# No matter how hard I try... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184 "2013-05-24T01:04:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/1 "2013-05-24T01:04:10Z")
Inspired by a similar thread in Threadspotting, is there any particular skill you lack that the majority of others seem to have mastered? OR, vice versa… is there anything you can do easily that others find well nigh impossible? (Stealth bragging alert!) No judgements about whether these skills (or lack thereof) make you a superior/inferior being. My own contribution… not personally, but an ex-girlfriend of mine could not wink (and notably, her attempts to do so could put me and our friends into high hysterics, her facial contortions resembling those of someone suffering a stroke or perhaps a difficult bowel movement.) On the flip side, I can solve a Rubik’s cube (standard 3x3) in about 5 minutes. Although I imagine this skill is not as rare among Dopers as among the general population. What about you? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/2 "2013-05-24T01:09:36Z")
I could never see those pictures that were supposed to appear if you stared at them for a few minutes. I still think they were an elaborate troll attempt. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/3 "2013-05-24T01:10:17Z")
Anything relationship-wise totally eludes me, and I can only wink with my right eye (Most right-handers seem to wink with their left). On the other hand… I’m excellent at map reading, and finding my way around in general. I can juggle. I can solve a Rubik’s Cube (used to do it in about 1:30, probably longer now). ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/4 "2013-05-24T01:30:55Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I could never see those pictures that were supposed to appear if you stared at them for a few minutes. I still think they were an elaborate troll attempt. Ah yes… forgot about those. Ditto for me. A hoax, i tell ya, a hoax…😉 ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/5 "2013-05-24T01:37:20Z")
I have a really hard time backing up, especially in a big truck or SUV. My roommate sometimes lets me drive his greatbighuge Lincoln Navigator SUV, and I often have to have him back it up to face forward to the driveway. I can’t see where I’m going, and it just doesn’t seem to be intuitive to me like it does to others. Makes parallel parking a nightmare. But I can cook really well. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/6 "2013-05-24T01:39:42Z")
… I cannot win at squash. It’s like the game was designed specifically to frustrate me. But I can parallel park the Lucitania like an 'em’effer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/7 "2013-05-24T01:41:10Z")
I can’t really wink either. And \*maybe \*I could beat a goldfish at the game memory. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/8 "2013-05-24T02:16:40Z")
Remembering people’s names. Seriously. I know a lot of people claim to have trouble here but I think my issue borders on mental disorder. I just _can not_ remember a person’s name after it’s been told to me. Usually even after multiple times being told. Of course there are exceptions and sometimes a name will just get stuck in my head and I’ll have no trouble extracting it when needed but those times are few and far between. Many times I’ve found myself in that awkward situation of being much too far along in a social relationship with a person to go back and admit I didn’t remember their name, so I continue to just hope I never get called out on it and just address them with “Hey, what’s up man”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/9 "2013-05-24T02:42:30Z")
I can’t curl my lip/snarl on the left side. I can lift the right side of my lip and squinch down my right eye all day long. But there is absolutely no response when trying to move the left side. Not sure if this is how everyone works, tho. I always forget to poll people. I can, however, wiggle my entire scalp. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/10 "2013-05-24T03:52:35Z")
I can’t snap my fingers, no matter what. I’ve even had people watch me try, and they can’t figure out why there’s no sound either. I really wish I could raise just one eyebrow. It looks so cool when other people do it. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/11 "2013-05-24T04:09:30Z")
I can’t raise my left eyebrow. I can raise my right eyebrow but not my left. And I’ve been trying for years. All I’ve ever accomplished is a weird, kinda confused-looking, brow-furrowed squint. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/12 "2013-05-24T06:59:40Z")
I can’t whistle, but I can wiggle my ears. Yes, really - there are tiny muscles running from the rear of the mid-point of the ear and aft at an incline. I have no idea why these are voluntary in my case and not normal folk’s. I cannot operate them independently of each other. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/13 "2013-05-24T07:04:39Z")
I can’t whistle and I can’t click my fingers. I also can’t pronounce ‘r’ correctly and definitely can’t roll them. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/14 "2013-05-24T07:50:15Z")
I can’t solve the Rubik’s Cube. The Word Jumble puzzles, though, I can usually solve the four words in under 30 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/15 "2013-05-24T07:51:17Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > I also can’t pronounce ‘r’ correctly and definitely can’t roll them. So, how do you pronounce your name, **Sandra**? ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/16 "2013-05-24T10:05:13Z")
Like Ambivalid, I have a really rough time with names. I’m a part-time teacher in the evenings, and I just warn every class it will be 5 or 6 weeks before I start getting the names right. As far as the second half of the OPs question, I’m a savant at backing up vehicles. I routinely pull two trailers behind my truck (camper + boat). I can back the entire rig up with relative ease. This has surprised people several times, who thought I was trapped at a dead end. I just back the entire 70 foot rig into the nearest driveway and turn it around. Forgive me if you’ve seen it already, but here’s a [pic](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/rbp2/a2eaf4f2.jpg) of what I’m talking about. It’s almost a useless skill, but I really can do it. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/17 "2013-05-24T10:12:53Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > So, how do you pronounce your name, **Sandra**? Badly. 😃 Seriously though, it’s not a complete lisp, I just can’t quite get the rrrrrr. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/18 "2013-05-24T12:34:29Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Remembering people’s names. Seriously. I know a lot of people claim to have trouble here but I think my issue borders on mental disorder. I just _can not_ remember a person’s name after it’s been told to me. Usually even after multiple times being told. Of course there are exceptions and sometimes a name will just get stuck in my head and I’ll have no trouble extracting it when needed but those times are few and far between. Many times I’ve found myself in that awkward situation of being much too far along in a social relationship with a person to go back and admit I didn’t remember their name, so I continue to just hope I never get called out on it and just address them with “Hey, what’s up man”, etc. This, exactly. There are more than a dozen people I go camping with every year. We bond, we laugh, we cry, we drink copious amounts of mead around the campfire, and damned if I could match a single face to a name. But, I mean, hey, give me a little time, okay? It’s only been 12 years we’ve been doing this together! :smack: But I am the master of packing a car for a camping trip. I can fit 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound sack, and still leave you the rear window open so there’s no blind spot. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/19 "2013-05-24T12:59:48Z")
I can’t play a musical instrument worth diddly. I can sing, and I can pick out a tune on a keyboard on a guitar, but I just can’t relate to the instrument where it sounds like anything you’d want to hear. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184/20 "2013-05-24T13:17:36Z")
When singing, I can’t slow down my vibrato. Actually, I had no vibrato at all until a few years ago, when it suddenly appeared while singing a Patsy Klein medley. But it’s so fast, I sound more like Woody Woodpecker than a human singer. What can I do? I can pack a suitcase for any kind of trip, without including anything extraneous and without leaving anything out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-matter-how-hard-i-try/659184.md?page=2)