# What complex things can you do with your fingers w/o looking? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658 "2010-11-14T19:04:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/1 "2010-11-14T19:04:00Z")
I don’t mean simply tying your shoes or working a button. I mean complex. I can type better if I don’t look. My typing teacher in high school said we’d be better off if we never looked, and she was right. I play guitar and can do most chords without looking. One thing that was interesting about learning guitar is how much I looked at first. My guitar teacher said it was ok to look because eventually I’d be able to play w/o looking, and I can. I’m learning piano, and I usually don’t look as I learn a song, but once I get the song memorized, I start looking. A weird thing I can do is change the band on my clock radio back and forth between AM and FM, as well as hit the preset buttons to change stations. I can do that in the dark while reaching up behind me. I have some fidget rings I’m constantly playing with. I can do tricks with them while not looking. There are lots of every day tasks I do with my hands that obviously don’t require looking, but there aren’t that many complex tasks with fine motor skills where I don’t look. ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/2 "2010-11-14T20:34:33Z")
I can tie a bowline around my chest, with my eyes closed, underwater. A deckhand on a research cruise convinced me that it could save my life someday. I suppose it _could_, but every scenario I’ve imagined it coming in handy seems awfully Indiana Jones-like. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/3 "2010-11-14T20:37:10Z")
I can do knitting without looking. It’s super-easy if I’m just doing a knit stitch, or just doing a purl stitch, but for patterns where I have to start counting stitches, looking is much better for the accuracy of the piece. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/4 "2010-11-14T21:12:20Z")
I can not tie a necktie if I am looking in the mirror while I do it. I have to look away or shut my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/5 "2010-11-14T21:18:46Z")
Type, play various musical instruments & hand-roll cigs. Not at the same time, though. I can chop veggies very finely too but I prefer to look lest I should lose the rest of my non-looking abilities. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/6 "2010-11-14T21:33:59Z")
I can knit if it’s simple knit or purl, and crochet basic stitch. I type better when not looking, same with playing piano. I do a much better job of braiding my hair if I do not look in the mirror. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/7 "2010-11-14T21:44:29Z")
I can scratch my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/8 "2010-11-14T22:12:14Z")
I type faster, and more accurately, when I don’t look at the keyboard. Same with a guitar. I don’t use a pick and, usually, don’t strum; I pluck or finger-pick, and can hit my fret locations much more quickly and accurately if I don’t look at my hand. In fact, the surest way for me to screw up is to look at my finger placement as I’m playing. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/9 "2010-11-15T00:08:50Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I can scratch my ass. I’m certainly looking forward to the SDMB talent show this year. mmm ---
**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:** [November 15, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/10 "2010-11-15T00:10:05Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’m certainly looking forward to the SDMB talent show this year. > mmm And I don’t use a pick, either. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/11 "2010-11-15T00:49:18Z")
I can knit and crochet, but like others if the pattern requires counting, I’m much more accurate if I look. I can play piano without looking but I normally do look at the keys. I can do lots of \ personal stuff with my fingers without looking. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/12 "2010-11-15T01:03:41Z")
I’m pretty sure I could roll a joint, but I haven’t had any practice in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/13 "2010-11-15T02:21:22Z")
I crochet quite well without looking, and I definitely type better without looking. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/14 "2010-11-15T02:30:54Z")
Well, I can play the flute. Of course, it’s impossible to watch myself play the flute, so it’s not like I have an option. Like others have said, I can also knit without looking, as long as it’s not terrifically complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/15 "2010-11-15T02:42:04Z")
Knit, crochet, type, play piano, play bass. The usual stuff 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/16 "2010-11-15T02:52:11Z")
I can do the Three Stooges “Snap/Snap/Clap” finger thing. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/17 "2010-11-15T15:02:52Z")
When I used to play the piano looking only made me mess up. I can crochet blind. And of course type. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/18 "2010-11-15T17:25:43Z")
Haven’t had the opportunity to do so for a decade, but I think I’ll still be able to strip and re-assemble an H&K G3 without looking. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/19 "2010-11-15T17:53:24Z")
Rolling 35 mm film into a wire cage prior to developing it. I could do that either in a darkroom or in a changing bag (a black zippered bag with elastic sleeves). Looking at it defeats the purpose. Minor White would save himself time by winding two rolls of film into the same wire cage. He would turn one of them over so their emulsion sides faced apart. I have done this but it is quite a struggle. It doesn’t save ME any time. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658/20 "2010-11-15T18:05:46Z")
> [@Spiny\_Norman](#): > > Haven’t had the opportunity to do so for a decade, but I think I’ll still be able to strip and re-assemble an H&K G3 without looking. I didn’t think about this, but we whiled away long winter days in the Army learning to field-strip 1911’s blindfolded. But I hadn’t done this in years, so I’m not sure I’m still up to the task. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-complex-things-can-you-do-with-your-fingers-w-o-looking/560658.md?page=2)