There is a nuance. Avoid smiling "while" they have a block. Let me explain from my own experience. I'm all for good humour here and there. I dont mind innocent comment on my speech sometimes. Stammer are common comedy and stand up skits' content. I don't mind. The problem arises when comments escalates into bullying and that escalates into abuse. From verbal abuse to psychological abuse to physical and then sexual also. I have faced all and from my very own friends and relatives. So when I am having a block my focus is not on the question, but focus is on spit it out and get over with. Because I have the memory of people ganging up on me for hours for their timepass. Let me also give an example of a such situation. I was sitting in class. Five six people("friends") would surround me and start making comments. Started with a normal discussion when I have a block all comments turned on my speech. Like " you have a natural nack for remix" then other one said "may be if I put my cock in your mouth you would speak strait". All of them laughed. Then one said " are you nervous sissy", again all would laugh. One of them said "put it in let's see". Then they all started poking me with their pens and pushing me. Air humping and rubbing their penis and laughing loud. All this time I was thinking if I said anything I would have a block and they would say more. I went deep into my shell and just prayed it to get over. Now imagin 20 years of such life. And this discription is just 20-30 mins of it. Sorry for explicit words and long discription. Many of stammer carry this baggage.