# What are you really good at? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 3, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663 "2017-04-03T15:28:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/21 "2017-04-04T02:05:17Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Unintentionally bringing out the worst in people. šŸ™‚ You have beat me up a few times but I have always find you kind of likable. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/22 "2017-04-04T02:15:47Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Iā€™ve always been an excellent speller. In 1st grade I won our ā€œclass spelling beeā€ with ā€œsesquicentennialā€. I also went all the way to the state finals in 5th grade. I attribute my ability to spell to visually seeing the word in my head, as if I had mentally written it down. Me too. LOL, I was my 4th grade spelling champ, went to the regionals and locked up due to stage fright in the second round on ā€œcauliflowerā€. For some reason, after I said ā€œC-A-U-L-Iā€¦ā€ I started to get super nervous and quickly blurted out ā€œā€¦F-L-O-U-Rā€ and of course, immediately recognized my mistake. My teacher tried not to act disappointed in me but I knew she was. I saw her face fall. I felt so miserable about that for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/23 "2017-04-04T02:16:15Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > You have beat me up a few times but I have always find you kind of likable. Thanks! I enjoy most of your posts as well. You genuinely seem like you want to know that which you donā€™t know and you donā€™t let pride/ego or defensiveness get in the way. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/24 "2017-04-04T02:56:17Z")
I am really good at almost all aspects of my job ā€“ readerā€™s advisory (especially nonfiction) and childrenā€™s programming especially. The thing I am really good at, and take pride in, is playing ukulele and writing songs. I have a distinctive style of playing, I practice a lot, and write witty, intellectual songs. Sort of Flight of the Conchords meets Magnetic Fields. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/25 "2017-04-04T04:23:49Z")
I can sing well enough to move people to tears with the beauty of my voice. I understand animals and communicate with them straightforwardly which seems most people cannot do. I can write very high quality fiction and non-fiction. Itā€™s good for me to not dwell on all the things I do badly . . . ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/26 "2017-04-04T04:30:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Pinball. Back in the late 70s, when arcades were lined with row after row of pinball machines, I drew crowds gathering around me to watch. Were you deaf, dumb, and blind back in those days? ---
**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:** [April 4, 2017, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/27 "2017-04-04T04:43:36Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I attribute my ability to spell to visually seeing the word in my head, as if I had mentally written it down. Thatā€™s exactly why I was a good speller. And I did a lot of math the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/28 "2017-04-04T05:39:02Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I am insanely good at removing ovaries from fruit flies. > > No one cares. 1. Remove ovaries 2. ??? 3. Profit! (Do you sell them individually, or by the pound?) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/29 "2017-04-04T05:46:24Z")
I am insanely good at procrastinating. No one is a better procrastinator than me! ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/30 "2017-04-04T05:54:52Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I am insanely good at procrastinating. No one is a better procrastinator than me! My answer tomorrow will disprove this. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/31 "2017-04-04T07:00:08Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I am insanely good at procrastinating. No one is a better procrastinator than me! For me, itā€™s modesty. No one is more modest than me! And humility! I am TOPS in humility! ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/32 "2017-04-04T07:33:43Z")
Spitting cherry pits. Nobody Iā€™ve tried against has come anywhere close. Maybe Iā€™ll enter an official competition some day to boost my self-esteem (or more likely, totally destroy it). ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/33 "2017-04-04T09:06:19Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I am insanely good at removing ovaries from fruit flies. > > No one cares. Awww, **Smeghead**. I care. Justā€¦ not much. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/34 "2017-04-04T09:08:12Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Pinball. Back in the late 70s, when arcades were lined with row after row of pinball machines, I drew crowds gathering around me to watch. _That poster, Mr Mustard, Sure plays a Mean pinball._ ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/35 "2017-04-04T09:29:03Z")
In terms of a learned skill, Iā€™m just as in awe of this as the OP. I get good enough at things to impress people in my circle, and then stop. A few basic grooves and fills on my drumkit is enough to do that. Itā€™s hard to motivate myself to push on after that, or even to watch great drumming (which might inspire me to become more motivated). In terms of personal attributes (which is how some have interpreted the OP) Iā€™m very good at finding flaws or risks with an idea. And I mean in a logical, realistic way. Not pessimism or cynicism. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/36 "2017-04-04T09:31:21Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I am insanely good at removing ovaries from fruit flies. > > No one cares. Mine have just tried to crawl out of the way in solidarity. Does that count as caring? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/37 "2017-04-04T09:35:19Z")
nothing I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/38 "2017-04-04T10:04:40Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Unintentionally bringing out the worst in people. šŸ™‚ > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > You have beat me up a few times but I have always find you kind of likable. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Thanks! I enjoy most of your posts as well. You genuinely seem like you want to know that which you donā€™t know and you donā€™t let pride/ego or defensiveness get in the way. Get a room! (just kidding, **Ambi**. I donā€™t mean that literally. Itā€™s just a joke. To be clear, _do not_ get a room) šŸ˜ƒ mmm ---
**Author:** ![Theodore\_Striker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Theodore\_Striker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theodore_Striker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/39 "2017-04-04T14:36:32Z")
A few things that I am pretty good at, mostly useless skills, but Iā€™ll take what I can get: Poetry, especially haikuā€¦ it suits my short attention span well Catching things with my handsā€¦ my son tests this just about every morning by throwing his lunchbag towards me, just to see if he can get me to drop it. If I can get a hand to it, Iā€™ll almost always bring it in. i am glad he is still easily amused at 12 years old. Telling people what they want to hear. This one actually has some value, especially when I was doing recruiting work. I could latch onto the things that a person wanted in a new position, and selectively match how the job I had them in mind for could give them that. Itā€™s also worked well in interview situations. From what I read, this is pretty common among people with addiction issues, as they become charming in order to get what they need. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663/40 "2017-04-04T14:46:38Z")
At various times in my life, and sometimes concurrently, Iā€™ve been: - A champion speller and English grammar nerd. - A good basketball player - Had excellent hand/eye coordination - Could type like a demon (still do pretty well, even with arthritis) - Was an excellent electrician - Was an outstanding personnel manager and problem solver - Have had a musical ā€˜earā€™ since I was a child and an innate sense of rhythm At this point, I can still brag about mad cooking skillz, but thatā€™s about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-really-good-at/783663.md?page=3)