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From: Charlie Osborne
Date: 05 Oct 2006
Time: 19:11:39 -0500
Remote Name: 67.142.130.34
Thank you Ken for your enlightening discussion. While I don't stutter, I have often felt the sensation of hearing fingernails on a chalkboard when hearing someone verbally use the acronym "PWS." I guess I have a natural aversion to acronyms, but also felt like the use of "PWS" was as dehumanizing or more than the term "stutterer." Your point regarding evidence hit home with me. Would you suggest further study? I have always felt that it was more important to attend to the person who is attempting to cope with a stuttering problem (PWIATCWASP?) and his or her efforts than on how I should label that person. It reminds me of the discussion of abstraction ladders in the field of General Semantics. It is often convenient and time efficient to use labels, such as "stutterer" while being aware of the fact that you are leaving out many elements of the person you may be referring to. I believe it is that awareness that makes the difference, rather than the label used. Does this make any sense or am I just rambling?