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elleng

(130,865 posts)
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 08:51 PM Sep 2020

Maybe useful info, by a 'friend:'

Gina Meissler

'I am not posting this in order to endorse or support any particular candidate, but rather to educate some of you who may need it.

Joe Biden is a stutterer. His slowed rate of speech is an intentional and deliberate strategy for improved speech fluency. As a speech language pathologist, I can tell you that he uses this strategy exceptionally well and is an example to other people who stutter.

People who stutter, who choose to speak in the spotlight, are incredibly brave. On a national stage...that is mind-blowing. Their slowed rate of speech is an indication of their training and discipline, not of slow processing or diminished intelligence.

If you disagree with Joe Biden’s politics, I can understand that. But the “Slow Joe” thing needs to stop. It’s an indication of your ignorance, and a slap in the face to the many people I’ve worked with over the years who have busted their humps to communicate effectively (and to avoid the cruelty and ridicule that is being perpetuated now).'

43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Maybe useful info, by a 'friend:' (Original Post) elleng Sep 2020 OP
I wish I could rec this more than once! Bleacher Creature Sep 2020 #1
Yes, VERY brave. elleng Sep 2020 #2
Kick. Eko Sep 2020 #3
K&R. nt iluvtennis Sep 2020 #4
Many people find my rate of speech frustrating as well TrogL Sep 2020 #5
That's my take on how Obama always spoke. Mr.Bill Sep 2020 #12
That was also true for President Carter. CaptYossarian Oct 2020 #36
K&R gademocrat7 Sep 2020 #6
Yes. More than that, he is a role model wnylib Sep 2020 #20
I'm a southerner. I don't think Joe's speak is at all slow. TomSlick Sep 2020 #7
Same here. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2020 #35
This is EXACTLY what I have been telling people. Doreen Sep 2020 #8
This needs to be on the Greatest Page. Tommymac Sep 2020 #9
Better to have a brain that works faster than your mouth klook Oct 2020 #42
Bravo for this! fierywoman Sep 2020 #10
I am also a stutterer. Mr.Bill Sep 2020 #11
Did you see Brayden Harrison at the convention? What an inspiration. n/t pnwmom Sep 2020 #27
Yes I did. Mr.Bill Sep 2020 #28
And so was Joe Biden. pnwmom Sep 2020 #29
I didn't remember he stutters sometimes until he did. Lars39 Sep 2020 #13
I've never noticed any unusual hesitation in his speech. luvtheGWN Sep 2020 #19
Definitely! Lars39 Sep 2020 #21
Wonderful statement from an expert. Ferrets are Cool Sep 2020 #14
Would Trump mock someone with a disability? Yes. keithbvadu2 Sep 2020 #15
He gives "ASSHOLES" a bad name... AZ8theist Sep 2020 #17
Well, they deserve it. They're assholes, after all. dchill Sep 2020 #22
Thanks for posting this for all those ill informed and cruel. NT. SayItLoud Sep 2020 #16
Thank you for sharing this. StarryNite Sep 2020 #18
Eric Trump Video Saying Biden 'Can't Get Through Two Sentences Without Stuttering' Resurfaces After keithbvadu2 Sep 2020 #23
Thank you Joinfortmill Sep 2020 #24
Thank you, for saying this. wendyb-NC Sep 2020 #25
Thank you for posting this PatSeg Sep 2020 #26
This is great. Thank you.Biden's cheap critics on social media could do with this sort of reminder. ancianita Sep 2020 #30
Thank you for explaining this Redleg Sep 2020 #31
Well stated. Thanks for posting this. nt NoRoadUntravelled Sep 2020 #32
marking to return to rurallib Oct 2020 #33
KnR... N_E_1 for Tennis Oct 2020 #34
KNR for this important reminder. niyad Oct 2020 #37
I'm amazed at how composed he was considering he was debating an air horn. Neema Oct 2020 #38
this llashram Oct 2020 #39
tax cheato was trying to trigger him to stutter. ihas2stinkyfeet Oct 2020 #40
Thanks for posting...K and R. Stuart G Oct 2020 #41
I never even knew he stuttered until this year wryter2000 Oct 2020 #43

Bleacher Creature

(11,256 posts)
1. I wish I could rec this more than once!
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 08:59 PM
Sep 2020

This is spot on and so perfect. I paid close attention to Biden last night to see if there was anything the Trump lunatics could latch onto to attack him, and I noticed right away that every time he seemed to stammer it was obvious that he was searching for an alternate word that he could use to avoid getting stuck.

He really is remarkably brave to put himself out there and you can see why he's such an inspiration for young stutterers.

Mr.Bill

(24,281 posts)
12. That's my take on how Obama always spoke.
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:21 PM
Sep 2020

When you're president, it's hard to unsay the wrong word one you said it. Better to think and choose words carefully., a skill Trump does not have.

