I kind of agree with you. I don’t believe choice is so simple though. I choose to not care about how most people perceive me. Experiences I’ve had, my personality, the way I was raised, and the severity of my stutter have all made this possible. Change any one of those things, and I might have a very different attitude. It sounds backwards but bitterness can be the easy choice, I agree with you on that. Thats not to say miserable people are lazy though. Familiar hell is easier to stay in than moving to unfamiliar heaven. I get the impression a lot stutterers stay quiet because they are afraid of being judged or ridiculed. On a subconscious level, its easier to stay lonely in your bubble than take a risk and put yourself out there. I also get fatigued at the downer posts, but they have their place here. It is a support group after all and people need to vent. I do wish more venters would specify they don’t want advice in their posts.