is it rude to ask, "can you read?"
 

maybe it is my friendly, gentle face. but some guy picked me out of a crowd, downtown SF, and asked me to help him find a particular building. he shoved a note in my face with walking directions. i pointed him to the correct building, next door to mine, and sent him happy and toothless to his destination. i was dying to ask! but i didnt want to hurt his feelings. it has happened to me three times now. one guy was looking for some gov office and was standing next to the door with the letters on it. i wanted to ask then too....

us dumb white guys always assume you asian guys are smart. ive asked you about a dozen stupid questions in the 3 years or so we've hung out....

yea, but those have all been mathematic question...and the one about my little dcik doesnt count :)

vash;

Next time ask the guy if he has a little dick in addition to not being able to read. Of course, if he cant read or see, his dick might look big to himself, and in reality to be small. Geez, next thing, we'd all be whipping them out.

Yeah, is easier to ask if he can't read. And most likely, the humor will go over their head.

opps mistyped, i meant the question about my little redwood deck doesnt count... how embarrassing.

for once a thread I am not responsible for the drag into the toilet!!

How rude Vash, god! Just because you're good at math (and you have a small deck) doesn't give you a right to go around flaunting how smart you are to us 'Mericans! Some of us are dang fine in readin' and writin', as well as 'rithmetic.

I find the term 'redwood deck' distasteful.

Gawd, I dragged this thread into the toilet. I feel bad.

Bush hates little decks.

Now I feel better.

I frankly am offended by the stereotype presented here that Asians have small genitalia... isn't it bad enough that those poor people can't drive? Haven't they suffered enough?

hahahahhahah!

dont make me pull out the "we all know kungfu" stereotype!

Well, I only know one sentence in sign language:

"How long have you been blind ?"

His wife or girlfriend has small hands, makes things look bigger.

ok this may go over the line, cliff i apologize in advance. the joke goes like this,

why should asians not be allowed drive? nobody that you can blindfold with dental floss should be behind the wheel of a car.

now, about this small deck thing, an old journeyman carpenter i used to apprentice under (leave that me under him alone you figs) taught me that washing your hands with lemon juice removes the stains redwood leaves on your hands while working with it.

there a tip, and a joke for the day, on me, free of charge. do with them as you feel fit.

Back to your question, Yes. Let it go that you can read and help the poor sob out and point the place out for his sake. Should't even be a question.

It's causing us all to splinter.

Maybe somebody should have given him a photo instead of directions.

You got a camera handy?? :D

Not necessarily rude, but probably embarrassing and potentially offensive. (offensive is not necessarily rude)

I'd not bother. Maybe they can't read maybe they can. Either way, no big deal. It's not worth asking and either mortifying or pissing off a complete stranger.

I've been asked to read things for older folks who don't have (or can't afford) reading glasses as well as people who suffer from dyslexia. In both cases, it isn't their fault. They know how to read but a physical impairment gets in the way. No need to ask. Lots of folks have trouble reading for those and other reasons.

I've found that many guys under 30 can't do basic reading or math. 20yrs ago my bride had a college girl at the register who couldn't give change unless the register told her the amount. The discovery happened when the register crashed. This college girl was from high end Long Island gentry as her transportation was a recently new SL given to her for graduating HS.