(Il)Literacy Problem in the West

[Wizard22]

Have you noticed the glaring problem of Illiteracy in the West?

A core function of Literacy is to read something, and repeat it back (voice or text) word-for-word, letter-for-letter. It seems that most Westerners cannot do this. It should be easy, especially through textual interface, which the internet was/is built for. All you have to do, is press the 'Quote' function, and you should be able to reproduce what others have said. But it seems, most are incapable even of this.

The first part of Literacy is Copying text and integrating it into memory, something the ancient Greeks and Hellenes were particularly skilled and proud of, hence their exceptional skill in Philosophical Dialogues and conversation.

The second part of Literacy is Interpretation, which means proving that you understand the Intent of the Author, the Author agrees with your re-wording, and that you have a response or reaction beyond the interpretation. Without Understanding, there is *NO LITERACY*.

You have not understood the Author.

You CANNOT even repeat what the Author did say or write.

[Wizard22]

A primary indication I experience with illiteracy of my philosophical adversaries and opponents is Intellectual Dishonesty.

I presume, as a matter of practice, to go into every thread and response with a "clean slate" of sorts. Opponents should be allowed to change their minds, to be persuaded by higher reasoning. Philosophers and their Hobbyists, hypothetically, begin from a position of Ignorance rather than Knowing. In other words, in a Philosophical context, you should have an open-mind and presume that nobody is beginning from a position of Truth or Righteousness. Rather these values come toward the End of arguments and conversation, if at all. This is categorically opposed to the Religious and Fundamentalist mind, who begin with either Truth or Righteousness, or Both from the onset.

When you confront these types in Philosophy, it becomes very clear, very immediately, who and what they are.


Because they have a Bias, an Agenda, an underlying Morality and Metaphysics operating, from whence they Rationalization and Reason. Everybody does, but in the context of philosophy, they are unpracticed in Suppressing these biases so that an "Alternate Choice" can exist. Fundamentalists cannot do this, for many reasons, some of which are a mental (brain) inability to consider and rationalize 'oppositional' worldviews. They can lack Imagination. They can lack Tolerance. They lack Sympathy and Patience (for an inferior perspective).

All of these Blockade the capacity and potential for Literacy.

Because when anybody begins Philosophy from a position of 'Knowing' (in advance), then you cannot be Literate, because you cannot tolerate any points which contradict your own.


This is especially apparent in people with a very low tolerance for Cognitive Dissonance.

They cannot read books, argue well, cannot be Learned, because immediate contradictions disallow them from reading extensively into an oppositional Metaphysic and foreign Perspective (lacking Empathy).

[vegetariantaxidermy]

I do hope you aren't American. The force of the irony would probably blow up this site.

[Wizard22]

I do hope you aren't American. The force of the irony would probably blow up this site.

[Wizard22]

I do hope you aren't American. The force of the irony would probably blow up this site.

Females are particularly atrocious when it comes to hearing what you want to hear, not what is actually said.

I think females are severely weighted toward acceptance of what is perceived as popular narrative, even and especially when it's false, logically inconsistent, emotionally appealing, and fantastical.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

Oooh. I'm so 'offended'

[Wizard22]

Oooh. I'm so 'offended'

Why do your girlfriends, sisters, mother, only hear half of what you say? Isn't that something?

[Harbal]

Have you noticed the glaring problem of Illiteracy in the West?

A core function of Literacy is to read something, and repeat it back (voice or text) word-for-word, letter-for-letter. It seems that most Westerners cannot do this. It should be easy, especially through textual interface, which the internet was/is built for. All you have to do, is press the 'Quote' function, and you should be able to reproduce what others have said. But it seems, most are incapable even of this.

The first part of Literacy is Copying text and integrating it into memory, something the ancient Greeks and Hellenes were particularly skilled and proud of, hence their exceptional skill in Philosophical Dialogues and conversation.

The second part of Literacy is Interpretation, which means proving that you understand the Intent of the Author, the Author agrees with your re-wording, and that you have a response or reaction beyond the interpretation. Without Understanding, there is *NO LITERACY*.

You have not understood the Author.

You CANNOT even repeat what the Author did say or write.

I think most of us understand you; that's how we know you're an idiot.

[FlashDangerpants]

The first part of Literacy is Copying text and integrating it into memory, something the ancient Greeks and Hellenes were particularly skilled and proud of, hence their exceptional skill in Philosophical Dialogues and conversation.

You write some of the absolutely dumbest shit I have ever seen. Sad to relate, that appears to be your primary skill.

[Sculptor]

Have you noticed the glaring problem of Illiteracy in the West?

A core function of Literacy is to read something, and repeat it back (voice or text) word-for-word, letter-for-letter. It seems that most Westerners cannot do this. It should be easy, especially through textual interface, which the internet was/is built for. All you have to do, is press the 'Quote' function, and you should be able to reproduce what others have said. But it seems, most are incapable even of this.

The first part of Literacy is Copying text and integrating it into memory, something the ancient Greeks and Hellenes were particularly skilled and proud of, hence their exceptional skill in Philosophical Dialogues and conversation.

