# What do other people do effortlessly that you work hard at but still suck at? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135 "2009-09-07T02:51:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/21 "2009-09-07T22:42:20Z")
Swinging a bat/catching a baseball. I’d love to play baseball sometime, but when I try, I am the worst! ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/22 "2009-09-07T22:57:10Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Math. ‘‘Suck’’ is a relative term, I guess… I still get As in math courses. It just takes me about three times as long to figure out what I’m doing, three times as long to work out any problem, and I’m never sure that I’m correct. I have forever been the girl who runs out of time on standardized math tests. I was always the last one to turn in my test in class – I might get a 98, but if you told me I got a 64 I would have believed you, because math to me is foundering about in a world of uncertainty and chaos. > > The only math course I took as an undergrad was Stats 350. All I remember is eating, sleeping, and breathing statistics for an entire semester. I mean I killed myself learning that stuff. I got an A-, but I still barely comprehend half the shit I learned. Are you me? Because this has been my exact experience with math throughout my entire schooling career. Including the stats course in college. Even figuring out percentages at stores still has me in an absolute fog. I stare at price tags for a few minutes, trying to puzzle it out, before giving up in disgust and dragging out my cell phone calculator. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/23 "2009-09-07T23:11:46Z")
Bowling. I’m not even talking about hitting the pins. If I could just master that graceful step-step-throw rhythm that I see everyone else do, I’d be thrilled. I rarely bowl because I dread doing the step-stumble-flailing-arm-gutterball dance in front of everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/24 "2009-09-07T23:23:44Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > This’ll sound odd, but…drinking. > > I go out with friends and watch them pound beer after beer after beer after beer all friggen night. I have one or two and I wind up full. Yeah, full, like can’t even physically drink any more. And to make it worse, that’ll be enough to get me good and buzzed (especially if instead of beer it was one or two cocktails) and then an hour later when the buzz wears off, I’ll have a headache or be so tired I’ll want to go to bed. And to make it even more worse, about 1 time in 10 I’ll have some sort of a reaction and wind up with my eyes all red and puffy or I’ll get really bad heartburn. > And I’ll I wanna do is be able to go out with the guys and have 9 beers and still be fine. What happens when you have “non-alcoholic” beer? It still does have a teeny bit of alcohol in it, so if you get a good buzz out of just one beer, if you drink several near beers over the night, would you feel just a bit of the good effects of the alcohol or would you feel absolutely nothing (or conversely, maybe it’s the other stuff in the alcohol that’s causing the bad effect :eek:) ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/25 "2009-09-07T23:33:03Z")
Whistling and rolling R’s. I’m pretty amazed that I can blow a bubble. ---
**Author:** ![lunar\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lunar\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lunar_elf)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/26 "2009-09-07T23:36:48Z")
Computer programming - maybe it’s a mindset or way of thinking. I try to understand and think it out but then my eyes glaze over. I would have said running before, but I started a couch to 5k plan a month ago. I feel pretty good about my running skills now 🙂 and I probably still run a lil funny! ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/27 "2009-09-07T23:52:45Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Juggling. > > Playing a musical instrument. > > Dancing. Who do you know that can play any instrument effortlessly? For me it’s volleyball. Everyone I know was able to play perfectly on the first try. I put in 10 times more effort, and I’m no better than I was at 5. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/28 "2009-09-07T23:59:25Z")
> [@Trick\_Rider](#): > > Who do you know that can play any instrument effortlessly?. We’re talking a four hole ocarina here. My brother in law ( a music teacher) was indeed able to play it effortlessly. I suspect several of my friends could do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/29 "2009-09-08T00:04:48Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > We’re talking a four hole ocarina here. My brother in law ( a music teacher) was indeed able to play it effortlessly. I suspect several of my friends could do the same. I have friends that could play certain things effortlessly. I remember a classmate of mine, had to be 4th or 5th grade. In music class he picked up a guitar that only had 4 strings and proceeded to play something or other. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he had plenty of practice on a 6 sting guitar, but he seemed to effortly adapt whatever he was playing to a guitar that was missing some. My wife, a great flute player (which I’m sure she worked hard at), can pick up a piccolo, sax or oboe and have no problem with it (but I understand the fingering is somewhat similar across the instruments). ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/30 "2009-09-08T00:12:37Z")
Create art. Even my stick-figures are atrocious. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/31 "2009-09-08T00:23:05Z")
Any type of craft project including wrapping presents, selling anything to anyone, and kissing ass. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/32 "2009-09-08T00:32:49Z")
Becoming friends with people. For the last two years I’ve been involved in volunteer activities with a certain group of people. I’ve spent a lot of time around them, and yet for some reason they act as if I’m a complete stranger. If I ever see one of them around campus or try to make eye contact at a meeting, they’ll smile politely and go on ignoring me. But whenever somebody new joins the group, everyone acts so warm and friendly towards each other, while I just sit there wondering “How?” and “What exactly am I lacking?” ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/33 "2009-09-08T01:15:02Z")
