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From: Joseph Dewey
Date: 22 Oct 2005
Time: 19:52:55 -0500
Remote Name: 24.10.194.97
Hi Maureen, this is an interesting question, and I like it because it's really related to where someone will clutter the most. I've found two things that work in conversation. First is the model that most people use. a) Someone asks a question. b) The person being asked comes up with one thing that comes to mind. c) They think for a second or two, and come up with a story to tell. d) They tell the story. This is really different than the typical cluttering response, which is to not go through steps b to d, but to just start saying what's on their mind without any formulation, order, or model for what they're going to say. Second is something that I call "attaching." You'll see this happen a lot with young clutterers in a somewhat unconstructive form. It will seem like the clutterer doesn't have anything to say, and then as soon as someone in the room starts talking, the clutterer will interrupt them and start talking. This is a very basic part of "attaching," and it basically means that the clutterer is borrowing the organization that someone else provides. The clutterer does this because he or she has very little innate organization, and doesn't figure out how to organize speech until someone else starts talking. The constructive way of using attaching is to borrow someone else's organization, but to combine it with turn taking skills so that the conversation flows smoothly. It's kind of like that after someone says something in a conversation, then I use that as the springboard and the format for what I'll say next. Thanks for the question. Joseph