Sunset view from Anegada, British Virgin Islands. It is the northern most Island in the chain. If you sail north, you might hit Bermuda, and the next stop is Nova Scotia. #anegada#britishvirginislands#bvi#sunset#clouds#boats
We all have this situation: you have a beautiful photo that you would like to post. A photo that somehow moved you, touched you, and you would like to share that feeling. Whether it is happiness, sadness, melancholy, or even anger.
But…
You have to write an alt text, a description for B/VI persons. You may feel weariness , you may dread, even hate it.
No, I am absolutely no exception here.
You think “how can I describe this image, this photo? „a bee on flower“, no, to short, but what? I wish there was some software which could just describe what I feel…”
And then you either (a) refrain from posting and feel somehow “betrayed” or (b) reluctantly write an alt text…
Yes, I get it, we, the people who can see, who can enjoy the visual beauty of the Universe,… some of us hate to write down what they see, what they feel … or feel forced to write an alt text.
Yes! I really get it! I feel you!
But…
If we want to make this beautiful world better, more beautiful, more enjoyable, then we are obligated to - nay: it is our solemn duty - to make the whole world accessible to each and every one of us; so that each and every one of us can live their real lives, be their selves; so that the brilliance and beauty of each and every one of us can flourish and contribute to this magical thing, to this miracle that we call Life!
Imagine a world where being B/VI is the norm (99.99999%) and being able to see the exception. And you were one of those being able to see. Wouldn’t you think that your ability is a privilege?
I know: doing good, being good is not easy.
But no worthwhile thing doing is easy. It is hard! But it is hard because it is worthwhile, and it is hard because it is Good.
Being bad, doing bad, being evil is easy : just don’t do anything! Just let others do the work! Just ignore every suffering, every pain! Being bad is easy…
To be good you have to actively do things, you have to act, you have to take a position, a stand… sometimes you have to say “until here and no further!” Sometimes you have to fight, even some horrible battles…
But this is it: It. Is. Worth. It! Only by doing good can we make the world a better place.
Next time you despair in front of your screen at the prompt “alt text”, please know: you are a good person! You are making the world a better place! You. Are. My. Hero!
And don’t forget: your alt text is good, and you will get better over time … it just needs practice to … be good!
PSA: I am trying my best to write good image descriptions (alt text), but sometimes I really struggle to describe something. Especially because #FragMyBrain then has a black-out ... I am in the middle of a sentence and then I am lost for words - words that I have used just a few minutes ago. This mostly happens in English (my secondary language - with German being primary and Turkish tertiary). I then use a translation tool to find the best possible translation of a German term. So, sorry for sometimes having weird sounding texts.
But apart from that, here is my biggest problem with image descriptions: How do I describe a COLOR to a person born blind?
I think a person who lost their sight has a sense of color because they used to see them. But a person born blind? How do I do that?
This is a serious question. Really, it really bothers me because when I start writing things like "... the blossoms have pink tips ..." - I mean, what does a person born blind imagine/think what "pink" is?
Thus, my PSA: Any help on this topic, or any guideline how to describe or circumvent that in image descriptions is highly, highly appreciated. I really would not want to skip the color information because that is sometimes a very important one.
So, please 🙏 - if any of you has any suggestions, tips, ... I would be forever in your debt.