There are few things more exciting than meeting someone amazing for the first time. In those first few moments, so much happens.
Maybe it’s the way their eyes sparkle in the light. Maybe it’s their smile and the way it makes the corners of their eyes crinkle just so. Maybe. All you know is that something is different with just one look. Everything has changed, as Ed Sheeran says, gistpeople reports
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For those who see, the way a person looks contributes significantly to how they feel in those first few moments. But what if we weren’t able to see them? Would we still have the same feelings about them after that?
It’s a legitimate question, and one that people who are blind or have low vision are frequently asked. We asked a few people what they wished sighted people knew about dating them to gain a better understanding.
1. Even if they can’t see you, first impressions are important.
“For us, the concept of a first impression in a meeting is not quite similar to [what] you are familiar with,” says Florian Beijers, a 24-year-old Dutch computer science student. “You can see the style of their clothes, the way they look… [but] we don’t get these details. Of course, there is someone’s smell and voice, but they don’t always tell the same story as what you see…
2. Scent is essential.
There’s a lot of unseen stuff that influences people’s attraction to new people. Smells, both those we cultivate and those we don’t even realize we have, play an important role in this.
“Body odor is a big one,” Milojevic says. “If they smell like sweat and beer and haven’t brushed their teeth, I’m not interested.”
3. Sound is also important.
The sound of a potential partner, like scent, can influence how attracted a person is to them. It’s more than just the tone of their voice; it’s everything from the sound of their breathing to the sound of their chewing to the sound of their shoes when they walk.
4. While spontaneity is enjoyable, blind people often find that dating is easier when they can plan ahead of time.
Getting around wide distances will continue to be difficult for blind and low vision people until Elon Musk and Google replace all cars with completely self-driving ones. Many people, both blind and sighted, rely on public transportation and its schedules. It is critical to plan ahead of time for travel.
5. Do not disregard activities such as going to the movies or the theater. There are apps and tools available to help with this.
Going to the movies or seeing a play is a time-honored dating tradition. Those don’t have to be off-limits just because you’re pregnant.
