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submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by Karl@literature.cafe to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

They have never been to school. They've never said anything about wanting to read. But when they have to read something, they pretend they forgot their glasses or smth like that. They're insecure about it. I feel sad for them. That said, they're pretty stubborn. What can I possibly do to convince them to try learning?

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[-] Azzu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 67 points 6 days ago

As a formerly insecure person, just offer to teach them if they want, and then never mention it again. Once they're ready to get over their insecurity, they will contact you, or not.

[-] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 21 points 6 days ago

This right here. Constantly nagging them about something they are ashamed of will only make them more resistant to help.

[-] lalo@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 6 days ago

Agreed, also recommend doing this completely in private so they don't feel like there may be other people listening to your offer.

[-] ZiggyTheZygote@lemmy.ca 43 points 6 days ago

Write them a convincing argument in a letter as to why it is important to learn how to read.

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 29 points 6 days ago

I grew up very poor. In my street lived an older lady and a few doors down lived her daughter and son-in-law. The older lady was illiterate and when her first grandson was about to learn how to read, her daughter asked her to help teach him by keeping them company. So the daughter taught her toddler and her mother the bascic alphabet. That inspired the old lady to seek help and my mother arranged for a high school student to come tutor the lady three days a week. The old lady taught the next two grandkids how to read using the pamphlets she learned to read herself.

[-] Karl@literature.cafe 1 points 4 days ago
[-] PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org 14 points 6 days ago

Do you know why they don't want to learn to read?

[-] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 18 points 6 days ago

My guess would be a mix of embarrassment and a feeling like it's too hard.

[-] Karl@literature.cafe 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Yeah that's it. And my family being too immature doesn't help. They would laugh watching them struggle to learn.

[-] IWW4@lemmy.zip 11 points 6 days ago

My family are the kings and queens of refusing to do things that will make thier lives better. I have learned through bitter experience that there is no helping anyone who does not want to help themselves.

Without knowing your family member there really isn’t much useful that anyone can tell you.

I recommend that you find a way to maintain whatever level of relationship you want with that person that insulates you from their “issues”.

[-] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 4 points 6 days ago

Text to speech scanners are already available.

Get them one that lets them 'read'

mho

[-] Karl@literature.cafe 1 points 4 days ago

We speak a language that's not much spoken and therefore we don't have that facility.

[-] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 3 points 4 days ago

Check the local libraries and societies for the blind.

Sometimes things are available but aren't widely known.

[-] Maeve@kbin.earth 3 points 6 days ago

Are they dyslexic or have other obstacles you may not know about?

[-] Karl@literature.cafe 2 points 4 days ago

If they do, we don't know. Because they have, as far as I know, never tried to learn. They've never been to school. They say it would be ridiculous at their age to learn school stuff.

[-] Maeve@kbin.earth 2 points 4 days ago

What I'm getting at is there may be LDs they are embarrassed to share.

[-] Karl@literature.cafe 2 points 4 days ago

Oh, you right. They're the type of person to hide something like that.

[-] its_kim_love@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 6 days ago

Is there a significant age gap?

[-] Karl@literature.cafe 2 points 4 days ago

What? Between me and them? Yes.

[-] Today@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Is there an app that they could use privately?

[-] Karl@literature.cafe 1 points 4 days ago

Doesn't know how to use a smartphone :(

this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2026
59 points (96.8% liked)

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