We once read a book called "Feed" in high school - a ham fisted anti-capitalist book. Wherein citizens are 100% connected to an internet like service that only exists to sell them products. 90% of the class couldnt get it. Even when the teacher sat down and explained the entire plot of the book they still couldnt wrap their head around it.
When I go to my folks’ place out in a very rural woodsy area, the local stores have pamphlets for helping illiterate adults learn to read.
Yeah, I used to work as a literacy instructor for adults, like what those pamphlets advertise. It was a medium sized city and our phone was always ringing asking for classes. Sometimes it was people calling to ask if we could help them buy groceries since they had to read nutrition information now. One time I helped an illiterate couple sign divorce papers. More than once I met people with more impressive jobs than I'll ever have taking the classes. They had the finest bullshitting abilities on Earth and had somehow achieved senior level positions without ever having functional literacy. Yes, one was a cop.
This is kind of heartbreaking tbh
Not surprising tbh
Are we including all the senior citizens who refuse to bring their reading glasses when they go to the supermarket?
No, the elderly people I worked with both couldn't see well and also never learned how to read. It's even more depressing than how I describe it.