If someone asks a question and the response is very unexpected, the asker may be nervous/confused and may accidentally blurt out something awkward. Similar to laughing at a funeral By gently disclosing after, you are showing internal strength and helping to literally rewire your own brain to be less ashamed about your stutter. We have the same goal but different ways of getting there “Hey, so I speak with a stutter and sometimes my words don’t come out. I totally get it that it’s unexpected for someone to pause on their own name, so no worries. Hey, have you been here before? (or other neutral comment to divert away from your listener needing to apologize. They don’t need to apologize. YOU just need to have the experience of being *present* and less ashamed)