Schwartz's Stuttering Police

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empathy

From: Julie Holub
Date: 10/13/03
Time: 8:36:01 PM
Remote Name: 216.114.246.165

Comments

Hi Dr. Schwartz:

I agree with the others on this page who thought your assignment was wonderful. I have gone out and pseudostuttered twice in my college career now and would like to share with you just one of many things I learned from that hard experience. My instructor pointed out to us today that it's easy to project our negative emotions onto our listeners and this most certainly was my tendency; rather than seeing a raised eyebrow as just that, I blew it all out of proportion as condescension, pity, what have you, even though the majority of "my people" were friendly and accommodating. Some were fearful but none were hostile. I think that alone is a huge lesson for us and for PWS and is something you also mentioned in your article; in general, the human condition is one of self-absorption and those listeners are busy wondering what you're thinking of them. I hope to alleviate fears with this bit of knowledge and remind PWS that they aren't alone.


Last changed: September 12, 2005