Have you ever known anyone who was illiterate?

The Scientician · 18-08-2011 08:02AM #1

I've only ever encountered illiteracy a few times and even then it was never full illiteracy. One time in an internet café someone asked me how to spell "donedeal.ie". Other times I've seen how people spell their address, or other times they try to read something written down and have a terrible time. It must be awful to get to adulthood and not be able to read or write too well. My grandad left school at 12 but I'm pretty sure he could read and write then as well as he needed to in later life. The internet is becoming increasingly useful, pretty much necessary for lots of things, I dunno how someone who has low literacy skills copes nowadays especially.

Siuin · 18-08-2011 08:06AM

Illiteracy must be such a nightmare for people on a day to day basis- you really don't realise how much you NEED to read until you're in a position where you can't. I recently moved abroad, and their script isn't the latin one we use, and if that wasn't confusing enough, they have a totally different script again for handwriting. I dropped off my camera to get the photos developed and when I came to collect them at the time specified, the guy had written a note on his door explaining something that I couldn't even translate. Waited around for 20 minutes feeling like a retard, too embarrassed to ask anyone passing by what it said, until the guy finally came back- ahhhh!

mackg · 18-08-2011 08:09AM

If I have they have never admitted to it.

I have friends who aren't illiterate who have asked me to spell simpler things than donedeal.ie by the way so I wouldn't assume they were. Unless they asked you to read the wholewebsite for them, some people are bad with spelling but illiteracy is different.

Balmed Out · 18-08-2011 08:13AM

A barmanager who always made us check deliveries were correct, do stocktakes, count the till's, write up the specials etc etc. After a while it was obvious he couldnt read or write but blustered on.

Ally Dick · 18-08-2011 08:18AM

I don't know any illiterates, but I know several people who cannot spell the word 'lose' properly

Hunchback · 18-08-2011 08:19AM

It's much more massively common than you would think.

People are mortified ( sadly ) by their own illiteracy and are constantly coming up with ever more ingenious ways to make it go undetected.

extremely talented and intelligent people are massively hindered by it. it's crappy

Chuck Stone · 18-08-2011 08:20AM

I have a bit of experience with Travellers and they (particularly the men) have some serious illiteracy problems and many are unable to fill out forms etc.

One of them even said to me once 'what time is it there'? pointing at a clock.

It's difficult for them in a way but in another way it's a sort of freedom.

Rabies · 18-08-2011 08:22AM

With all the text speak floating around, I think the numbers will get higher in the next few years.
Society is getting dumber.

Chuck Stone · 18-08-2011 08:22AM

Ally Dick wrote: »

I don't know any illiterates, but I know several people who cannot spell the word 'lose' properly

Big deal.

Joey the lips · 18-08-2011 08:24AM

yes i did and do. I was involved with the youth service for a while and got to know a lot of people.

Its amazing how they actually cope. Just because they are illiterate does not mean they dont understand everything for example. Men and women signs on toilets.

I knew this lad who use to pretned he was blind without his glasses and just turn to someone and say " excuse me could you please read that out to me i forgot my glasses"

Its amazing some of the intelligent copeing mechanisms...

This is the problem with illiteracy.... most people assume stupidity....

Fago! · 18-08-2011 08:33AM

My gf's ma is. Can't read or write, gets her daughter to write out everything for her, and can't even pronounce many words. "Jean Claude Van Damme" becomes "Jon vod kazzam".. So sad.

mackg · 18-08-2011 08:34AM

Oh sh*t yeah I completely forgot, there was a woman who used to come into the shop where I used to work who would ask what stuff was and always used to say she forgot her glasses, sad really. Also practically every traveller I have met. One of them came up to me outside a shop once and asked me to explain the instructions on the back of his head lice shampoo to him lmfao he was a cu*t, hope he's not reading this.

Hangballlouie · 18-08-2011 08:34AM

Both my parents are unfortunately, but they just get on with it. My dad is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met, and has always worked, so it hasn't hindered him that much tbh. I know it embarrassed them and still does but they don't wanna learn now, no matter how many times I've offered to teach them. As part of a college project, I researched how many people in my area couldn't read and/or write, and the figures worked out that every four in ten couldn't to some degree or another. This is in an inner city area of Dublin, so it is not as uncommon as we would think, it's just that a lot of them have high intelligence, and can mask it very easy! Tbh it really embarrassed me about my folks when I was younger, but they made sure that there was people to help me with homework/studying etc. Typing off my iPhone so sorry if there is any mistakes

Mr Benevolent · 18-08-2011 08:40AM

Fago! wrote: »

My gf's ma is. Can't read or write, gets her daughter to write out everything for her, and can't even pronounce many words. "Jean Claude Van Damme" becomes "Jon vod kazzam".. So sad.

