# Things you're really, really good at
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 30, 2001, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110 "2001-11-30T12:32:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/41 "2001-12-01T05:31:56Z")
Is this a thread for things we’re good at, or REALLY, REALLY good at?
I’m REALLY, REALLY good at
- Public speaking. I’m the best public speaker I know. Related to that, I am the best joke teller I know, too.
- I’m a tremendous shot with pretty much any firearm.
- I am possibly the best back scratcher in the world. If you need your back scratched, I am your man.
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### Author:  [@Daikona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daikona)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/42 "2001-12-01T06:21:02Z")
I’m a good cook. I can make recipes up and have people asking for seconds. I make really good cakes too.
I’m somewhat skilled at painting, printmaking, all sorts of arty things. Other people say ‘very good’, but I think that’s a bit much.
I have a flair for making people laugh. I can’t do it on command though, it just kind of happens.
I was good at my job when I was an aide in a special ed classroom with multiply disabled kids.
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### Author:  [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/43 "2001-12-01T07:17:28Z")
Oral sex
Character voices/accents
General voiceover
discerning and identifying top quality food
Producing top quality food
loving, in every way
swimming
dancing
making people laugh
putting together music compilations
creating clutter
talking
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### Author:  [@Caiata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caiata)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/44 "2001-12-01T07:35:21Z")
Writing - especially creating worlds and religions. Oddly I’ve never taken an anthropology course and I’m utterly areligious but … there you have it, I can write religious material like you would’nt believe 🙂 Not too bad with dark fantasy/horror stuff either. 🙂
Dancing - unless it’s to modern music. Flamenco? Sure. Bellydance? Of course. Gettin’ my groove on? Fuhgeddaboudit.
Teaching - I think I perfected it when trying to teach medieval dance to an autistic man. I’m good at teaching. Taught calculus to freshmen in an hour once for Academic Superbowl 🙂
Smiling
I have fabulous breasts. I guess that’s not something I’m good “at”, but hey, I can play with 'em too! _lol_
Playing 'cello
Penmanship
Doing homework
Playing pool atrociously. I don’t know anyone who is better at sucking at pool than me. 🙂
Swallowing things whole - no gag reflex ;D
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### Author:  [@Caiata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caiata)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/45 "2001-12-01T07:39:40Z")
Gah, I forgot about cooking. I rule the kitchen, which will of course be proven when I win the Iron Chefs competition my Australian and I will be having this February 🙂 And I am good with cheesecake. In fact I need to go make an eggnog cheesecake now so I can show it off at the work carry-in Monday.
However, it seems I am terrible at using “Preview” - gah, I mis-typed “wouldn’t”!
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### Author:  [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/46 "2001-12-01T10:18:46Z")
Folding maps.
Painting walls - really fast, too.
Teaching - not in a teaching-kids-who-don’t-reaaly-want-to learn sense, but in a let-me-show-you-how-to-do-this-without-being-completely-condesending-or-confusing sense.
Sight reading music - I can’t play with real feeling, and my technique isn’t great, but I can sight read like it’s in danger of going out of style.
Being a roommate - every roommate I’ve ever had has told me I am some kind of dream to live with. I have no idea why they would think this, but there you go.
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### Author:  [@Chupacabra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chupacabra)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/47 "2001-12-01T11:04:01Z")
I have two minor skills that I am very good at and make me feel sophisticated in a James Bond kind of way. I can palm a tip off to somebody with the utmost discretion and I am supremely good at opening champagne bottles with a minimum of fuss.
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### Author:  [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/48 "2001-12-01T12:40:28Z")
parrallel parking. (though I don’t know how to spell it)
making up a big batch of frijoles and then making bean burritos.
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### Author:  [@Frank\_O.Pinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_O.Pinion)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2001, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/49 "2001-12-01T23:57:54Z")
I’m really good at trivia. Especially TV and movie trivia.
I can do tons of impressions, and they’re actually good.
I’m pretty good at playing the games from ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ except the singing games.
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### Author:  [@Skijumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skijumper)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/50 "2001-12-02T03:01:14Z")
Foot massages. Then again my girlfriend is my only point of reference, so maybe this doesn’t really count.
Listening. I’ve also been told that I make a good mediator.
Accents. I mimic very well, most of the time unintentionally. For instance, if I was speaking to someone with an Indian accent, I’ll tend to pick up on that and reply in the similar. It can be surprising to someone listening in. And it can be annoying.
Writing letters.
Remembering song lyrics and movie dialogue.
Customer service. It’s not something I particularly enjoy doing all the time, but I know it’s my job and I have to do my best. I’ve won a couple of awards and compliments, so I guess I’m doing something right.
