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From: Alan Badmington
Date: 15 Oct 2006
Time: 15:48:32 -0500
Remote Name: 84.71.28.33
Hi Lisa, I am most grateful that you have taken the time to write to me. It's heartening to know that someone out there is reading my article ;-) You may wish to read my earlier responses to Maria Palmieri and Walt Manning in order to gain a better understanding as to why I decided to change the direction of my life in May 2000. You will first need to click on 'Contents' above and then click on my comments in the line immediately following their individual names. I guess that I was more comfortable with myself, having retired from the Police Service. Because employment was no longer an issue, I suppose that fluency was not so important on a regular daily basis. You are correct when you opine that greater self-confidence accompanies age and maturity. (Hey! - are you trying to tell me that I'm getting old?) ;-) No, seriously, we learn a great deal as we graduate through the university of life. Generally, we become more secure - both finacially and emotionally. It is perfectly understandable that many young people experience self-confidence issues - the world has become a very challenging place, even for those who do not stutter. The younger generation has grown up with the Internet and cellphones - it's simply an integral part of their life. You ask, "I wonder how we insure that someone is not using technology just to avoid a speaking situation". I think the answer is to explain to them the implications of avoidance - I was totally ignorant of the matter until May 2000. I spent my entire life creating avoidance strategies, without realising the consequences. You may wish to read a poem that I wrote about this very subject for the 2005 ISAD Online Conference. It's entitled, 'Changing the Words Around' and can be found (with illustrations by a fellow PWS) at: http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/isad7/papers/badmington7/badmington17.html Lisa, I thank you for your contribution and wish you every success with your studies. Kindest regards Alan