Sounds more like severe dyslexia.

amacachi · 18-08-2011 08:46AM

Confab wrote: »

Sounds more like severe dyslexia.

I most certainly will not.

Fago! · 18-08-2011 08:47AM

Confab wrote: »

Sounds more like severe dyslexia.

Nah it isn't, like it's not that she just can't spell, she can't read anything. she gets her daughter to read every letter that comes to the house, and hides it when i'm there "oh i misplaced me glasses, will you read this for me" and even when it's just from memory, "ah yeah tha' film wi morgan freeman was on the other day, shawshamp redenkem".

Jumpy · 18-08-2011 10:59AM

Gdhnanndggsbbabah

Biggins · 18-08-2011 11:01AM

The Scientician wrote: »

Have you ever known anyone who was illiterate?.

Yes. An ex-father-in-law.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 18-08-2011 11:01AM

My nephew is illiterate.

Then again, he is only two.

paddyandy · 18-08-2011 11:10AM

I was staying in a rehabilitation unit years ago and a man got talking to me and told me that he was ready to go home.He next said that he could'nt go because." i cant't read anything on buses or timetables."I never found out how he returned home.Collected i suppose.

tayto lover · 18-08-2011 11:14AM

N.A.L.A. (National Adult Literacy Agency) produced a report in 2005 that stated that 25% of Irish people had some degree of difficulty with reading and writing.

http://www.nala.ie/catalog/nala-annual-report-2005

Chuck Stone · 18-08-2011 11:16AM

Yeah it's na laughing matter.

.

EvesBlogg · 18-08-2011 11:18AM

sometimes, I am...but i mange ok!!

cosmicfart · 18-08-2011 11:25AM

There was a guy i knew in school in 5th year who could not read. He had a terrible stutter when trying to read, not your average stutter mind, he use to pronounce words like 'The' easily enough but when he came to some Big words he use to make what can only be described as a gasping for breath sounds as he tried to pronounce the word, it was the funniest sound ive ever heard and to this day still makes my chuckle when I thing about it

Lollipops23 · 18-08-2011 11:25AM

My step father is teaching an adult literacy programme- he's working with a man in his early-mid sixties who has never been able to write. He can read just fine, but has made it to this stage in his life never being able to write.

What's more, he's kept this a secret from his children all this time. Only his wife knew. Since joining the course he's come on in leaps and bounds, and apparently he's like a new man. He's lately started being able to write cards, inc an anniversary one for his wife

Very proud of my step dad, he's probably getting just as much out of the experience as the man.:)

hardy_buck · 18-08-2011 11:37AM

afiqhajhaiuwyflaf P

recylingbin · 18-08-2011 11:44AM

Facebook.com

There's literally millions.

wat r dese cmmnts meen lolz?

18-08-2011 11:47AM

A couple of lads on a GAA team I played for when I was younger were and had to deal with a guy in work who was once.

Needed him to fill out some forms so instead of the usual 'fill them out and send them back' I just met up with him and talked him through what they meant and he put an X in the appropriate places.

Was pretty nervous about it but he was a nice guy which made it easier.

gravityisalie · 18-08-2011 11:47AM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I have a bit of experience with Travellers
One of them even said to me once 'what time is it there'? pointing at a clock.

off topic i know , but my brother is very well read , well versed in history and politics , has a full drivers liscence but he can't read a clock

mikemac · 18-08-2011 11:48AM

Yes
But managed to cope and always going on that he lost his glasses and could we read it for them.

It soon became obvious the real reason

If you know anyone constantly losing their glasses and looking for things to be read, a good chance this is what's going on

UglyBolloxFace · 18-08-2011 11:53AM

Have you ever known anyone who was illiterate?

Yes, kind of. The mother of a childhood friend of mine.

I remember we went to his house after school before, and his mother had left a note for him. It read as follows:

Dont fuget to fead de dahg

Obviously we know what she meant but c'mon.

Have you ever known anyone who was illiterate?

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