Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 5]

[Truckosaurus]

Alickadoo said:

If you couldn't read or write, wouldn't you get someone show you what your name looked like written down, and then practice copying that?

Yeah, why didn't the illiterate just learn to read and write? (I suspect there were many who could 'mask' and sign their name but not properly read what they were signing).

[QuartzDad]

Discendo Discimus said:

I think that's a telephone exchange. I used to install those air conditioning units, you'd be surprised how much heat those computers can put out!
It'll be owned by BT / Vodafone / Virgin Media (but most likely BT).

Thank you.

[CivicDuties]

Truckosaurus said:

Alickadoo said:

If you couldn't read or write, wouldn't you get someone show you what your name looked like written down, and then practice copying that?

Yeah, why didn't the illiterate just learn to read and write? (I suspect there were many who could 'mask' and sign their name but not properly read what they were signing).

In the case of my great grandmother, it was the threat of violence from her husband if she dared learn anything useful, and the fact her parents never sent her to school as a child preferring her to work.

[StevieBee]

CivicDuties said:

In the case of my great grandmother, it was the threat of violence from her husband if she dared learn anything useful, and the fact her parents never sent her to school as a child preferring her to work.

Weird isn't it? That would have been perfectly acceptable then. Today, we get het up if someone adds their pronoun to emails!

[hidetheelephants]

CivicDuties said:

Truckosaurus said:

Alickadoo said:

If you couldn't read or write, wouldn't you get someone show you what your name looked like written down, and then practice copying that?

Yeah, why didn't the illiterate just learn to read and write? (I suspect there were many who could 'mask' and sign their name but not properly read what they were signing).

In the case of my great grandmother, it was the threat of violence from her husband if she dared learn anything useful, and the fact her parents never sent her to school as a child preferring her to work.

When was she born? Basic schooling was compulsory from 1880-ish, earlier in Scotland.

[CivicDuties]

hidetheelephants said:

CivicDuties said:

Truckosaurus said:

Alickadoo said:

If you couldn't read or write, wouldn't you get someone show you what your name looked like written down, and then practice copying that?

Yeah, why didn't the illiterate just learn to read and write? (I suspect there were many who could 'mask' and sign their name but not properly read what they were signing).

In the case of my great grandmother, it was the threat of violence from her husband if she dared learn anything useful, and the fact her parents never sent her to school as a child preferring her to work.

When was she born? Basic schooling was compulsory from 1880-ish, earlier in Scotland.

1901. In Malta. Great grandfather was from London, went to Malta with the Army. They met, married, stayed in Malta a few years, then moved to India for a long time (Army, Empire, that jazz), before coming to England for the rest of their lives. So she was, for her entire life, under the influence of either controlling parents or husband. During that time she was also banned, under threat of violence, from speaking her native language. Which she eventually forgot almost entirely. By her 80s she could only remember two words.

Those were the days, huh.

So if someone was trying to play a "didn't happen" card, or an "anyone is free to learn to read and write card, then they can foxtrot oscar. Yeah times are different now, thankfully, but this is lived memory to me. The poor old girl was so frightened of her parents and husband, even after their deaths, and also the fear of imaginary superstitions (the Catholic Maltese version of Jesus and God, and also the old pre-Christian Middle Eastern concept of the "Evil Eye" dominated pretty much her every decision) that she found it difficult to function.

So that's why, for some people, there are barriers to learning things. I expect this situation persists in some places in the world.

Edited by CivicDuties on Thursday 25th April 15:19

[Abbott]

CivicDuties said:

hidetheelephants said:

CivicDuties said:

Truckosaurus said:

Alickadoo said:

If you couldn't read or write, wouldn't you get someone show you what your name looked like written down, and then practice copying that?

Yeah, why didn't the illiterate just learn to read and write? (I suspect there were many who could 'mask' and sign their name but not properly read what they were signing).

In the case of my great grandmother, it was the threat of violence from her husband if she dared learn anything useful, and the fact her parents never sent her to school as a child preferring her to work.

When was she born? Basic schooling was compulsory from 1880-ish, earlier in Scotland.

1901. In Malta. Great grandfather was from London, went to Malta with the Army. They met, married, stayed in Malta a few years, then moved to India for a long time (Army, Empire, that jazz), before coming to England for the rest of their lives. So she was, for her entire life, under the influence of either controlling parents or husband. During that time she was also banned, under threat of violence, from speaking her native language. Which she eventually forgot almost entirely. By her 80s she could only remember two words.

Those were the days, huh.

So if someone was trying to play a "didn't happen" card, or an "anyone is free to learn to read and write card, then they can foxtrot oscar. Yeah times are different now, thankfully, but this is lived memory to me. The poor old girl was so frightened of her parents and husband, even after their deaths, and also the fear of imaginary superstitions (the Catholic Maltese version of Jesus and God, and also the old pre-Christian Middle Eastern concept of the "Evil Eye" dominated pretty much her every decision) that she found it difficult to function.

So that's why, for some people, there are barriers to learning things. I expect this situation persists in some places in the world.

