# What DON'T you use that everyone else does, the lack of which making you superior to them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 18, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697 "2013-05-18T21:00:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/41 "2013-05-19T05:46:16Z")
Water. I slake my thirst with a handful of salt. Or sand, if it’s the sabbath. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/42 "2013-05-19T05:48:33Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Oxygen. That’s a limited resource, and the rest of the oxygen-sucking world is using it all up! I breath nitrogen – there’s WAY more of it in the atmosphere. I’ll still be around when the rest of you are just gasping like fishes. Bourgeois! I don’t even have lungs. Or even what would be called a “body” by a “sane” mind. I am in fact and pan-dimensional entity. The tentacle you see before you with lips and a cock is merely a projection into your reality of just a fraction of my being. Also, television is gay. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/43 "2013-05-19T07:24:04Z")
I dont uze spel chek bcuz I dont knead it. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/44 "2013-05-19T17:36:10Z")
A calculator. I work in a lab with many other engineers, most of whom are older than me. When sitting at their desks, they use handheld calculators to make calculations. They have no idea how to use Excel, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/45 "2013-05-19T17:49:42Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > I don’t have a cell phone, because who wants to be in contact all the time? I have a _life_ thankyouverymuch, so I don’t _need_ to be communicating with others. \*\*They’re impossible to turn off \*\*or choose not to answer, so what else can you do? First you have a phone and then they’re implanting a tracking chip in your head so people can call your brain and ask if it knows if we’re out of milk. Cell phones do have an off button ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/46 "2013-05-19T18:12:38Z")
oh, never mind ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/47 "2013-05-19T18:55:11Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > Cell phones do have an off button He’s superior because the cell phone that he doesn’t have doesn’t have an off button. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/48 "2013-05-19T20:27:42Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > Cell phones do have an off button No they don’t. I don’t have a cell phone so I know for a fact that when you have one, people are always bothering you and texting leetspeek and sex pictures at you. 24/7, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/49 "2013-05-19T20:52:32Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And I bet you don’t have spelling bee awards either. Well, in _civilised_, tea drinking countries, we don’t feel the need for such terribly gauche contests. Nor do we use your petite bourgeoisie spelling of the word ‘jewellery’. Ugh, I can’t bring myself to type it… ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/50 "2013-05-19T21:20:29Z")
My potential. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/51 "2013-05-19T21:24:12Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > A calculator. > > I work in a lab with many other engineers, most of whom are older than me. When sitting at their desks, they use handheld calculators to make calculations. They have no idea how to use Excel, apparently. _Excel_?! You barbarian! I keep an Asian boy with an abacus next to my desk for any calculations beyond single digits. Actually, for those, too. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/52 "2013-05-19T21:43:48Z")
Can’t literally say “everyone,” but. . . prescription medication. I’m 53, and have no ongoing open-ended prescription medications. That might change any day, but that’s the case now. I also don’t need reading glasses. Not that my eyesight hasn’t degraded over the past 10-15 years–most definitely it has–but it has been much slower and to a lesser degree than most of the people my age (that I am around). ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/53 "2013-05-19T21:52:14Z")
I can’t tell if this is succeeding or failing as a parody thread. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/54 "2013-05-19T23:11:13Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I can’t tell if this is succeeding or failing as a parody thread. I’d say succeeding beyond our wildest dreams. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/55 "2013-05-20T01:07:18Z")
I am subhuman. I am completely dependent upon pharmaceuticals, preprocessed, non-organic food, municipal water, sewer and other facilities not to mention the healthcare system. I don’t bother preparing for disasters except to have a change of clean underwear. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/56 "2013-05-20T03:11:36Z")
I don’t own my own internet. I just use the public one. ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/57 "2013-05-20T03:33:49Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > Cell phones do have an off button Only if your cell phone is on the rube contract. (Sorry to hear it!) Don’t fret too much though, you aren’t developmentally delayed…you are just socially “behind” your peers. You can catch up:) ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/58 "2013-05-20T05:15:45Z")
Cups and glasses are for plebeians. I’ve done away with them and drink straight from the carton, jug, or tap. In restaurants I demand the waiter come by every few seconds and pour directly into my mouth. Do you realize how many dolphins die due to the surfactants that are in all the dish soap used to wash cups and glasses? Heathens. I’ve also done away with my lap. When I sit I make sure that I do not form a lap. Creating a lap while sitting is the number 4 cause of cancer in lab rats in California, don’t you know? I’ve also given up responding to parody threads. Only fools waste their time on such frivolous endeavors. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/59 "2013-05-20T07:58:14Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I can’t tell if this is succeeding or failing as a parody thread. Yeah, don’t parody threads belong in The Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697/60 "2013-05-20T09:14:22Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I can’t tell if this is succeeding or failing as a parody thread. I don’t use irony (the hipsters ruined it for everyone) so I can’t help you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-dont-you-use-that-everyone-else-does-the-lack-of-which-making-you-superior-to-them/658697.md?page=4)