# What's your silly skill? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942 "2003-09-11T08:01:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![l.l.krandall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@l.l.krandall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l.l.krandall)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/21 "2003-09-11T19:27:06Z")
Speaking of trains, I know ahead of all my friends which car to enter so that when I exit I will be right in front of the up escalator. They are always running the wrong way “That car looks empty…” And I’ll go the correct way and they are shocked when we exit and they have to walk back to me. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/22 "2003-09-11T20:15:12Z")
I don’t regard cherry-stem-knotting skill as silly at all–I’ve found it greatly beneficial on a couple of occasions. 😉 Like **Metalmaven** , I can pick things up with my feet. With great concentration and an appropriately solid surface, I can sometimes even write a little with them. I can wrangle one melody or another out of nearly any wind instrument I’ve ever picked up (it’s usually the M_A_S\*H theme, “Suicide is Painless”, but reed instruments often seem to bring out the Pink Panther theme). So far, only the piccolo has completely defeated me–it’s just too small for my big sausage fingers. I’ve never gotten good at any instrument but trombone, though. I can also whistle on the inhale without falling out of tune. ---
**Author:** ![CadburyAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@CadburyAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CadburyAngel)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/23 "2003-09-11T20:19:00Z")
I can do the cherry-stem thing, too! My real skill, though, is that I can make any dollar-accepting machine (ie. soda machines, change machines, etc.) accept pretty much any dollar. Even if it has rejected the dollar dozens of times, if I pet the side of the machine and am affectionate toward it, it will take the bill. As superpowers go, it’s not entirely useless. ---
**Author:** ![carimwc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac8455/32.png) [@carimwc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carimwc)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/24 "2003-09-11T20:29:05Z")
My thumbs are double jointed so if I ever hitch-hiked I could show what direction I want to go in. I also have the uncanny ability of choosing where to stand on the metro platform so the doors open right in front of me. ---
**Author:** ![Silly\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@Silly\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly_Dog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/25 "2003-09-11T20:30:36Z")
I can sleep sitting up, with my eyes open and while holding a pen in the writing position ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/26 "2003-09-11T20:40:50Z")
I can imitate a dubbed movie, where my mouth and lips move very differently from what I’m saying. I’m far better at it than the few comedians I’ve seen try to do it in their acts. It is astonishing to all who see it. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/27 "2003-09-11T21:03:01Z")
Posted by **imthjckaz** : > [@](#): > > Cunnilingus. I said silly skills not life skills. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/28 "2003-09-11T21:34:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by im\_trouble \* > **I can tie a knot in a cherry stem using only my tongue.** Aw, who can’t? 😉 Many years ago (when I had a retainer), I could play tunes on it. I’m OK at the Metro thing, not fantastic. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/29 "2003-09-11T21:43:42Z")
To TaxGuy & Gadfly: Your speciality reminded me of a stand-up comic[wish I could remember his name] I saw years ago. He could “produce” two songs simultaneously. Proved it by whistling “Humoresque” and humming “Swanee River”. Both were instantly and easily recognizable. Either of you interested in augmenting your present silly skill? ---
**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:** [September 11, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/30 "2003-09-11T21:44:54Z")
I can slice/chop vegetables at blinding speed without loss of appendages, and have been able to do so since I first picked up a knife (except for one painful experience with onions when I was distracted momentarily). I can fall asleep almost instantly (not combined with the above skill). I can tell if something is even the slightest bit off of level. I’m talking millimeters. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/31 "2003-09-11T21:51:27Z")
I have the ability to turn off my boredom programming. I’ve sat in place for hours staring at the walls waiting for my mom or someone else to pick me up. I can whistle 3 different ways. Blowing out, sucking air in and like a coke bottle. The last one sounds like a ghost. At first I could only do one note but I’ve since expanded. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/32 "2003-09-11T21:53:04Z")
I can wiggle my pinky toe completely independently–while the rest of my foot is totally still. ---
**Author:** ![Amberlei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Amberlei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amberlei)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/33 "2003-09-11T21:59:37Z")
I can light a lighter with my toes. ---
**Author:** ![that.sound.again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e5b9ba/32.png) [@that.sound.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that.sound.again)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/34 "2003-09-11T22:01:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TaxGuy \* > \*\*I can whistle two notes at the same time. \*\* How about this: I can _sing_ two notes at the same time. Once I was writing and after finishing the paragraph, thought: ‘hmm. Somethings wrong’ but couldnt quite place it. Took me a minute or so to figure out that I’d unwittingly written the entire thing mirrored, from right to left. ---
**Author:** ![peritrochoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peritrochoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peritrochoid)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/35 "2003-09-11T22:17:07Z")
I can name that car in … two notes! Exhaust note that is. And engine accessory sounds (starters, power steering pumps, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/36 "2003-09-11T22:37:34Z")
Hmmm, It’s hard to follow most of these: I think I have no primary silly capacity - I do a whole bunch of little silly things well though: sound effects, juggle, slight of hand magic, and I can spin a plate (or book) on my finger, toss it up and catch it spinning, then continue… this is mostly stuff that just entertains kids though. My wife-to-be has a cool one though: She can name all of the prepositions in about 10 seconds! (well **I** was impressed anyway) ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/37 "2003-09-11T22:53:43Z")
I can cross both pairs of fingers, on both hands, simultaneously, without “helping” any of them. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/38 "2003-09-11T23:03:03Z")
I can guess my gifts before I get them. One year, I guessed a lava lamp, four cds, a book, Clue, and a desk top calendar, and that’s exactly what I got. I have also done this with my brithday gifts. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/39 "2003-09-11T23:06:30Z")
I can wiggle my ears. BTW, any of the ladies in this thread who can do the cherry stem thing, feel free to email me! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942/40 "2003-09-12T00:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > I can pick up stuff with my feet! Me too! > [@](#): > > I can suck my neck in. Meaning that without using my hands, I can make the area between my collarbones at the base of my neck go in about 2 or 3 inches, making a pit about 2 inches in diameter, and 2-3 inches deep right there in the hollow of my throat Me too! > [@](#): > > I can toss objects (mostly it’s just my keys) behind my back and over my shoulders and catch them in front of me. I can do this with either hand over either shoulder. I can also catch them with either hand. Me too! I do this while teaching all the time with a piece of chalk. It is really a lot of fun. > [@](#): > > I can wiggle my ears. Me too! I can wiggle both of them independently of the other too. Besides all of those (See why I get all the girls!), I can name the capital of every country in the world. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-silly-skill/200942.md?page=3)