Maintain a healthy weight. I am a bit overweight now but have been at an “ideal” weight in the past and it took _a lot_ of god damn work to maintain (and I’m trying to get back there again, but holy hell it’s a trial). I just don’t understand how people go around eating the way they do, barely exercising, if at all, and not turn into blimps. And I’m only 24 - of course it’s only going to get harder and harder. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/34 "2009-09-08T01:19:44Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > Swinging a bat/catching a baseball. I’d love to play baseball sometime, but when I try, I am the worst! But do you try a LOT? The OP specifies things _you work hard at_ and still can’t do. Basic baseball skills aren’t that hard to master with a little direction. I bet in a couple of days I could improve your game a thousand percent. You’d probably get good results just by buying a book about how to play baseball - get one for kids, no shame in that - and videotaping yourself. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/35 "2009-09-08T01:34:52Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > I could have written this. The only thing I look worse in than clothes is my own skin. > > A lot of people effortlessly can go to events where they know no one and be gracious and charming and conversational. I end up standing around with the other guys who are bad at parties and we all stand around not talking to each other. Yet another for the “clothes and skin” thing. I’ve tried for 50 years and never gotten any better and never quite given up trying either. About the only time I look and feel right is in what folks would consider “costumes” - 1750s attire such as Williamsburg uses. One of the few things I actually do well is events where no one knows me. I circulate well, find bits and pieces of conversation I enjoy, and am generally gracious. The events I HATE and don’t do very well at are the ones where I know everyone there; work functions, social clubs or family reunions. I know what most of the conversations will be based on who is having them and while they were interesting the first time I am too often stuck hearing them for the fifty-seventh time. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/36 "2009-09-08T01:38:27Z")
1. [Awkward Pose](http://www.bikramyoga.com/Yoga/images/AwkwardPose.jpg)—just can’t get down very far while keeping my back straight. I’ve been doing Bikram yoga for 5 years and I still can’t do it. 2. Finding a guy who doesn’t see me as ‘just a friend’. This is my history. I’m introverted and probably hard to get to know. ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/37 "2009-09-08T01:48:06Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > This’ll sound odd, but…drinking. > > I go out with friends and watch them pound beer after beer after beer after beer all friggen night. I have one or two and I wind up full. Yeah, full, like can’t even physically drink any more. And to make it worse, that’ll be enough to get me good and buzzed (especially if instead of beer it was one or two cocktails) and then an hour later when the buzz wears off, I’ll have a headache or be so tired I’ll want to go to bed. And to make it even more worse, about 1 time in 10 I’ll have some sort of a reaction and wind up with my eyes all red and puffy or I’ll get really bad heartburn. > And I’ll I wanna do is be able to go out with the guys and have 9 beers and still be fine. Are you me? I have two beers and am GONE. It really sucks, most of the time I drink because I enjoy the taste not because I wish to get drunk or lose inhibitions. The heartburn happens often the next morning, along with a hangover. Come on, its only two drinks! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/38 "2009-09-08T01:55:48Z")
All of the above, I guess. Let’s add drive like a bat out of hell/on a highway. Yes, I am that ass in front of you going the exact speed limit. Yes, I am that ass who will drive 20 miles out of my way on back roads to avoid a 5 minute trip on the highway. I won’t discuss the math problem as those previous have already mined that pit. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/39 "2009-09-08T02:10:35Z")
> [@carlotta](#): > > Home maintenance/decor. > > Other people I know who likely make similar incomes to ours seem to have no trouble having nicely furnished rooms and well maintained homes, whereas we are always putting off things like painting, repairing broken floor tiles and have exactly one piece of furniture we didn’t get hand-me-down because we just can’t afford stuff. It’s all in your priorities; I know plenty of folks whose hobbies are home improvements and who eat prepared food 100% of the time, never go out to eat, and don’t really have any other hobbies to spend money on. Sure their houses are great, but I wouldn’t trade with them for any amount of money. My wife and I really do like to eat good food and good drinks, and the majority of the time we make them ourselves. She has her craft hobbies, and I like to go hunting and fishing, and also like computer gaming; we’d rather spend our money on steaks, fish, booze, ammunition, markers, punches, stamps, paper, paint, etc… than spend it on tiles, grout, etc… Plus, we’d rather spend our time doing those things rather than laying said tile, grouting said tile, etc… I also suspect that there are a LOT of people willing to go into fairly serious debt to re-do their homes, while it sounds like you’re not. That stuff isn’t cheap, especially if you have someone do it for you. As for the OP… Math would be the first thing that comes to mind; while I eventually get it, throughout my academic career, I was always about 3 weeks behind where I should have been to make an A, and consequently ended up with C’s. For the longest time (thankfully I solved this problem), I was the hapless guy who didn’t know how to read women’s signals, and never could get laid, while other schlubs seemed to have no trouble with it. Turned out, I would have had no more trouble than they did, and with prettier girls, except that I was absolutely clueless about their intentions. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135/40 "2009-09-08T02:12:03Z")
> [@Maiira](#): > > Are you me? Because this has been my exact experience with math throughout my entire schooling career. Including the stats course in college. Even figuring out percentages at stores still has me in an absolute fog. I stare at price tags for a few minutes, trying to puzzle it out, before giving up in disgust and dragging out my cell phone calculator. My worst is mental subtraction. I set a weekly goal to exercise for 210 minutes. I exercised for 50 minutes today. In trying to figure out how many minutes remain for the week, I just went straight to the calculator because I knew it would be faster. **It’s Not Rocket Surgery!** , I am an extreme introvert who has learned to fake socialization. I am definitely checking out the book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-people-do-effortlessly-that-you-work-hard-at-but-still-suck-at/509135.md?page=3)