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My mother, turning 80 this month, is convinced that anyone born into Generation Z will not be able to decipher the following.

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This is an ancient form of communication called "Cursive" [kur-siv], which is soon to be as extinct as the Latin language and the Mullet hairstyle.

Is there anyone out there who can decrypt it?

  • 50 imaginary bonus points for correct answers from PSE members born after 1998
  • 10 additional imaginary bonus points for those who correctly transcribe the answer in cursive, not with computer font.
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2 Answers 2

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The cipher is

a Caesar shift of 7: hence "of" becomes "vm", "the" becomes "aol", etc. (Notice how common "vm" and "aol" are in the ciphertext.

The cursive ciphertext is

Vul wyljvjpvbz Qlhu Svbpzl "Zjvba" Mpujo dhz mhy holhk vm hss vm aol vaoly mpyza nyhklyz ha aol Thfjvti zjovvs pu Ohywly Sll'z uvcls Av Rpss h Tvjrpunipyk. Zol jvbsk hsylhkf ylhk huk dypal jbyzpcl, lclu iba oly alhjoly, Tpzz Jhyvspul, zovdlk uv hwwyljphapvu mvy aolzl zrpssz.

The deciphered plaintext is

One precocious Jean Louise "Scout" Finch was far ahead of all of the other first graders at the Maycomb school in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She could already read and write cursive, even but her teacher, Miss Caroline, showed no appreciation for these skills.

And how's THIS for illegible?

plaintext

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    $\begingroup$ Are you gen Z though? $\endgroup$
    – Prince North Læraðr
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:22
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah, I'm thinking that you get none of the highly coveted imaginary bonus points... $\endgroup$
    – Chowzen
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:31
  • $\begingroup$ @Chowzen I haven't even heard the phrase "generation Z" before - something the kids these days go on about? I did illegify the plaintext for you though :-P $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:33
  • $\begingroup$ You haven't heard the phrase "generation Z," yet you're completely comfortable using "illegify" in everyday conversation? (－‸ლ) $\endgroup$
    – Chowzen
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:48
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I would've figured it out, but Rand beat me to it by a long shot. Anyhow, to make your mother happy, (and also to get 10 imaginary bonus points), here is the cursive, handwritten:

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ For sake of privacy, I wont reveal my age, but lets just say I'm born AFTER 2000, of course, still within the SE age limit $\endgroup$
    – Prince North Læraðr
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:37
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    $\begingroup$ [point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point][point] $\endgroup$
    – Chowzen
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:50
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    $\begingroup$ +1 for handwriting! I also fixed the spoilertagging for you :-) $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:50
  • $\begingroup$ @Chowzen Flagged as spam :-P $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:51
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    $\begingroup$ 13 imaginary points retroactively deducted from North for writing outside the red margins!!! You even hit a three-ring binder pothole! $\endgroup$
    – Chowzen
    Mar 11, 2018 at 22:56

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