# What abilities/qualities make you unique? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642 "2005-12-29T22:32:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/21 "2006-01-01T20:50:15Z")
People (people not on this board, that is) often tell me how smart I am. I always tell them I’m not, really, I just know a bunch of stuff. Apparently, I’m a pretty smooth driver on the freeway. Passengers often remark on how I don’t ever seem to accelerate or brake abruptly, or weave from lane to lane. I get compliments on my muscular legs and soft hands every once in a while. That’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/22 "2006-01-02T02:59:01Z")
Ive been told that I am great as an editor; many of my friends accost me before a paper is due to do a quick once-over to make the paper sound good. I can’t do much to add content, but I can take a paper that sounds awkward and simplistic flow and read beautifully. I can also find out almost anything, if given access to a library and the internet. Random engine numbers/ car differences? You got it. Answers to pointless questions? Sure. Neither of those abilities is at all unique, but both can be useful to humanity! ---
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/23 "2006-01-02T07:52:58Z")
> [@Rhinocerous](#): > > My unusually enormously long penis generally makes a great impression, and is probably my greatest contribution to humanity. I get compliments on it all the time. “Hey, nice penis!” “Thank you.” Is this what you were alluding to? [WTF?!](http://surl.se/wpd) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/24 "2006-01-02T15:21:51Z")
> [@indierock82](#): > > Is this what you were alluding to? [WTF?!](http://surl.se/wpd) Um, er, {starts blushing, fanning herself} what a lovely picture of two girlfriends having lunch! ---
**Author:** ![marymargaret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@marymargaret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marymargaret)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/25 "2006-01-03T05:14:00Z")
Pretty good at photography - does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Flipstrip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f6c823/32.png) [@Flipstrip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipstrip)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/26 "2006-01-03T06:00:16Z")
I’ve been told many times that I’m very creative. And not half-bad at the whole drawing/cartooning thing. More than once I’ve been told that I’m good at seeing the other person’s side of things (which occasionally helps when I’m about to go off half-cocked, but I’m usually better at helping others from doing that). And many people say that I make great cookies. I’ve been advised regularly that I need to open up my own bakery. I can also do the “O-wah, O-wah” part in the song “Video Killed the Radio Star” perfect, but I think that falls under the “crazy stuff” that was disqualified in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/27 "2006-01-03T06:11:29Z")
I get “Damn, you’re STRONG!” a lot! ---
**Author:** ![Rhinocerous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@Rhinocerous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhinocerous)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/28 "2006-01-03T21:06:55Z")
> [@indierock82](#): > > Is this what you were alluding to? [WTF?!](http://surl.se/wpd) _gasp_ Ummm . . . I’m not of African descent, so I really can’t compete with that guy. I should have qualified my original post with “for a white man . . .” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/29 "2006-01-04T00:17:47Z")
I’m not sure how common it is, but I can tune into multiple conversations concurrently; this has proven useful in support/management roles in a chaotic environment where several people are talking themselves through a problem at the same time. I know this one isn’t unique, but I’ll mention it anyway; I can open and shut my eustachian tubes voluntarily; this is useful to humanity because it frees up a piece of barley sugar for someone else to suck on. Honk if you know what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/30 "2006-01-04T00:47:59Z")
I am a really good driver. I have been driving for over 25 years and I’ve never been in so much as a fender-bender. In fact, I’ve never even come close. The closest I’ve come to one was when I lost control on an icy road - I was driving straight and the car just started sliding. Because I was driving slowly and there was no one around me, I was able to regain control pretty quickly. I know people who have totalled several cars and seem to get into accidents regularly. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/31 "2006-01-04T03:42:50Z")
I’m a damn good kisser. Only a very small percentage of the female population can attest to that, but the ones that can all unanimously agree that’s it’s been useful. I suppose scientifically controlled test should be conducted to confirm this claim. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/32 "2006-01-04T03:46:17Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m a damn good kisser. Only a very small percentage of the female population can attest to that, but the ones that can all unanimously agree that’s it’s been useful. > > I suppose scientifically controlled test should be conducted to confirm this claim. Bring in Larry and Stan for the Test Comparision. 😃 I’m really sarcastic. That’s a gift. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/33 "2006-01-04T10:19:02Z")
> [@Rhinocerous](#): > > _gasp_ Ummm . . . I’m not of African descent Yes you are! 😉 My ability: like Chuck Norris, I _can_ believe it’s not butter. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/34 "2006-01-04T10:48:36Z")
