Termyn8or
Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
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I dunno, we might be talking oranges and tangerines here.
LaM, I have also been to Atlanta, and while I did not really study up on the people's intelligence there because I was there for a very short time, they were quite friendly. I didn't really get political, but they did tell me which way to go where I was going. But now the issue that I bring up now is this, are we talking about the percentage of the populous in the area who can be considered competent in literacy, or are we taking a level of literacy ?
Literacy is hard to measure, many are able to compose or read a letter, even a long one, some are able to compose books, and then there are a few who can actually understand the Protocols for instance. Or another example would be "Secret Weapons For Silent Wars". each are extremely difficult to understand and make the Bible look easy.
So what level of literacy are we talking here ? I don't care if these documents were typed out by some guy in his basement in Yugo-bumfuct-Egypt somewhere, they are turning out to be true. In surprising detail I might add.
But I have shown these things to people and they report that they just can't read them, they cannot adapt to the style. Of course each is a translation, so the chosen words are what the translator chose, not the author. Of course this complicates everything but this is 2007 and that is how it is.
I mean how do we define it, three categories like barely, quite and extremely ?
So based on my limited knowledge of the places, and a fair knowledge of demographics, I will put it forth, my ubiquitous opinion again. This is opinion and theory, not a conclusion or a statement, but I think the facts bear it out until someone gets real facts, and that may be hard to find. But based on my observations I will say two things. If we use my supposed scale, taking into account the demographics of each area, Boston and Atlanta that is, I purport the following.
I would say that the percentage of people in Atlanta of those who are at least basically or quite literate is higher in Atlanta. However, I also say that the percentage of people in Boston who are highly literate are higher in percentage than in Atlanta.
There are so many reasons I would put this forth. Note that I do not assert it. But factors that others would not ever consider came to me, population density, WHEN population density changed, and the proliferation of many things.
Now remember all this is my opinion. You might see things differently, but that is not the main subject of my question. How do we measure literacy ? Do we have an imaginary yardstick or something ? Many people can read the ads in a Sunday paper, many people can actually balance their checkbook, although I see many who need a calculator.
So what level is it that we would consider someone literate ? I don't want to stroke the group here too much, but I have alway been impressed here.
Look what we are doing here. We are reading, many on a daily basis, posts from other people. We are thinking about what we have read and we compose a response. That in and of itself is a mark of intelligence, but it is not the end all of it by any means.
Alot of people do regular ermail, this has been becoming more commonplace. As such do we raise the standard ? And if we do, to what ?
And just what knowledge would be required to be adjudged highly literate, or intelligent for that matter ? Just who is it who decides which questions go on that test ? even trhe standard IQ tests have been thoroughly debated and modified over the years.
So are we talking percapita moderately or basically literate, or are we talking REALLY literate ? That is the question.
T
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Most literate U.S. cities - 
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