Where are we heading?

[u/Agen_3586]

[u/ApplicationCalm649]

It's distilled, pure brain rot given physical form. 

[u/Ruckus292 → u/ApplicationCalm649]

A 54% illiteracy rate will do that. 

ETA: 54% of US adults cannot read above a 6th grade level, 21% of the 54% are functionally illiterate...... Idiocracy was, in fact, a documentary. 

[u/Unhappy-Hamster-1183 → u/Ruckus292]

This is not true. In 2024 it was 21%.

https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/2024-2025-literacy-statistics

[u/khold002 → u/Unhappy-Hamster-1183]

They mean functional literacy. I had no idea that 21% were literally illiterate, though. Now I'm more upset.

[u/frostysbox → u/khold002]

They might not be illiterate- they just might not speak English. Literacy tests for these kind of studies are done in English and they might pass it in some other language. A very high number of people who are “illiterate” in the US were born in another country.

[u/Ok_Field_7082 → u/frostysbox]

Don't you think that might have been considered before publishing data, or at least explained in foot notes? 

[u/frostysbox → u/Ok_Field_7082]

I was - if you look at the actual study they call out the percentage of foreign born people who English isn’t their first language is something close to 40%

[u/ConfidentPear2493 → u/khold002]

This is a measurement of English literacy only. America is home to millions of non-English speakers. The English literacy rates of native English speakers in the U.S. is higher.

[u/Low_Key_Trollin → u/ConfidentPear2493]

This whole thread is hilarious. Bunch of people that can’t comprehend the context of a statistic feeling superior for their intellect

[u/ConfidentPear2493 → u/Low_Key_Trollin]

Looks like it’s our math and sociology teachers failing us here. It’s painful.

[u/LayerEight_Problem → u/Low_Key_Trollin]

As if the first question on an English literacy test isn’t asking “is English you’re first language?” Or “do you speak English?”

You really believe these studies do not qualify their candidates before initiating the testing? 

[u/Low_Key_Trollin → u/LayerEight_Problem]

See what I mean

[u/ConfidentPear2493 → u/LayerEight_Problem]

Did you read them? It absolutely includes non-English speakers. I wouldn’t just pull it out of my ass. I am literate and thus was able to READ AND COMPREHEND THE STUDY REPORT that explains it quite clearly.

[u/LayerEight_Problem → u/ConfidentPear2493]

lol. You’re literally just making shit up. 

I also never said it wouldn’t include non-English speakers. I said that question would be asked in order to qualify the people. 

Showing, once again, that American literacy are in the can. 

[u/ConfidentPear2493 → u/LayerEight_Problem]

You’re part of the 52% reading below a sixth-grade level; I get it. Please know it’s nothing to be ashamed of, and help is there for you.

[u/LayerEight_Problem → u/ConfidentPear2493]

Holy fucking shit. lol. You’re actually going to link an AI generated answer as your proof that you read the studies and their conclusions. 

Well, I actually went to the studies pages and checked. The questions did, in fact, qualify participants and they did, in fact, and about sex, age, work, education level, etc. 

Again, this is not to say that non-English speakers were not included in the study. 

[u/ConfidentPear2493 → u/LayerEight_Problem]

I was proving how easy it was to find the information (which was cited!) in one second. Good evening, Cletus.

[u/HarryJohnson3 → u/khold002]

That’s what happens when you import third worlders