# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/81 "2003-01-12T12:55:02Z")
I can **never** see a Magic Eye picture. Damn astigmatism. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/82 "2003-01-12T15:33:40Z")
**hardygrrl** , I, too, have _never_ seen anything in those blasted “Magic Eye” thingys. And I have better than 20-20 vision! What sucked is how many people, upon hearing I couldn’t see anything, would try to teach me how to. “Try to look past it” “It’s like your eyes are tired” “Don’t look right at it” blah blah blah. Never worked. Also, despite having hair to my waist for years, I can’t braid it. At least, not into anything I’d want to wear in public. And I certainly couldn’t _French_ braid it–I tried to once or twice as a teen, and didn’t have the patience or the arm strength to keep my hands up and engaged all that time. Bor-ing. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/83 "2003-01-12T18:58:02Z")
I can’t snap my fingers. I understand the mechanism behind it, and all. But it doesn’t make a snap. It just sort of thuds thickly. I would love to make that crisp, popping sound doo-wop a capella groups do. But no. Just this lame-o, fat-sounding thud. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/84 "2003-01-12T19:26:00Z")
Can’t sing. Can’t dance. Can act a little. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/85 "2003-01-13T04:04:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Francesca \* > \*\*Can’t sing. Can’t dance. Can act a little. \*\* But are you balding? Darn-I am STILL the only one who can’t wink! What is wrong with me??? ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/86 "2003-01-13T06:16:35Z")
Can’t sing or Juggle(thought my sister can do both of these thing WELL) I did “Train” my eyebrow to raise up, however and I can whistle. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/87 "2003-01-13T15:09:28Z")
I can’t follow even the simplest driving directions. My getting-lost abilities are legendary. And I can’t do math for shit. ---
**Author:** ![ems](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@ems](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ems)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/88 "2003-01-13T15:30:07Z")
I just can’t for the life of me play pool. I just can’t. No matter how hard I try the cue never does what I want it to do. ☹ ---
**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 13, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/89 "2003-01-13T17:58:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*But, **Giraffe** , I thought your tongue was 18 inches long and prehensile? 😉 \*\* Yes, but that’s a subject for the “What _can_ you do?” thread… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/90 "2003-01-13T18:06:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Giraffe \* > \*\*Yes, but that’s a subject for the “What _can_ you do?” thread… 😉 \*\* Ah, then, I shall await the start of _that_ thread…😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/91 "2003-01-13T19:45:53Z")
I can’t blow my nose. For me, it’s physically impossible - I wind up kinda doing a weak exhale that doesn’t accomplish anything. I can (and usually do), however, sneeze with my eyes open. I can wiggle my ears - singly, or in tandem. Same with raising my eyebrows - both, just the right, or just the left. But I can’t pop my ears by holding my nose and blowing air. I can’t shoot a bow and arrow accurately to save my life. I’m pretty good with a pistol, and damn good with a rifle, as long as it has iron sights. Scopes are a challenge for me. I can’t change my car’s oil by myself, but I can replace and pack the wheel bearings, do a brake job, and various other “more complicated” repairs. I can’t read sheet music for the guitar, but I can play it by ear pretty well. Thank God for tab sheets… ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/92 "2003-01-13T20:06:15Z")
Draw. Hit a pitched softball. I can hit a batting machine for line drives all day long, but if a human serves up an underhand lob, all I can do is dribble it for a foul, or a 1-3 groundout. ---
**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 13, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/93 "2003-01-13T23:23:35Z")
Can’t do calculus - it really bugs me, but I just couldn’t get my head around it - I slightly suspect that it’s all a big conspiracy and that _ **nobody** _ can really do it; they are just all putting it on to trick me. ---
**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 13, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/94 "2003-01-13T23:34:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*- calculus - I slightly suspect that it’s all a big conspiracy and that _ **nobody** _ can really do it; they are just all putting it on to trick me. \*\* _He knows!_ :eek: [must kill **mangetout** …] ---
**Author:** ![Anubis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Anubis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anubis)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/95 "2003-01-13T23:54:38Z")
Can’t ride a bike either. Probably never got over the horribly bloody arm from when I did try, on a rather steep hill. Can’t swim, though love being in clear water. Can’t do tongue-twisters. Can’t do anything involving sports, except for shooting a rifle. Damn good with that: I hit the bullseye my first time shooting one. (never managed bow&arrow though, much like Kilt wearin’ man. the string kept hitting my arm despite the protector mabob and never tried since.) And I can’t stop procrastinating. Someday I’ll get aournd to it. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/96 "2003-01-14T03:08:56Z")
I’d trade with most of you. I can’t recognize faces. You know the people who say “I don’t always get the name but I never forget a face?” That ain’t me. I got off the plane one time to be picked up by my parents and worried that I would not recognize them. I could not visualize what they looked like. I started a new job in mid-December. I know about…oh, maybe 8 people’s names/faces now. Somebody will talk to me and ask me to come to their desk later on. Even when I know what room they work in, I’m unsure which person is the one who spoke to me earlier the same morning. While other people are doing mnemonic tricks to remember people’s names I’m filing away visual characteristics in an attempt to remember them later. (“Red hair. This person has red hair. Remember that, it could help. Oh, and four inch fingernails, that’s a good one.”) ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/97 "2003-01-14T03:27:53Z")
I am heartened by the number of posters here who can’t ride a bicycle. I thought it was just me. Lots of other stuff mentioned that I can’t do, but I have one no one has mentioned: I can’t burp. I’m not just talking about that burping on command thing where you swallow a bunch of air and let fly, I’m talking EVER. The closest I come is, sometimes, a little air bubble creeps up the back of my throat, but by the time it reaches my mouth, it dissipates. I have never, ever had the satisfaction of a good, hearty burp! ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/98 "2003-01-14T03:41:16Z")
I can’t do tequila shots, I cannot draw for toffee. I cannot have a conversation with someone wihout quoting from something. I cannot sit still for more than about five mintes straight. I can’t sing. boo-hoo. The only thing that seriously bothers me is not beng able to sing or do tequila shots…one day I’ll learn ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/99 "2003-01-14T04:22:17Z")
I can’t play chess worth a damn. I understand the rules, but seeing more than one move ahead is totally beyond me. I can’t do aerobics without cracking up and having to leave the gym. It’s just so very silly looking, me most of all. I can see a million things in those Magic Eye pictures, except what I’m supposed to. Since I’m an art teacher this makes me feel like a failure and a fraud so let’s keep this on the board, pretty please. I can’t help feeling relieved I’m not the only one who doesn’t get calculus. Most days, I’d just sit in lecture and it was like the adults were talking in a Charlie Brown special: “wah wah, wah-wah.” I only passed because of hideous amounts of extra credit and sincere pity on the part of the prof. Thank you for revealing the conspiracy Mangetout. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847/100 "2003-01-14T05:14:40Z")
I can’t roll my tongue or whistle. And I’m so happy that I’m not the only one! I can’t knit. I can crochet, but knitting is just beyond me. I can’t resist an opportunity to make fun of myself, either. I give myself such good material. Outside of my own home, I’m hopelessly directionally impaired. I have real trouble with N/S/E/W. I can’t recite the alphabet without singing it at some point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cant-you-do/147847.md?page=4)