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I have known extremely intelligent men on Gor, incidentally, who could not read. Illiteracy, or, more kindly, an inability to read and write, is not taken on Gor as a mark of stupidity.
(Magicians of Gor, pages 393 - 394)
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Many Gorean people, mostly those of low caste, are illiterate. There is no particular shame in this in most cases; on the contrary, some people are even proud of their illiteracy. Consider the implications of this in everyday life, and how this could be played out in SL Gor:
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Occasionally heralds, or criers, would pass by, calling out news or announcements. Many on this world, you see, cannot read. Thus the importance of the heralds, the criers, and such. Many things are advertised, too, in such a way, by calling out bargains, the fruits in season, the markets, the cost of cloth, and such. Too, one may hear men, or often boys, for it costs less to hire them, calling out the pleasures of various taverns, and the delights that may be found in within.
(Witness of Gor, page 37)
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Ideas for including illiteracy in your SL Gorean world:
- Have heralds, town criers, advertisers instead of city newspapers, flyers, posters
- Play out not being able to understand a letter you received or a poster on a corner. Try to find someone to read it for you
- Pay a scribe to write your letters or do the paperwork of your business
- If you do want to be low caste but able to read, have a plausible explanation for it. Maybe you were unusually clever or curious, or listened in while high caste children were taught, or needed to learn so you could manage the finances of your family business
- If you're illiterate, make fun of a peer who can read. Call them fancypants or a wannabe scribe, get in a fistfight and make up over mugs of paga afterwards
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