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It's definately laziness. I have a friend in Yorkshire who cannot type out an entire sentence without abbreviating every freaking word, as well as leaving out all forms of punctuation, etc. It drives me insane. What would normally take all but three seconds to read, becomes this highly complex 15 minute deciphering exercise. Wouldn't it be easier to type out the words the way you actually speak them? I seriously DO NOT get it. confused

It really isn't too difficult to type out your words.
I mean, I know through experiance (Well, experiance meaning friends of mine) who have accidentally left a 'u' or a 'b4' style of writing in essays and not only is it embarrassing, it's pitiful.
We, as humans are taught to read the english language a certain way; why change it because you're lazy to type out a word intended to make sence?!
Your way of writing may make plenty sence to you, but it's also given you a high probability of even affecting your future.

Personally, I'd like to lay the blame for American illiteracy on our system of education. I know I'm not the only person who has noticed how schools tend to focus on the sciences and mathematics more than simple grammar and literature. After all, high-paying jobs look for a math whiz or a scientist, don't they?

I've noticed how stupid Americans look when compared to most of the rest of the developed world. No offense to anyone, but we really are not the smartest people in the world. I don't think that will change anytime soon, either. Our culture is virtually killing the want to learn. Children hate school. Children tease other children for wanting to learn. Where does this take us? Further down the path to utter stupidity. It's no wonder Americans are getting less and less literate! Our culture does not support it!

That's exactly what I'm getting at. The only way I get by in sciences is by memorizing the fundamental equations and manipulating them as much as possible. Children don't have enough of an understanding of what they are learning to actually manipulate it or retain it. They study for a test and, once it's over, they forget most of what they've studied. I'm guilty of that myself, I must admit. Simple memorization does not work. If memorization should ever be used, it should at least be coupled with a basic understanding. I've had too many teachers who don't understand that. Teachers ought to be able to at least pound an understanding of it into their student. It helps if a student is interested, but with our culture, there's only so much you can do.

I would say Laziness is basically the main problem. Peer pressure is also a problem.

People just do not want to think or reflect anymore. They want their sense to be completely overwhelmed and not have to think or make hard choices. It's not just us kids though.

Adults are like that too. People think you're a nerd or a weirdo if you read. They say it is important but in practice people hate those who havbe an education and make the mistake of being a bit too obvious about it.

If you quote some stupid line from the latest idiotic movie then you're cool but if you quote from Shakespeare or even any book or any faous historical quote people laugh at you.

Not only people think it is ok to be lazy, people think it's cool to be stupid.

stare That last comment reminded me of how shocked people were when I showed up in the AP classes. haha I'm a punkrocker and they assumed because I wore dog collars, had purple hair and played in a band, that I was some kind of idiot. But I've always been a nerd at heart. I love to read. I love intelligence. And I hate our society, like you said, for encouraging stupidity. stare

I'd have to say that, even more than laziness, the problem with the world is apathy. It's not that people don't have the energy to do it properly; they simply don't care to. Why? I think a lot of people have an undeserved sense of entitlement; they don't need to make themselves understood, people will go the extra mile to decipher what they are saying.