I have a theory that there are a few areas where everyone thinks they are fantastic, and everybody else is an idiot. That is, everyone – or nearly everyone – thinks they’re a great driver, for example, and everyone else on the road is incompetent. The three classic areas, or so my theory goes, are sex, poker, and driving. Most people think they are better than most other people at these three things. Obviously, a lot of people are wrong: half of the world consists of below-average lovers, etc. (Let’s not bicker about “average” versus “median.” Let’s assume that these are all normal distributions.)
I’ll admit that I am no exception: I think of myself as an above-average lover, an above-average driver, and an average poker player. But I have to admit that I could very well be wrong on one or more of those counts.
So where do you fall in these three areas? What do you think of my theory? Does it jibe with your experience?
VOTING: Please vote for ONE of each category. Please don’t vote for multiples in a category (“Y’know, I think I’m right on the cusp of ‘average’ and ‘above-average’ so I’ll vote both.” = BAD), and please don’t leave any blank (“I’ve never driven before, so it’s not applicable to me.” = BAD … just guesstimate as to your driving ability, and pick one response). So before you submit, you should have checked three boxes and only three boxes.
I’m an average driver in my class, but I’m guessing even the worst guys are above average compared to the general population.
I’ve been told I’m above average lover… which is more thanks to a lot of practice with experienced partners than any innate ability.
At poker… I suck, horribly so; I’m pretty sure if I randomized every decision I make, I’d probably be better off (can I do that btw? Physically flip a coin to choose if I want to raise or not?)
Well that’s fun: they’ve already got a name for my theory and everything. I guess I can kiss that Nobel Prize goodbye.
It’s yet to be seen, however, how the Dope stacks up in this area. And what about you? Are you, like me, a victim of illusory superiority in these three disciplines?
I never thought of myself as above average in sex - I’m much too vanilla. And I don’t know a damn thing about poker. Does everyone you know play poker? I don’t know very many people who do, and they all seem to be men.
I do think I’m a better driver from the perspective that I strive to be alert, non-agressive, and safe.
I don’t know how to drive or play poker. No interest in learning.
I would assume I am around the ‘average’ when it comes to sexual skills… not something I’ve ever thought about as I’ve been in a LTR since I was a teenager.
I am probably average but I feel above-average so that’s what I picked for sex.
I am terrible at poker. Because I suck, I tend to compensate by doing purposefully crazy and/or stupid plays. Sometimes I get lucky and win this way, but not often.
Driving-wise, I am solidly average. I find it funny that according to this poll it’s more acceptable to be bad at sex than bad at driving.
I blame my below-averageness in both matter sexual and [whatever the proper form of the word is for poker] to by lack of opportunity to practice the necessary skills in both areas.
I would have put myself down as above average for driving, but I have this annoying habit of almost stopping at green lights and driving (mostly almost) through red lights some of the time - I have only driven completely unaware through two red lights in my life, the other times I just have to slam on anchors…
I have several different certificates attributing to being a good-great driver (e.g. awards from Pizza Hut for delivery driving safety, passing a driver safety class, had successful driving students, etc.) I also rank on several tracking websites as being in the top 10% of players at Pokerstars.
But, I think my penis is broken. I haven’t been a great lover since high school.
When it comes to vanilla sex I think I’m probably very below average. Thankfully my sex is rarely vanilla and I think I’m in my element when I’m flexing my kink. So I just put average.
I’m average at poker. I beat my friends but I think I’d be raped by anyone who knows what they’re doing.
I put above average driver but I haven’t really ever had the opportunity to compare myself to other drivers. I probably should have put average.
So I guess I’m right down the middle in all the categories.
I’m a shitty poker player (can’t keep the game’s rules straight, and am not a good bluffer), a decent driver (surprisingly coordinated, but not so good on stamina or automotive know-how), and untll recently, a fair lover who has suddenly acquired some mad skills, mostly due to my advancing years–I can go all night, control my orgasm almost at will, use a variety of techniques I’ve acquired over the years, etc. It’s really quite surprising, and has all been since I turned 50, or thereabouts.
You’;ve no idea how tempting it was to quote Dustin Hoffman as Rain Man for the driving question.
This poll really should differentiate between being bad at something vs. never having done it. I’ve never played poker, which means I’m a whole lot worse than someone who plays it poorly.
Despite my mediocrity in most other areas of my life, I’m happy to say that I’m an above-average lover. I’m proud of the compliments I’ve received from many of my partners (“you are soooo gifted”). Of course, for the last dozen or so years I’ve only been with my wife, and we have our repertoire of activities that I know will please us both, but I always put her satisfaction above mine.
I play poker maybe once a year and while I usually win at least one sizable pot, I typically end the night either even or down, so I’m a below-average poker player.
As a driver, I think I’m average. That probably comes from only ever finding myself in average driving situations, but on the rare occasion I’ve encountered a near-accident, I’ve been able to avoid it, as much from luck as anything else. I’ve never had an accident and haven’t had a moving violation in about 10 years.
So:
SEX: above average
POKER: below average
DRIVING: average
Sex: Average. As DianaG says, though, that answer will vary depending on my partner. I think I tend towards better-than-average more than less-than-average, but I think average is pretty accurate.
Poker: Below average. Like AClockworkMelon I tend to beat my friends, but anyone who really knows what they’re doing will kick my ass every time. Hence my lasting all of 15 minutes in the one Vegas tournament I played in.
Driving: Above average. I’ve never caused an accident (and have only been in one that someone else caused), I’ve never totalled a car, I have a great driving record, I’ve had high-speed driving instruction (as recently as two summers ago), I pay attention and have good reflexes, I don’t talk on the phone or text while driving, I let people in front of me, etc. Oh, and I actually enjoy driving. I don’t claim to be perfect: I’ve had a handful of speeding tickets in the 22 years that I’ve been driving, and sometimes I drive a little aggressively. But am I a better driver than most of the other people on the road? Yep.
