# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smashed_Ice_Cream)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/21 "2003-01-11T01:24:52Z")
I can’t raise only one of my eyebrows at a time, and I have spent _countless_ hours in the mirror trying. I worked with a gal several years ago that seemingly could get one eyebrow up near her scalpline, and I hated her out of sheer jealousy of that cool trick. **auliya-** I’m just learning how to ride a bike myself, and I’m 30. I can skateboard, surf, snowboard, ski, balance on anything, and I can’t seem to get the hang of a pedal bike. I can, however roll my tounge in any fashion possible. “U” shaped, upside-down in either direction, cloverleaf, fold in half, you name it. Ooh - I can also move my eyeballs independently of one another. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/22 "2003-01-11T01:32:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TruePisces \* > \*\*I can’t tie by shoes the “adult” way. I never learned how. It’s the two-earred bunny for me or nothin’. > \*\* Me neither. Are you left-handed, too? That’s my parents’ excuse for not teaching me “the right way.” I also can’t see anything when I look at those “magic image” pictures. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/23 "2003-01-11T01:45:18Z")
I can’t wink. Not with either eye. Could never play those games where you wink to “kill somebody”. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/24 "2003-01-11T01:49:27Z")
Can roll my tongue it and do other fancy stuff with it, but can’t whistle to save my life. Can’t write neatly - hand starts jerking spasmodically and trys to strangle me if I try. Can’t understand women as well as I would like to. I talk a good game though. Can’t find white polo dress shirts with extra long tails. I found one once but that was a fluke. Can’t say no to a fresh roast beef sub. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/25 "2003-01-11T01:57:59Z")
I can’t pop one of my ears when I dive down deep. It’s very annoying. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![callie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@callie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callie)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/26 "2003-01-11T02:04:39Z")
Much to my dismay I cannot juggle. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/27 "2003-01-11T02:14:20Z")
I can juggle just fine, but I can’t read music. Which sucks, because the few pieces I know how to play on the piano I can play pretty well (Moonlight Sonata, etc). I can whistle a tune but can’t do those fingers-in-your-mouth loud whistles. I think that’s about it, I can do everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/28 "2003-01-11T02:14:50Z")
I can’t ride a bike either. Glad I’m not the only one! My excuse was that I got a horse when I was 8 and the desire to learn to ride a horse far outweighed my desire to learn to ride my bike. And if you’ve got a horse why even bother with a boring old bike anyway! Yeah, that’s it. 😉 I also learned recently that I am completely unable to steer one of those oversized grocery carts that have the car in front for kids. I absolutely cannot drive those things and I have no idea why. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/29 "2003-01-11T02:34:39Z")
Can’t whistle Can’t sing Can’t swim (but I can wiggle my ears, so Pbbbbtttttt!) ---
**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 11, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/30 "2003-01-11T03:38:52Z")
Oh, I forgot. I can NOT write in cursive. Seriously. I have no use for it. I print everything except for my signature. ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/31 "2003-01-11T03:44:06Z")
I can’t really shuffle playing cards like other people. I really envy people who are good card shufflers. ---
**Author:** ![Andrew\_Makepeace\_Ladd\_III](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Andrew\_Makepeace\_Ladd\_III](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_Makepeace_Ladd_III)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/32 "2003-01-11T03:58:01Z")
I now feel doubleplusgood about not being able to whistle, because I’m not alone! Ditto for trilling an r. I also cannot seem to make out song lyrics. Collective Soul was simple for most people to understand. I had to cheat and read the booklet for several songs. I borrowed a friend’s Gorillaz CD. I could analyze the chord and rhythmic structure all I wanted, but I don’t think I’d ever be able to understand more than 25% of the words. Rush even sounds almost cryptic at times.(Maybe I’m just used to the southern drawl everyone around here has.) ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/33 "2003-01-11T04:10:58Z")
I can’t… Wait, lemme think… Um… There must be _something_… OK, I can’t put my elbow in my ear. I also can’t wiggle my ears, read sheet music, or resist a wise-ass remark when someone asks a stupid question. Oh, and I can’t chew peas. No way. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![Lyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Lyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyra)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/34 "2003-01-11T04:28:12Z")
I can’t snap my fingers. The weird thing is my cousin can’t either. As kids, we used to pretend by motioning with our fingers and making the clicking sound with our tongues. (this must be one of those genetic things) We can’t whistle either. ---
**Author:** ![hegel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@hegel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hegel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/35 "2003-01-11T04:29:52Z")
can’t skate. tried to learn for years. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/36 "2003-01-11T04:58:13Z")
Can’t whistle, raise only one eyebrow, snap my fingers, or close my right eye without also closing my left. It’s been years since I’ve even _tried_ to ride a bicycle, but IIRC I wasn’t very good at it. However, I CAN curl my tongue. ---
**Author:** ![Pammipoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/37 "2003-01-11T05:09:29Z")
I can’t snap my fingers. I can’t make that popping sound by putting my finger in my cheek and pulling it. I can’t whistle. Damn I need help… ---
**Author:** ![Fnoonf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f6c823/32.png) [@Fnoonf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fnoonf)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/38 "2003-01-11T05:19:43Z")
I am absolutely unable to perform the “open a beer bottle with a lighter” trick. I have literally spent countless hours trying this seemingly simple stunt and have reluctantly, after much fumbling and heartbreak, come to the conclusion that some things just aren’t meant for some people. In all other respects, however, I am a flawless human being. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/39 "2003-01-11T05:19:59Z")
Can’t curl my tongue, have finger-snapping deficiency. I also can’t shuffle cards, and it took me forever to learn to whistle. Even now, I’m not too great at it. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/40 "2003-01-11T05:25:31Z")
I cannot dance. No dance has yet been created that I can master, or even approximate. If you’ve ever seen a monkey with rhumetoid arthritis and an inner ear problem trying to scratch an itch that keeps moving to various parts of his body, then you know what I look like when I try to dance. Until recently, I couldn’t light a lighter. Not even the automatic ones where all you have to do it flip the lid open. It just wouldn’t work for me. Somehow, I have now been granted this ability. Of course, it’s a perfectly worthless ability for me as I do not smoke. AML III, I share your disability to understand lyrics. I honestly thought I was the only one. I can listen to a song a hundred times, in an absolutely quiet room, on a perfect stereo system, at a reasonable decibel level, and I would still only catch about a third of the words. This holds true for nearly all kinds of music, with very few exceptions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847.md?page=3)