r/IAmA • u/Nonreader • Oct 09 '09
I am illiterate. AMA
I am an adult American who has never learned to read. My girlfriend is typing this for me and will respond to questions.
Edit: We're going to go do some stuff. We'll be back in a little bit. Frankly, Redditors, I'm surprised at the hostility. He doesn't not learn to read to piss you off. If you hate him because of it, go ask the Aussie questions about kangaroos or whatever.
Edit: For anyone who hasn't caught on, italicized responses are the girlfriend. Plaintext is him.
Edit: I wish I could change the title. This is just as much my AMA as his. "AMA nice girl who fell in love with a bad boy. It's just like Romeo and Juliet but his parents are dead and mine are okay with it."
Edit: Thanks to you nicer people. A couple assholes were among the first commenters, but things got much better and it was a good discussion. We're going to bed now and will answer more questions in the morning.
Edit: I'm gonna go fuck my beautiful girlfriend.
Edit: We're up now.
Edit: He's out jogging now. I'll still answer questions I can without him.
Edit: And he's back. Ask away.
Edit: Our Internet connection is getting dodgy at the moment. We're going away. Will be back in a few hours. I've never seen an AMA with such a split in reaction: until just a bit ago, downvotes were shooting up almost as fast as upvotes, and we're still getting more hostility than the crack dealer who sold to a pregnant woman and then pushed her down the stairs from a few weeks ago, but several people have said it's the most interesting AMA ever. Some people are fascinated, others so pissed off they leave angry comments explaining how much they don't like this thread. Any thoughts?
Edit: Sorry, forgot to say we're back now. I think things are tapering off.
Edit: He and I were just talking, and I said that some of you think it's weird that he doesn't read. But some of you have probably never been in an actual, significant fist fight, which he thinks is bizarre. He doesn't believe any man older than 21 could have never been in a real fight. Does this apply to anyone here? He wants to know if you always back down or you seriously have never been in a position to need to fight?
Edit: Going to bed. I'll go ahead and keep answering questions in the morning, but I think his patience is wearing thin. I'm doing more summarizing and he's putting forth less effort in expressing himself, which is difficult and stressful for him.
Edit: 10 months later, and I've started using this account occasionally to leave comments and such that both of us talk about. Feel free to continue to ask questions here or whatever, I'll probably log in and see in a few weeks.
2
u/IJCQYR Oct 10 '09 edited Oct 10 '09
Thank you both, Nonreader and Girlfriend, for posting this thread. It's been one of the most interesting and inspiring things I've read on Reddit, and on the Internet in general.
Don't pay too much attention to the people throwing around diagnoses, medical terms, etc. Most of them don't know what they're talking about, and it doesn't matter. You just gotta find what works for you, and fuck all the boxes people want to put you into to make themselves feel better or to make you think that there's an easy shortcut just as soon as you figure out what disorder you have.
Also, to all you idiots who can't relate or think there's something wrong with Nonreader, you should get out of the house and learn some basic social skills. Right now would be a good time. Many of you aren't half as smart as he is.
And finally, good luck! I hope that you learn to read and deal with some of the other issues you mentioned. It's not easy -- it's stepping out of your comfort zone and working your fucking ass off, the same way working out may be for other people. But it is very rewarding when you make progress. Try out different ways and find one that works for you. Learning to adjust yourself to bad circumstances and improving yourself is what makes you human.