# What CAN'T you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847 "2003-01-10T23:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/1 "2003-01-10T23:39:25Z")
What hardly-special, mundane things can you NOT do that it seems everyone else can? For me, I can’t whistle. Never could. I’ve just recently started to learn to swallow pills. I can’t spell simple words in my head. I still can’t. Grammar, coffee, balloon. I know they’re right how I’ve typed them. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/2 "2003-01-10T23:45:01Z")
Ack! I saw the thread title and before it even opened I thought of whistling. I’ve never been able to whistle either. Actually, I surpised myself a few years ago when I made the closest sound I’ve ever come to a whistle – and I wasn’t even trying. Also, I can’t keep a plant alive. Everyone in my office stops by to comment on the beautiful greenery on my desk. Alas, I haven’t the heart to tell them it’s plastic. I can’t reach anything above the first shelf in my cabinets. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/3 "2003-01-10T23:46:37Z")
Skiing… it seems like everyone I know can ski or rollerblade or whatever but I cannot keep my balance once gravity kicks in. Funny thing is I can cross-country ski and rollerblade at the rink perfectly fine. ---
**Author:** ![zimmdogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@zimmdogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimmdogg)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/4 "2003-01-10T23:46:43Z")
I absolutely CANNOT keep plants alive. I have a black thumb of gardening death. ---
**Author:** ![jessicala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jessicala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jessicala)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/5 "2003-01-10T23:46:50Z")
I can’t roll my tongue (the thing where you lift the sides of your tongue up to make a U shape). I also couldn’t whistle for a long time. In the past year or two I’ve learned how to whistle enough to call the pets, and that’s about it. No show tunes or anything. I can’t fly, even with the cape. ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/6 "2003-01-10T23:50:02Z")
I can’t spit or burp on command. That was a major hindrance in 5th grade society. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/7 "2003-01-10T23:53:11Z")
I thought of whistling immediately I saw the title as well. Roll-the-tongue is another one (it’s a well-known genetic marker) Blow up balloons ---
**Author:** ![auliya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@auliya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auliya)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/8 "2003-01-10T23:54:49Z")
I am embarressed to admit I cannot ride a push bike. I didn’t learn as a kid, and at various times as an adult I have tried, and wobbled around in a very scary fashion. I am resigned to spending the rest of my life on four wheels, which I feel is a shame. I can’t quite bring myself to look into full sized tricycles as a few elderly people in my area ride, maybe in another 20yrs. Needless to say I can’t ski or roller blade either, or roll up my tongue, but I can whistle! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/9 "2003-01-11T00:01:28Z")
The trilling tongue thing for Rs in Spanish stuff. And I’ve been speaking Spanish for years. Keep an SO for more than 2 yrs. 3 yrs max, usually 'bout 6 - 8 mos Ride a motorbike. Had a bad wreck over 10 yrs ago, and now I’m spooked. Still. Spell. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/10 "2003-01-11T00:01:32Z")
I can’t spell for shit. (thank goodness for spellchecker!) I can’t make a straight or accurate cut with just about any saw. Even if I measure twice and mark with a line. I CAN teach anybody to ski, so come on down **Obsidion** * * * What worries me is that half the world’s population is below average ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/11 "2003-01-11T00:08:02Z")
I can’t roll my r’s, spanish-style. I wish I could. [minutes pass] Well, I thought I hit the submit button but I didn’t. Now I see **NoClueBoy** has beaten me, so I guess my new answer is that I apparently can’t successfully post to this thread on the first try. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/12 "2003-01-11T00:11:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bluecanary \* > **Roll-the-tongue is another one (it’s a well-known genetic marker)** Thanks for reminding me about a scene in _The Fiery Cross_… I really should reread that one, since it’s been about a year or so. 🙂 As for what I can’t do… ooh, loads of things: [ul] [li]ski / snowboard[/li][li]whistle[/li][li]snap my fingers[/li][li]bake / cook with any degree of competency[/li][li]draw or do just about anything artistic (all my crafts end up looking like some klutzy kid did them)[/li][li]skip rope and do lots of sporty things[/li][li]plus loads more stuff, I’m sure…[/li][/ul] Luckily, I can spell… most of the time. 🙂 F\_X ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/13 "2003-01-11T00:17:13Z")
I can’t roll my "r"s, either. ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/14 "2003-01-11T00:20:22Z")
_shyly looks at the floor_ I can’t tie by shoes the “adult” way. I never learned how. It’s the two-earred bunny for me or nothin’. _walks away in shame_ ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/15 "2003-01-11T00:20:29Z")
drive a stick shift. (I can, however, whistle, snap my fingers, and trill my r’s.) ---
**Author:** ![jujuju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jujuju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jujuju)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/16 "2003-01-11T00:27:21Z")
i actually thought of mentioning that i can’t wistle in the ‘what can you do’ thread… used to be able to until a car wreck when i was 16, got bells palsy (paralization of half your face, due to breaking the bone behind my ear where the nerve runs from your brain to your face). i can’t draw. i can’t cook a grilled cheese sandwich on an electric stove (i can cook lots of other stuff though). i cannot pronounce **connecticut** , where my grammy used to live. i cannot french braid my own hair, but i can braid someone else’s. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/17 "2003-01-11T00:28:36Z")
I can’t crochet. I can’t ‘thread’ a sewing machine. I can’t curl my tongue (what’s this ‘genetic marker’ thing of which you speak?) I can’t do tumble-turns in the swimming pool. But I _can_ whistle and burp on command. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/18 "2003-01-11T00:32:52Z")
I cant whistle either, well I can but not properly, I cannot roll my tongue or curve it or whatever you’re suposed to do to whistle correctly. ---
**Author:** ![DLurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@DLurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DLurker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/19 "2003-01-11T00:46:39Z")
Can’t keep from saying whatever pops into my head… ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/20 "2003-01-11T00:50:08Z")
I can’t roll, or curl, my tongue either. And what we mean, **kambuckta** , is that being able to do so is genetic. Either you can, ro you can’t. If you genetically can’t, then no amount ofpractice will change that. Technically, we are in a minority. We should get scholarships… I also can’t draw or sculpt or carve worth crap. My stuff looks like a five year old did it. And a pretty talentless five year old at that. I can, however, roll my r’s. I heard that is also genetic, someone correct me if I’m wrong. I can also whistle…not just whistle, but whistle by blowing out AND by sucking in. I can whistle for an indefinite period of time…so THERE! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847.md?page=2)