Question

[jamesbrooke]

What is the importance of making eye contact for stutterers???? Thanks in advance

[bignick]

I agree that eyes are the gateway to the soul and I strongly believe that eye contact is very important as you can see if people are interested in you or not dependant on whether they are still maintaining eye contact.
I will always maintain good eye contact with people and on a slightly different slant, want to know peoples names so I can be a bit more personal with them when talking to them.
I am a pretty good judge of character and it is backed up by eye contact and if they dont look at me then at all then either they arent interested or embarrassed.

Nick

[Standingtall]

I don't know about the eyes are the gateway to the soul. This is what I have learned. The way I see it, it is all a big game from our primative days. Eye contact, firm handshake, etc.. To be on equal ground as your peers, to let the other people know you are in the game, to be taken serious. In my cultural, it is respectful to not make eye contact. I'm the oldest boy in the family, and when I speak on something important, even my mother won't make eye contact. They nod when they hear or understand what I am talking about. The second oldest and I had a few eye to eye, nose to nose matches.

Now to keep the eye to eye contact and if it is important. I guess in the corporate world, business world, yes! Among your friends or family, no!

[llw03c]

i don't know about the importance in general BUT in job interviews its CRITICAL!! in fact, all the little habits we use to get over blocks won't fly in real job interview. even though mine are subtle, i'm pretty sure they've cost me jobs in the past.

in general, iv'e heard that eye contact is important when the other person is speaking but when you're speaking its somewhat acceptable to look away every now and then if it gets you through the block.