Comment on New Study: 54% of American Adults Read Below 6th Grade-Levels
darq@kbin.social 8 months agoClearly reading above a 6th-grade level isn't a fundamental skill in the modern world, or 54% of American adults wouldn't be able to function in it.
No. I don't consider those adults to be "functioning" at an appropriate level.
Primarily0617@kbin.social 8 months ago
cool we're back to elitism
darq@kbin.social 8 months ago
Maybe you should try reading what people are writing instead of falling back on strawmen.
I do not believe people who cannot read at an adult level are able to access and understand the information and knowledge they need to navigate the world effectively. And that makes them vulnerable.
That's not elitism.
Primarily0617@kbin.social 8 months ago
You're saying that, in your personal judgement, the average US citizen isn't navigating life as effectively as you deem they should be able to.
That really sounds like elitism to me.
darq@kbin.social 8 months ago
Looking at the current state of the US... That's not the point that you might think it is.
Yes, I think if the average US citizen had better access to information, they might be able to make more positive change to the world around them.
I think people are capable of more than just existing and being "productive" as defined by today's capitalist world. So consider that what you call "functioning", I think people have the potential for more than that, if given the tools. That's the opposite of elitism.
If you are not even going to try and entertain a conflicting perspective, and just sit there and throw accusations, then you are wasting my time.
DessertStorms@kbin.social 8 months ago
No, that's ableism.
https://web.archive.org/web/20230605065733/https://ollibean.com/intelligence-is-an-ableist-concept/
https://disabledfeminists.com/2009/10/23/ableist-word-profile-intelligence/
darq@kbin.social 8 months ago
I'm not talking about intelligence or IQ. I didn't even say "intelligence".
I'm talking about access to information.
Not every single individual needs to be a skilled reader. But people, in general, do need to be able to access information. If significant parts of the population are struggling to read, that's not a condemnation on them as individuals, but can mean that they are vulnerable to being cut off from information they need to live their best lives, or to impact the world in the way they might desire to.
DessertStorms@kbin.social 8 months ago
Not just elitism, either
https://medium.com/no-prescription-needed/grammar-the-worlds-most-under-recognized-social-construct-a54e096ecc9c