[nmstoker]

An awareness of your point was precisely why I mentioned "quietening down verbal ticks" (ie 1 minutes gives you back 1 minute but with the ticks removed/muffled)

To me this seems like it could be worthwhile even if it results in silence or less prominent umms and other filler - I've sat through enough conference talks by technically gifted people who I very much wanted to hear but who unfortunately make their talks much harder to follow due to the ticks. It might even help relax some nervous speakers if they knew any of these that creep in were being suppressed.

[pokot0]

I understand now. Very niche, but I applaud the effort to give voice to people who have something to say, instead of those who know how to talk in public.