarre thing to say.

Unless you're in a wheelchair pop in today!

You just wouldn't would you?

Mammylamb · 18/04/2019 21:22

Fucking hell. That is awful

Original poster
Rainbow1781 · 18/04/2019 21:24

I'm not sure legally blind is even the correct terminology.

DS is registered blind. I'm not sure if there is any legality behind it. You can't be illegally blind.

OP posts:
Yabbers · 18/04/2019 21:32

Awful. And a shitty response. I’m off to twitter...

Yabbers · 18/04/2019 21:33

You can't be illegally blind.
😆 great comment!

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