Gift-wrapping. I’m super enthusiastic when it comes to picking out boxes, wrappers and ribbons. It’s almost scary.
Planning itineraries.
Categorising stuff. Any stuff - books, CDs, clothes…Give me a mess, and I’ll put it in order.
Moving on now to the list of things I suck at…
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### Author:  [@Tokiwoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tokiwoki)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2001, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/51 "2001-12-02T04:03:16Z")
I can microwave anything to perfection.
I know a lot of pointless trivia.
I can dance like nobody’s business.
I can debate anybody into the ground over anything…even if I have no idea what I’m talking about.
I have a great sense of direction.
I can take pain (13 piercings).
I’m a pretty good musician.
I’m a beautiful singer (only if I’m in my car…alone).
I would consider myself somewhat of an artist.
I’m really really awesome at…well, just ask **Cykrider** about the rest. 🙂
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### Author:  [@GreatKingRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreatKingRat)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2001, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/52 "2001-12-02T06:52:40Z")
Boggle,you can find me at [games.com](http://games.com) if you’d like to play.
Pool, I play several hours every day.
Cribbage
Poker
Trivia
Scrabble
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### Author:  [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2001, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/53 "2001-12-02T06:59:47Z")
I draw dinosaurs very well. No, really, I do!
That, and imagining that I’m a better basketball player than I really am.
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### Author:  [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2001, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/54 "2001-12-02T13:18:52Z")
When turning in a tight space, I know where the corners of my car are. In fact if the fella’s driving, I can help him with tight turns. It’s a gift. (One which you’d think would make parallel parking easier than it is, but that’s another story.)
I sew clothes that people think come from tony boutiques. I can even match up stripes and plaids.
I make a cheesecake that brings the very gods to their knees, begging for the recipe.
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### Author:  [@Kbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kbean)
#### Post date: [December 2, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/55 "2001-12-02T14:32:03Z")
1. Useless geography trvia
2. Speaking spanish (if I am in the right mindset)
3. Drawing
4. Giving massages (but I need more practice since I haven’t done it in a while)
5. Eating chocolate
6. Painting my nails
7. Pretending to look busy in gym class or study hall when I am really just talking to my friend
8. Wearing high heeled boots and not breaking my ankle
9. Making people laugh
10. Keeping stuff neat and organized
11. Getting stuff done and not procrastinating
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### Author:  [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/56 "2001-12-03T02:09:19Z")
I give an excellent hand massage.
I excel at organizing people to do stuff.
I’m good about keeping in touch with my friends.
I do a killer monkey impression.
I tutor adults who are learning English and they generally love me and tell me they’re learning a lot. (I’m most proud of this one).
I have a good vocabulary.
My sister says that if I were a superhero, my special power would be packing and moving.
I prefer to think that my special power would be oral sex.
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### Author:  [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2001, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/57 "2001-12-03T03:26:33Z")
- Maneuvering through crowds (like in a club or at a concert) without being too pushy
- Talking football with the guys–My favorite phrase being, “I’m a CHICK and I could have called a better play!”
- Remembering song lyrics
- I have great penmanship
- I am good at recognizing actors from other shows (Such as in, “Hey, that guy was in Matlock!”)
- I am a fast reader
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### Author:  [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/58 "2001-12-03T15:51:30Z")
Learning. I’m quicker to catch on than anyone I know.
I have the direction sense of a homing pigeon. Good at finding my way around new areas.
Talking about pop music. Pity I can’t play ☹
I’m good at making people relax and open up around me. I’m extremely empathetic (except if someone wants to sleep with me - she’d have to have it written on her forehead. Kinda contradicts with the learning thing, no? :p)
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### Author:  [@The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ace_of_Swords)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/59 "2001-12-03T20:07:08Z")
UNUSUAL mastery of skills:
**Full Speed Walking Crowd Avoidance:** It’s hard for me to walk with people – to supress my juke, jive, and spin moves through an army of pedestrians, choreographing intricate movements with strangers as they pass.
**Catching things** Know that Slo-Mo My Ming Vase is Falling Freeze! shot? I have uncanny ability to catch anything falling without aforethought. Trouble around the stove, though, as my scars will attest!
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2001, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-really-really-good-at/96110/60 "2001-12-03T23:46:49Z")
darts, skiing, driving, cooking on the BBQ for the wife, dirtbike riding and off-roading.
ah, who am i kidding, im really only good at getting drunk, throwing darts and skiing.
and evading arrest.
and the driving things.
and the cooking part.
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