I am pleased that the EV Tribune chose to make the "illiteracy story" the headline, if only to expose this study as a "Bridge to Nowhere."
Based on the article I read, (I am literate!), I can suppose that they didn't interview individuals, but only evaluated information that is available from public resources.
I read that one important criterium was educational attainment. What does this mean? Must you have a liberal arts degree to be considered literate? Considering the cities that are highest on the list, that requirement may very well have been an important factor.
Internet resources are suggested as a source of data. It would take forever-and then some-to filter out pertinent trends from that morass. How long did they take to develop this study? Who provided the funds? If it was the taxpayer, I want my money back!
Speaking of which, based on the list of cities, literacy could also correlate to the median incomes of those locations.
But despite all my negative charges, I was inspired by this article to create my own "evaluation."
I found that of all the cities of the world, Mesa is the least interested in sex. This is based on the lack of the
following: red-light districts, topless bars, sex boutiques, and call girls on the streets. Never mind all the families with children, or any other positive aspect of the subject, my study is valid - just as valid as the literacy study.
Patrick Shepherd
Mesa
Arizona Willie posted at 4:22 pm on Fri, Feb 3, 2012.
What Mesa do you live in? Try driving down Main street sometime and see all the women walking down the street.
The is the U.S.A. --- NOBODY walks unless their car broke down or ran out of gas.
I could go with a few of them being broke and down on their luck --- but not THAT many.
I'd bet a weeks paycheck ( if I had a job ) that a bunch of them are either hookers or cops === or both. [beam]
Rich posted at 7:11 pm on Fri, Feb 3, 2012.
"I found that of all the cities of the world, Mesa is the least interested in sex. This is based on the lack of the following: red-light districts, topless bars, sex boutiques, and call girls on the streets. Never mind all the families with children, or any other positive aspect of the subject, my study is valid - just as valid as the literacy study."
Actually I'd check the frequency of prescriptions for drugs prescribed for STDs, and the birth rate. Oh, and probably the sales especially in used bookstores, of Henry Miller. Studies are never valid until you know whether the study is based on believing what you see, or seeing what you believe.
Abstract01 posted at 10:43 pm on Sun, Feb 5, 2012.
My point precisely, Rich, I suspect that the literacy study was based on preconceived results, and used (or skewed) the data to show what they wanted.
In addition, I would add that some books that I have purchased over the years are not worth reading while others are worth reading and studying two-three times over.
A good story never grows old, and is renewed in succeeding generations.