commentr/StutterMarch 2, 2017

Content

Ok, I'll say something. It's not about this video specifically, which is great, but in general about what you're teaching. I think you have great energy and really care about helping people. I think a lot of what you say is good useful stuff. But to me it seems you don't leave room for the possibility that someone could, with all their heart, make their life about all the things you talk about -- mindfulness, living healthfully in a positive way (rather than self-righteously), doing what you love, law of attraction -- all of that and more -- and still stutter. I could be wrong; I haven't seen every one of your videos, but my impression is that to that person you'd essentially say they're not doing it authentically enough, or long enough, or with the right attitude or...something along those lines -- a version of "you're not trying hard enough." You seem to be saying that every single person can eliminate their stutter. (Well, I am a little confused about that -- do you mean "overcome" in the sense of it's not gone but you know how to live with it, or do you mean "cured," a word you use in the title of at least one of your videos?) If you do mean eliminate it, many people, including me, are not going to agree with that. And the sort implicit "it's your lack" if you haven't gotten rid of your stutter is really off-putting to me. I know you'd never use that language, Chaz. You're much more positive about it -- "you may not have found the right release for you," something like that. But in the end it sounds a lot like you are saying there is way to be fluent for every single person and if you aren't you just have to work harder. I do not think that is true. It also seems to negate people who no longer what to "work" on their stutter in any manner, are ok with stuttering, and are leading the lives they want to live. (Again, I could easily have missed you saying differently; I'm talking about the impression I get from the several videos I've watched.) It feels like you believe that what worked for you, or a version of what worked for you, will work for everyone. But....that's rarely if ever true. Not everything works for everyone. Not that doing the practices you talk about could be bad. But the idea that living the life you advocate will mean anyone who stutters will become fluent is just not true. Let alone that many (many) people simply cannot live at the level of commitment that you do with these practices. They just cannot. I know I can't be the only person to say these things to you. But I thought I'd speak up since you specifically asked for responses days after your original post.

Themes

Coping & AdvocacyIdentity & DisabilityEmotional Experience

Subthemes

Mindset shiftMedicalization / NeurodiversityHope & Motivation