Edited by CivicDuties on Thursday 25th April 15:19

I hope it would bring a smile to your Great Grans face to think that she has made it into the great vaults of PH discussion. Respect

[hidetheelephants]

CivicDuties said:

1901. In Malta. Great grandfather was from London, went to Malta with the Army. They met, married, stayed in Malta a few years, then moved to India for a long time (Army, Empire, that jazz), before coming to England for the rest of their lives. So she was, for her entire life, under the influence of either controlling parents or husband. During that time she was also banned, under threat of violence, from speaking her native language. Which she eventually forgot almost entirely. By her 80s she could only remember two words.

Those were the days, huh.

So if someone was trying to play a "didn't happen" card, or an "anyone is free to learn to read and write card, then they can foxtrot oscar. Yeah times are different now, thankfully, but this is lived memory to me. The poor old girl was so frightened of her parents and husband, even after their deaths, and also the fear of imaginary superstitions (the Catholic Maltese version of Jesus and God, and also the old pre-Christian Middle Eastern concept of the "Evil Eye" dominated pretty much her every decision) that she found it difficult to function.

So that's why, for some people, there are barriers to learning things. I expect this situation persists in some places in the world.

It does in too many places; my question was one based on the assumption she was british, I meant no insult. As for the domestic violence and misogyny it sometimes seems as though we haven't moved that far on even though it's been illegal for a long time.

[CivicDuties]

Abbott said:

I hope it would bring a smile to your Great Grans face to think that she has made it into the great vaults of PH discussion. Respect

[CivicDuties]

hidetheelephants said:

t does in too many places; my question was one based on the assumption she was british, I meant no insult. As for the domestic violence and misogyny it sometimes seems as though we haven't moved that far on even though it's been illegal for a long time.

[dontlookdown]

Roofless Toothless said:

Wonderful. Never seen that before, great find.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

What you don't see here, is just off camera the Stasi have the family held at gunpoint so the chap does the slalom really fast.

[98elise]

CivicDuties said:

hidetheelephants said:

CivicDuties said:

Truckosaurus said:

Alickadoo said:

If you couldn't read or write, wouldn't you get someone show you what your name looked like written down, and then practice copying that?

Yeah, why didn't the illiterate just learn to read and write? (I suspect there were many who could 'mask' and sign their name but not properly read what they were signing).

In the case of my great grandmother, it was the threat of violence from her husband if she dared learn anything useful, and the fact her parents never sent her to school as a child preferring her to work.

When was she born? Basic schooling was compulsory from 1880-ish, earlier in Scotland.

1901. In Malta. Great grandfather was from London, went to Malta with the Army. They met, married, stayed in Malta a few years, then moved to India for a long time (Army, Empire, that jazz), before coming to England for the rest of their lives. So she was, for her entire life, under the influence of either controlling parents or husband. During that time she was also banned, under threat of violence, from speaking her native language. Which she eventually forgot almost entirely. By her 80s she could only remember two words.

Those were the days, huh.

So if someone was trying to play a "didn't happen" card, or an "anyone is free to learn to read and write card, then they can foxtrot oscar. Yeah times are different now, thankfully, but this is lived memory to me. The poor old girl was so frightened of her parents and husband, even after their deaths, and also the fear of imaginary superstitions (the Catholic Maltese version of Jesus and God, and also the old pre-Christian Middle Eastern concept of the "Evil Eye" dominated pretty much her every decision) that she found it difficult to function.

So that's why, for some people, there are barriers to learning things. I expect this situation persists in some places in the world.

Edited by CivicDuties on Thursday 25th April 15:19

It's not that unknown in the UK. A few years back I was implementing a software system for managing in house tradesmen. One of the labourers attending training revealed he couldn’t read or write! Quote a problem when you're moving from verbal instructions to electronic messages.

[p1doc]

does anyone know why in roadworks the lights on top of cones seem to sync so flash in sequence?

[Doofus]

p1doc said:

does anyone know why in roadworks the lights on top of cones seem to sync so flash in sequence?

Presumably because they're switched on sequentially not simultaneously.

[p1doc]

Doofus said:

Presumably because they're switched on sequentially not simultaneously.

is it as simple as that as remember as student in 90s doing road traffic control and replacing damaged lights ie hit by trucks and they just seemed to fit with the others in sequence

[Sway]

They've a sensor so that they co-ordinate. One is the master.

It's so that you don't just get a weirdly discordant rhythm that might confuse.

[Rusty Old-Banger]

Sway said:

They've a sensor so that they co-ordinate. One is the master.

It's so that you don't just get a weirdly discordant rhythm that might confuse.

This. (Highway worker)

[bodhi]

I'm presuming it's done with the sequence rather than fixed lights to make the lane closures easier to see on an empty motorway at night?

[Rusty Old-Banger]

bodhi said:

I'm presuming it's done with the sequence rather than fixed lights to make the lane closures easier to see on an empty motorway at night?

Yep. It can only be used at lane closures/lane drops and the lights must be sequenced logically, otherwise they must be solid non-flashing.