The second part of Literacy is Interpretation, which means proving that you understand the Intent of the Author, the Author agrees with your re-wording, and that you have a response or reaction beyond the interpretation. Without Understanding, there is *NO LITERACY*.

You have not understood the Author.

You CANNOT even repeat what the Author did say or write.

There is something of a problem in the USA.
But generally, literacy rates are high.
If you want to start threads of this kind you should really present evidence first.
No one gives a fuck about "have you noticed?"

Exactly like most of your posts, this thread is meritless.
There is some detectable drag on literacy due to the pandemic. But unless you are a teacher you will not have "noticed" that.
But even including that, all Western countries' rates are in the top 10% percentile.

[Iwannaplato]

Have you noticed the glaring problem of Illiteracy in the West?

No one gives a fuck about "have you noticed?"

In hypnosis, if you want the subject to experience something, you use sentence structures like '...and you notice your body beginning to relax, your breathing begins to....slow down.' There are a couple of tricks in there but verbs like 'notice' imply without even stating it, that your body is relaxing.

Do you agree that X? - that's an open question.
Do you notice that X? - If you say yes, well you agree with the person asking. If you say no, well, you agree with the person asking. You didn't notice... that thing that is happening.

People use hypnotic manipulation all the time in everyday speech. Let alone salespeople.

[Sculptor]

Have you noticed the glaring problem of Illiteracy in the West?

No one gives a fuck about "have you noticed?"

In hypnosis, if you want the subject to experience something, you use sentence structures like '...and you notice your body beginning to relax, your breathing begins to....slow down.' There are a couple of tricks in there but verbs like 'notice' imply without even stating it, that your body is relaxing.

Do you agree that X? - that's an open question.
Do you notice that X? - If you say yes, well you agree with the person asking. If you say no, well, you agree with the person asking. You didn't notice... that thing that is happening.

People use hypnotic manipulation all the time in everyday speech. Let alone salespeople.

That is the most insane response to another persons question I have yet seen all year.

[Age]

A primary indication I experience with illiteracy of my philosophical adversaries and opponents is Intellectual Dishonesty.

I presume, as a matter of practice, to go into every thread and response with a "clean slate" of sorts. Opponents should be allowed to change their minds, to be persuaded by higher reasoning. Philosophers and their Hobbyists, hypothetically, begin from a position of Ignorance rather than Knowing. In other words, in a Philosophical context, you should have an open-mind and presume that nobody is beginning from a position of Truth or Righteousness. Rather these values come toward the End of arguments and conversation, if at all. This is categorically opposed to the Religious and Fundamentalist mind, who begin with either Truth or Righteousness, or Both from the onset.

When you confront these types in Philosophy, it becomes very clear, very immediately, who and what they are.


Because they have a Bias, an Agenda, an underlying Morality and Metaphysics operating, from whence they Rationalization and Reason. Everybody does, but in the context of philosophy, they are unpracticed in Suppressing these biases so that an "Alternate Choice" can exist. Fundamentalists cannot do this, for many reasons, some of which are a mental (brain) inability to consider and rationalize 'oppositional' worldviews. They can lack Imagination. They can lack Tolerance. They lack Sympathy and Patience (for an inferior perspective).

All of these Blockade the capacity and potential for Literacy.

Because when anybody begins Philosophy from a position of 'Knowing' (in advance), then you cannot be Literate, because you cannot tolerate any points which contradict your own.


This is especially apparent in people with a very low tolerance for Cognitive Dissonance.

They cannot read books, argue well, cannot be Learned, because immediate contradictions disallow them from reading extensively into an oppositional Metaphysic and foreign Perspective (lacking Empathy).

1. Will you define the 'literacy' word here?

If no, then why not?

2. What happens if one has ALREADY come-to-KNOW, are you here suggesting that they then can NOT do 'philosophy', from then on?

[Wizard22]

Of course the three main culprits feel compelled to chime in, how ironic:

I think most of us understand you; that's how we know you're an idiot.

You write some of the absolutely dumbest shit I have ever seen. Sad to relate, that appears to be your primary skill.

There is something of a problem in the USA.
But generally, literacy rates are high.
If you want to start threads of this kind you should really present evidence first.
No one gives a fuck about "have you noticed?"

Exactly like most of your posts, this thread is meritless.
There is some detectable drag on literacy due to the pandemic. But unless you are a teacher you will not have "noticed" that.
But even including that, all Western countries' rates are in the top 10% percentile.

No, all a person needs to do is skim this forum, and there are overwhelming examples of philosophical hobbyists talking past each-other. This demonstrates Illiteracy. You are often guilty of it too. You fail to understand 1) what is being said and 2) the intent of the author. This is because you're not serious about Philosophy.

[Wizard22]

In hypnosis, if you want the subject to experience something, you use sentence structures like '...and you notice your body beginning to relax, your breathing begins to....slow down.' There are a couple of tricks in there but verbs like 'notice' imply without even stating it, that your body is relaxing.

Do you agree that X? - that's an open question.
Do you notice that X? - If you say yes, well you agree with the person asking. If you say no, well, you agree with the person asking. You didn't notice... that thing that is happening.

People use hypnotic manipulation all the time in everyday speech. Let alone salespeople.

I'll take this as a 'Yes' you have noticed. Or worse, participated in it.