I think the question was would they *express* sympathy or empathy, not whether or not they feel it. I feel this is an important distinction. There's a difference between quietly acknowledging 'I feel bad for this person because they stutter', and them saying to a person's face "I feel bad for you because you stutter". Depending on who hears it, and who says it, that may or may not be well recieved. Many people here express not wanting to be treated differently, or looked at with pity.