# Stuff that you still haven't figured out **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944 "2009-06-25T16:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/21 "2009-06-26T18:07:00Z")
> [@Creaky](#): > > Nah, it’s all good. “Me three” is as good an answer as any. > > I swear, the two-finger whistle is like some secret Illuminati thing!! If you ain’t one of the Initaited you’ll never get it!! 😃 I have a friend who can do the two finger whistle. She said her brother taught her when she was young. She says keep trying to do it and you’ll get it sooner or later and after you get it, keep practicing all the time. She said it took years. Whenever she does it, it’s earsplitting. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/22 "2009-06-26T18:15:24Z")
You know, the one thing I absolutely cannot figure out is _dancing_. I, absolutely and without question, cannot dance by the slightest and most generous measure. I have no idea where to begin or how to move so as not to emulate a catatonic tin man. I am a nuclear bomb of uncool on the dance floor. However, when I’m _very_ drunk I do have a soft spot for simply laying on the floor and bouncing my whole body around. Now _that_ is fun. Also, what the _hell_ is layered hair? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/23 "2009-06-26T18:20:20Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > Also, what the _hell_ is layered hair? I was going to try to answer this, but [now I’m confused, too](http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=layered+hairstyles&sa=N&tab=wi&um=1). I see similarities between some of those cuts, but nothing that all of them have in common. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/24 "2009-06-26T18:27:05Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > Also, what the _hell_ is layered hair? Usually, it’s some variation on where all hairs are cut to the same length. The hairs on the top of your head will hang down shorter than the ones on the sides of your head. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/25 "2009-06-26T18:57:47Z")
Speaking of colors, I can never identify what the less common colors are: chartreuse, sienna, cerise, cobalt, cyan, taupe, sapphire, teal, ect. I can _ **see** _ the differences, but the names alone confuse me, and tax my recall. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/26 "2009-06-26T19:22:30Z")
Singing the alphabet or saying righty-tighty lefty-loosey isn’t a bad thing at all. Mnemonics are powerful memory tools. For me, I have to sometimes think of learning to march as a cub scout to remember left from right. We always started off with the left foot, so it cemented my polar awareness. Also, when remembering compass points, I have visual zigzag in my head as I mentally draw a line from North to East to West to South. It’s the way I remember the east-west orientation. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/27 "2009-06-26T19:38:21Z")
In a cafeteria-style food service line, the silverware (plasticware?) is nearly always at the start of the line. Some part of my brain believes it would make more sense to have it at the end of the line, when your plate is full. So I rarely remember to grab silverware - perhaps 95% of the time I have to go back to the start of the line for it. Inability to learn from experience is frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/28 "2009-06-26T19:43:03Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > Singing the alphabet or saying righty-tighty lefty-loosey isn’t a bad thing at all. Mnemonics are powerful memory tools. > > For me, I have to sometimes think of learning to march as a cub scout to remember left from right. We always started off with the left foot, so it cemented my polar awareness. > > Also, when remembering compass points, I have visual zigzag in my head as I mentally draw a line from North to East to West to South. It’s the way I remember the east-west orientation. Also, your left hand makes an L. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/29 "2009-06-26T19:45:09Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Also, your left hand makes an L. OMG, I thought I was the only one who knew that! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/30 "2009-06-26T19:47:26Z")
> [@Creaky](#): > > I still can’t figure out how to put two fingers in my mouth and whistle. My dad can do this and I am jealous. All I get are spittal-cover fingers. ---
**Author:** ![straggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@straggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straggler)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/31 "2009-06-26T19:51:37Z")
Quantum physics stuff, and it’s not through lack of trying. “Space-time”? Time can _bend_? Anti-matter? _ **Dark** _ matter!? ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/32 "2009-06-26T20:08:22Z")
I know my left from right, but whenever I’m giving directions, I will point left and say right or point right and say left. Just follow my finger point and you’ll be fine. I was in Marching Band in school. Five years worth. I cannot read music. I can play music according to the sheet music because I know what combination of finger movements make that dot on the page. I couldn’t tell you if it’s a A, C, F… When I’m singing, I just know that the next note is so many higher or lower than the last note. It was very embarrassing to have to sight read a piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![RunSilent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/33 "2009-06-26T20:18:26Z")
Women. Yep.☹ ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/34 "2009-06-26T20:48:43Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > I was in Marching Band in school. Five years worth. I cannot read music. I can play music according to the sheet music because I know what combination of finger movements make that dot on the page. I couldn’t tell you if it’s a A, C, F… When I’m singing, I just know that the next note is so many higher or lower than the last note. It was very embarrassing to have to sight read a piece of music. I’ve been reading music for over 30 years, in seven different clefs, and I’m still not very good at it. Sometimes I’ll stare at the page for 10 minutes trying to figure out what a note is. The worst is in bass clef, 4 or 5 leger lines below the staff. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/35 "2009-06-26T22:00:44Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > For me, I have to sometimes think of learning to march as a cub scout to remember left from right. We always started off with the left foot, so it cemented my polar awareness. > > Also, when remembering compass points, I have visual zigzag in my head as I mentally draw a line from North to East to West to South. It’s the way I remember the east-west orientation. I have to mentally put my right hand over my heart like I’m in grade school saying the pledge of allegiance to remember right from left. And while I have no trouble at all with north and south, if I need to go east (or west), I have to decide which road will take me in the direction of the Atlantic (or Pacific) ocean. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/36 "2009-06-26T22:10:53Z")
…And I can’t figure out how to memorize music, although I can sightread sheet music as easily as I read words. Funny how brains work. 🙂 > [@Black\_Sunshine](#): > > I’m 30 years old, I have a BA in English, have a good job, and spend my spare time writing and editing. When I was in college, I worked in a bookstore and had to spend hours upon hours shelving the new books that came in that morning. > > GHIJK \<---- I still have to say this part of the alphabet in my head if I’m alphabetizing something. Me too! HIJK and TUVW give me a hard time. And I’m a librarian! I still haven’t figured out how to eat a salad gracefully. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/37 "2009-06-26T22:11:10Z")
Subnetting. Don’t try to teach me, I’ve learnt it several times. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/38 "2009-06-27T04:43:51Z")
Baseball whistles. Where you fold your lip down and just whistle to beat the band. The only kind of whistle I can do is the hand-whistle mentioned above. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/39 "2009-06-27T05:57:19Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Postin’ “me three,” like some brain-dead AOLer. Dammit. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944/40 "2009-06-28T14:39:13Z")
Heh. My ‘which side is the left’ was finally accomplished by remembering which side my Brownie badge went on, when I was about ten. I still sort of vaguely reference that. But don’t ask me to give verbal left-right directions or we’ll never get there. I understand how telephony works. And I understand more or less how planes fly. But on a routine basis, I tend to file them under, “If I think about it, I know how it works, but basically it’s the equivalent of magic.” Rather than actually trying to keep the information in my head. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-that-you-still-havent-figured-out/500944.md?page=3)