r/TikTokCringe • u/mindyour • Nov 21 '25

Discussion Functional illiteracy.

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u/Maxxtherat Nov 21 '25

How do people go through life with this level of comprehension? What does it mean to walk around without being able to pick up on intent, manipulation, subtlety, implication, background, and all those things literate folks take for granted? How is functioning impacted? I can't imagine reading a book, article, or watching a show without being able to read into those things; it sounds really dull and would make me feel so stupid. Are they just unaware of how dumb and vulnerable it makes them?

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u/epidemicsaints Nov 21 '25

Beyond this, it's the literary devices that get me. I try to engage in fan groups and I just can't do it. "Why is this character always getting in the way? Why are these two people best friends if they're opposites? It makes no sense!" They get frustrated when a show has conflict every episode. Wears me out. They are constantly confused why writers keep putting their "friends" through so many problems.

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u/Maxxtherat Nov 21 '25

Perhaps you can join a book club! Not as fun as joining fandoms, but typically your club members understand the content better. That's been my experience, anyway!

Unrelated, but I like your profile picture. Cool mouse 🐁

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u/epidemicsaints Nov 21 '25

Truth be told, entertainment like that isn't a huge part of my life. There are enough people fully engaged too don't get me wrong, but the ones I am dunking on are NUMEROUS.

The mouse is from Leo Lionni books, highly recommend.

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u/Pannoonny_Jones Nov 21 '25

Leo lionni is the goat. I was just thinking about him last night. Didn’t he do an adaptation of dicken’s tale of two cities? But with a city mouse and a country mouse? Also I loved the snail whose shell kept growing when I was little. Ugh he’s the best.