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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 28th, 2023

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  • No single answer is comprehensive enough to explain the low literacy levels in the US. That’s because some of the contributing factors include:

    • Parents with little schooling.
    • Lack of books and reading encouragement at home.
    • Dropping out of school.
    • Difficult living conditions – including poverty.
    • Learning disabilities.

    Each of these topics has social and political implications and we, as a society, have made choices that privilege the rich and the least vulnerable. Our immediacy leads us to focus on inflation rates, employment, and reelection (don’t get me wrong, these are essential points). But we should also seek solutions to bring parents back to school, campaign for more books at home, and improve schooling to prevent dropout.

    The discussion of U.S. illiteracy gets gloomier when we consider the differences between “literacy” (reading, writing, and math skills) and “functional literacy” (the practical use of these skills to manage daily life and improve socioeconomic well-being).

    There’s a long and rocky road to reverse this picture, and some of the possible solutions to promote higher levels of literacy in society should take into account:

    • low income resources
    • stigma and shame
    • lack of awareness
    • limited access to education
    • technological barriers
    • limited funding for literacy programs.

    So, how is it possible that roughly 50% of Americans can’t read above a 6th grade level and how are 21% just flat out illiterate?

    All of the above, and probably more!



  • Not for any particular reason, but for a variety of reasons that work together to make it even better. I have listed just a few of them. Feel free to add to the list as you see fit.

    • No king of the hill.
    • No hidden corporate interests.
    • No karma system.
    • Rejection of toxicity. The flow of conversation is civil and has a good vibe.
    • The Federation functions as an engine of accountability.
    • A bunch of people who actively contribute to making this a good place.
    • A vocal community that actually determines what content is important.
    • The initial difficulty to make sense of it all (call it a “barrier to entry” if you will) acts as a natural deterrent to those who are less engaged.
    • Lurkers who sign up quickly feel comfortable posting.
    • The ability to sign up for a particular instance and leave if for some reason you find it’s going in a direction you do not agree with. Lemmy’s decentralized nature saves the day.
    • The influx of refugees includes experienced people with a lot of knowledge to make this an even better place.
    • The prospect of a quick release of reputable third-party apps. Since these developers bring solid knowledge from previous developments, their new Lemmy apps will immediately translate into a smoother user experience.

    I am looking forward to great days ahead.