People who can't read and aren't embarrassed.

[snorri]

As I see it the second example given by the OP is a case of a lady who requires reading glasses, not an uncommon condition for grandmothers, and a sharp witted young man who enjoys teasing his old grannie.

 

[grhm]

My boss wonders why i find it amazing every time he tells me i'm intelligent and says I shouldn't be afraid to ask questions even if i feel it might make me look thick.

I'd actually say asking pertinent questions is a good thing - if you don't know something, asking is the quickest way of finding out and getting on with the work. If you're too abashed to ask (or too proud to admit you don't know), you risk wasting time and money trying to work it out.

You need to strike a balance between working some things out for yourself and asking questions when needed - but not asking and struggling is normally worse.

 

[cheadle hulme]

When I worked in WH Smith, we had to read the verses from greetings cards for the travellers whenever they were in town. They aren't embarrassed either.

 

[Danny]

One of my teachers at school was in the last year to do National Service. He'd just finished reading maths at Cambridge, so he was made a Sergeant Instructor teaching remedial squaddies to read and write. He was given six weeks to do it and told that he'd be in trouble himself if they didn't learn.

Although he was horrified initially, he said that it turned out to be quite easy. The first discipline problem was dealt with by having the lad run round and round the parade ground in the pouring rain. A corporal pointed out that if they were literate, then they could read porn - of which there was a more than adequate supply on the base. The lads had nothing else to do and got on with learning with considerable enthusiasm, and nearly all of them got up to the appropriate standard in a fortnight.

You've missed your vocation Patrick. With insight like this you could be advising the Government on how to improve its literacy strategy.

 

[yello]

It'd the aid the ailing porn industry too!

 

[PaulB]

It'd the aid the ailing porn industry too!

I don't know, it'd be a short-term measure as they'd soon go blind from too much "executive release" and there'd have to be more Braille around.

 

[Over The Hill]

I used to teach adults maths and there are kids coming out of school now who cannot work out 10% of anything or multiply two numbers. Part of my training for the job was to recognise signs to tell when someone could not read etc.
I worked as a property conveyancer and would often pick up on clients who were sent reams of letters and info but could not read it.

Most people did not think to look for this and I often would inform someone in work that their client could not read. Most common way is that if you send someone a letter with a bit to sign and send back they will send it back with the letter still attached (they see no value in keeping the letter) also they will carry an empty reading glasses case and say they forgot them so cant read it.

I once taught a man who was aged about 65 how to multiply. It only took about 30 minutes. He told me that at school they were hit with a stick if they did not understand anything so he just kept quiet. Very sad.