Dealing With A Stutterer

[nailit]

If you ever have a conversation with someone who has a very obvious stutter, how do you deal with it?
This is a story from my local newspaper
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/first-potteries-says-sorry-after-driver-laughed-at-stone-passenger-s-stammer/story-30192462-detail/story.html

Its not so much about the story (bus driver smirks at someone with a stutter) as to the comment below (some of which are mine). Why do some people seem to think poking fun at a stutterer is fair game?
I had a massive stutter as a youngster and it was hell trying to get through life with people taking the urine. Ive still got a bit of a stutter when I get nervous.
How would you deal with a stutterer?

[emmie]

with patience and kindness.

[anneasquith]

I know it's maybe not too relevant but stammer is a bit more accepted today as opposed to stutter .

[Cloverjo]

I've known a couple of people with a stammer. I thought the best way was just to let them speak as best they can, don't try to finish their sentences for them and definitely don't laugh. And don't ask them to say it again.
Some of the comments in the link were quite nasty.

[Old_Geezer]

Well it may not be a case of poking fun. Embarrassment can make one laugh, as can ludicrous situations. It is unfortunate but situations like these can arise.

Personally I try to be patient and wait. If it is too bad then can't resist making a guess and asking if it is correct. I'm only human and need tolerance too.

[nailit]

//Some of the comments in the link were quite nasty.//
Thanks for actually reading the link clover, although some of the 'nastier' comments were actually removed.
BTW, I was unholybuddha in that comments section ;-)

[nailit]

//Well it may not be a case of poking fun. Embarrassment can make one laugh//
Would you laugh at someone in a wheel chair trying to board a bus OG?

[Old_Geezer]

Would you ?
And what the hell has that got to do with it ?
Not keen on seeing a valid explanation ?

[Smowball]

I've just read the comments - what is wrong with people??

[nailit]

//Would you ?
And what the hell has that got to do with it ? //
No I wouldn't and it has everything to do with it. A stutter (or stammer) is just as much a disability.

[nailit]

Smow, you should have seen the ones that got removed, some people are sick in the head.

[Mamyalynne]

I too take the route of patience and calm - the only time I would use humour and/or help to find the words would be with someone known to me and we had that agreement.

Re some of the comments below the article, I've found there's a sort of one-upmanship game often played on such comment sections.

[douglas9401]

"A stutter (or stammer) is just as much a disability."

I think that's stretching a point, nailit.

I think that not staring intently while a person's trying to get their words out helps. Takes a little of the pressure off.

[nailit]

//I think that's stretching a point, nailit. //
Unless you've been there you wouldn't know Douglas. When I was younger it almost drove me to suicide.

[ummmm]

I would have to resist the urge to finish their sentence but I certainly wouldn't poke fun.

[nailit]

//I've found there's a sort of one-upmanship game often played on such comment sections//
In this case Mamy I think that the one-upmanship came down on the side of having some empathy for the afflicted. Is that a bad thing?

[Mamyalynne]

Of course not, in the main folk don't want sympathy whatever their difficulties - just a fair chance without ridicule.


I was really remarking on the comments trying to be outrageous, as you said many were sensitive and sensible.

[Samuraisan]

You haven't had an easy life have you Nailit. I mean that sincerely.

[Mamyalynne]

You said empathy - sorry.

[Samuraisan]

I once had a friend who had a terrible stammer. But when she spoke to children she was fine. Strange ( or not )

[nailit]

//You haven't had an easy life have you Nailit. I mean that sincerely.//
Why do you say that Samurasian?