CaptYossarian

(6,448 posts)
36. That was also true for President Carter.
Thu Oct 1, 2020, 09:40 AM
Oct 2020

Pausing to flash that great smile was also an effective tool. It also worked to calm the general public.

That's leadership.

wnylib

(21,431 posts)
20. Yes. More than that, he is a role model
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:36 PM
Sep 2020

for everyone on being a decent human being. How refreshing in these times.

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
8. This is EXACTLY what I have been telling people.
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:08 PM
Sep 2020

I have a friend who says it seems like he is tripping over his own feet. I explain he is being careful and not blurting things out and sound unintelligible. Processing what you are going to say is wise whether you have a speech problem or not. He has no problem thinking it is just bringing it to words he has to be careful about. I would like to see those who put him down about his speech to be able to handle donny as well as Biden did last night. I am very proud of how Biden did last night.

Tommymac

(7,263 posts)
9. This needs to be on the Greatest Page.
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:08 PM
Sep 2020

Thanks so much.

I have 'known' Joe Biden as a politician for years. But until the convention, I did not know he stutters.

I have a mild stutter because my brain works very fast and my mouth can't keep up. I have had to train myself to slow down my thoughts in high stress (public) scenarios. It is extremely hard to maintain.

So proud of him to have the courage to get out there in that toxic highly stressful environment last night and speak and maintain his dignity.



Vote Joe & Kamala. We need a blue tsunami on Nov 3.

klook

(12,154 posts)
42. Better to have a brain that works faster than your mouth
Thu Oct 1, 2020, 11:53 AM
Oct 2020

than a mind that’s on vacation and a mouth that works overtime.

Mr.Bill

(24,281 posts)
11. I am also a stutterer.
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:18 PM
Sep 2020

I was a disaster in grade school. Basically I coped in my teen years by expanding my vocabulary so when I felt a stutter coming on I could substitute a synonym. By high school I could speak pretty normally. In my late 20s I was able to speak publicly to 10,000 people at a convention. I'm 67 mow and only very occasionally wind up with a stutter here an there. I will be conscious of it and working on it for the rest of my life.

I agree with everything in the OP. I admire Biden for what he has done with this issue.

pnwmom

(108,976 posts)
29. And so was Joe Biden.
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 11:38 PM
Sep 2020

Brayden was the embodiment of a young Joe.

And who couldn't love Brayden?

Lars39

(26,109 posts)
13. I didn't remember he stutters sometimes until he did.
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:25 PM
Sep 2020

And then it was barely noticeable. He is so good at overcoming it.

luvtheGWN

(1,336 posts)
19. I've never noticed any unusual hesitation in his speech.
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:35 PM
Sep 2020

But isn't it nice to hear someone who can speak in words of more than one syllable, without using any useless and meaningless superlatives?

Lars39

(26,109 posts)
21. Definitely!
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:39 PM
Sep 2020

I’ve worked very hard to not listen to the orange one. I threw myself into the deep end last night watching the “debate”.
It’s been Miss Marple ever since.

keithbvadu2

(36,774 posts)
23. Eric Trump Video Saying Biden 'Can't Get Through Two Sentences Without Stuttering' Resurfaces After
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 10:51 PM
Sep 2020

Eric Trump Video Saying Biden 'Can't Get Through Two Sentences Without Stuttering' Resurfaces After

https://www.newsweek.com/eric-trump-video-joe-biden-two-sentences-stuttering-resurfaces-1478431


PatSeg

(47,399 posts)
26. Thank you for posting this
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 11:16 PM
Sep 2020

I've known about Joe's stutter since I read his book, Promises to Keep in 2007 and I can recognize when he's having a bit of trouble with his words occasionally. Throughout his career, I have heard him give some dynamic and eloquent speeches, but those words didn't just flow out of his mouth effortlessly. There was an ongoing conscious effort to put together the words into rhythmic phrases much like a poem, but he made it look spontaneous and effortless.

It took years of practice to accomplish that skill and he has taught many other stutterers how to do it. Joe has a really sharp mind and often it is hard for his mouth to keep up. People tend to mistake that and the occasional stutter for a declining intellect and they would be wrong.

Redleg

(5,804 posts)
31. Thank you for explaining this
Wed Sep 30, 2020, 11:43 PM
Sep 2020

It is always good to hear from an expert on these matters. I think that Joe Biden did just fine last night, in spite of the constant interruptions and outbursts by the toddler president.

Neema

(1,151 posts)
38. I'm amazed at how composed he was considering he was debating an air horn.
Thu Oct 1, 2020, 11:00 AM
Oct 2020

I don't even have a speech disability and I would have completely lost my train of thought and ability to do much more than sputter obscenities.

Of course that was trump's strategy, his handlers wanted him to rattle Joe so he'd stutter and then they could mock him.

wryter2000

(46,037 posts)
43. I never even knew he stuttered until this year
Thu Oct 1, 2020, 01:02 PM
Oct 2020

And I listened to all of the Bork and Thomas confirmation hearings when he was chair of the Judiciary Committee.

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