Every girl who’s been close enough to know, has complimented me on my kissing and my finger-work. I’m also told that I’m a cunning linguist with a sharp tongue. Of course, not one of them has told me something about those skills I didn’t already know from their, shall we say, non-verbal communication. The downside? I can get you off in other ways, but I’m not great at sex. I’m of an average size and with a few exceptions I generally don’t last that long. (That’s why I’ve put such an emphasis on learning my other maneuvers.) Otherwise, I think one of my best unique qualities is that I can take charge and quickly string together a preliminary plan in a moment of high stress, high anxiety and little time, and then quietly step off the stage and let the rest of the group work on the plan I put forward. When I attended a certain Pac-10 university, and some of my friends there wanted to do something fun (usually involving drugs, at that fairly low point in my life) with the rest of the crew, they would often come to my dorm and call on me to connect everyone and construct a plan for the evening. (It also helped that I was a bloodhound for drugs; I’ve never sold a chemical in my life, but more than once I was called on to procure a drug, any drug, on a dry night and I didn’t often fail.) Now that I’m clean as a whistle, if some of my friends want to hang out (with me included) and the scheduling or something else isn’t working out, they still call on me to put a plan together. Not to blow too hard on my own horn, here, but I like to think I used the same skills to round up and turn around the unruly, terrible mess that was the Seperation Dorm in basic military training for the one day I was Dorm Chief before my number got called (so to speak) and my seperation went through. I create a plan in my head even if I don’t make one for the team, and one of my worst unique qualities is that when things aren’t going according to my plan I have a tendency to panic and freak out. While I’m often the coolest head in the planning stage, I can be a useless bundle of nerves in the execution stage if things don’t go right. My girlfriend also tells me I’m the most affectionate and sweet guy she’s ever met. I like to think I’ve found a good balance between “sweet” and “desperate”, or at least hide the “desperate” part well enough to get the good stuff. 😉 Oh yeah, and I have amazing eyes. > [@Marley23](#): > > I’m elastic, able to fit into small containers, and can retain the colors from newspaper comics when pressed against them. > > Shit, I’m thinking of Silly Putty. Me? 🙂 Well done! > [@featherlou](#): > > Just last night I had Stephen King over and was discussing his writing career with him (I got to tell him that his weakness was writing endings). When I was a little kid I read in one of my little-kid magazines that Stephen King always writes his ending first, and _then_ starts at the beginning of the book. I think there may be a coincidence, although I’ve never read him. (Not really my bag.) > [@Mangetout](#): > > I’m not sure how common it is, but I can tune into multiple conversations concurrently That’s actually a symptom of ADHD. As a former psychiatry victim, I don’t believe in ADHD as a disease, but you might be interested to look up some other symptoms and see how you fit in. ---
**Author:** ![Rhinocerous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@Rhinocerous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhinocerous)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/35 "2006-01-04T17:07:52Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m a damn good kisser. Only a very small percentage of the female population can attest to that, but the ones that can all unanimously agree that’s it’s been useful. > > I suppose scientifically controlled test should be conducted to confirm this claim. Dude, that’s weak. Everyone thinks they are a good kisser. It may be an asset in junior high, but as an adult, everyone should be a good kisser. The real test is how well you are able to provide the “high hard one.” ---
**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:** [January 4, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/36 "2006-01-04T19:07:26Z")
> [@Rhinocerous](#): > > Dude, that’s weak. Everyone thinks they are a good kisser. It may be an asset in junior high, but as an adult, everyone should be a good kisser. The real test is how well you are able to provide the “high hard one.” And dick size claims are what exactly… a Post Grad thesis? :rolleyes: And yes… everybody _thinks_ they kiss well. It’s been my experience that they largely don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/37 "2006-01-04T19:51:33Z")
Hmm. As an aside, I recently have been noticing that I am not a big fan of kissing mouth-on-mouth. It’s just not that fun. Anyway… I am very good at diagnosing and suggesting treatments for many ailments. I often tell people what they have and what to do about it, and then they go to the doctor and get told the exact same thing. (Don’t worry, I always tell them to see their doctor anyway.) I also can make the best geek innuendos, quotes and jokes at any time. My boyfriend is often stunned by my ability to work Star Wars, LOTR, Dune, Aliens, etc. into conversations. I wholeheartedly embrace my geekiness. The other day I was watching the entire first Star Wars trilogy (hey, I was sick) and every time somebody said “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” I would yell it out and attribute the quote for the benefit of my boyfriend who was in the next room. Lucky guy, huh? I also make really good baked chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Rhinocerous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@Rhinocerous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhinocerous)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/38 "2006-01-05T16:45:44Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > And dick size claims are what exactly… a Post Grad thesis? :rolleyes: > > And yes… everybody _thinks_ they kiss well. It’s been my experience that they largely don’t. No, dick size claims are _humorous_. “I kiss well” is just lame. :wally ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/39 "2006-01-05T16:58:51Z")
I got nuthin. ---
**Author:** ![Greebo\_Ogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19adc/32.png) [@Greebo\_Ogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greebo_Ogg)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642/40 "2006-01-05T17:52:21Z")
I can lick my own elbow. Well, not really, but I bet you tried just now. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-abilities-qualities-make-you-unique/337642.md?page=3)