# What's your special ability? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939 "2003-12-19T08:57:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![luluBahrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/41 "2003-12-20T00:04:11Z")
I can flare my nostrils. ---
**Author:** ![myrnajean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@myrnajean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myrnajean)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/42 "2003-12-20T00:35:53Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by js\_africanus \* \*\*I can destroy any organization just by joining it. How about PETA? Have you thought about joining them? ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/43 "2003-12-20T00:42:32Z")
I cand bend all the last (nail) knuckles of my fingers without bending the second ones. Anyone else have this talent out there. It seems to wierd some people out, but I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![Alexnbink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cab0a1/32.png) [@Alexnbink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alexnbink)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/44 "2003-12-20T00:57:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynne\_kilii \* > \*\*I cand bend all the last (nail) knuckles of my fingers without bending the second ones. Anyone else have this talent out there. It seems to wierd some people out, but I don’t know why. \*\* Yeah, I can do that too. I get the same reaction you do. I don’t think it’s all that strange. I guess some people are just too easily impressed. I can also twist my thumbs back so that they rest behind the knuckles of my index fingers. When I do this and place my hands together it looks pretty gimpy. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/45 "2003-12-20T01:14:52Z")
I can alienate people really well. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/46 "2003-12-20T01:39:08Z")
I can whistle as well on the inhale and the outhale and can whistle entire songs without pausing to take a breath. I can also fold my tounge a certain way against the roof of my mouth and, without pursing my lips, sound like a cheap plastic whistle. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/47 "2003-12-20T02:10:52Z")
I can heal appliances by a laying on of the hands. Not large appliances, like washing machines, etc. but small appliances like microwave ovens and computers. And the money’s good. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/48 "2003-12-20T02:21:00Z")
I can “hear” that a TV or computer monitor is on. I don’t have any other abilities right now, because the Pennim’s Aura that was enchanting me got disenchanted ☹ ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/49 "2003-12-20T02:29:42Z")
I speak cat. Cats know that I speak cat. Cats who are said to hate all other life forms will become cuddly with me after a while. Where is a grin with whiskers smiley? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/50 "2003-12-20T03:47:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GSV Consolation of Dreams \* > \*\*My thumbs can bend backwards to 90 degrees at the last joint before the nail. (Dunno whether that should be referred to as the first or second). \*\* My mom and I can do that, too. She calls it “hitch-hiker’s thumb.” > [@](#): > > Also, I start humming songs a haven’t heard in years only to hear it playing on the radio moments later. Happens way too frequently. Yep, done that one on more than a few occassions, too. When things go wrong in my day, I have an amazing ability to keep my sense of humor and laugh at it. When things get really nasty, I end up in some sort of a stand-up routine about the whole thing. It makes my family and friends think I’m insane sometimes though. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![katiekilldare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/838e76/32.png) [@katiekilldare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katiekilldare)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/51 "2003-12-20T16:54:15Z")
When in a crowded restaurant, bar, store, mall, etc, I can make out what music is playing in the background. I’ve been hailed for this far and wide. “Billy Jean!” ---
**Author:** ![Eli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@Eli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eli)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/52 "2003-12-20T17:01:52Z")
> [@](#): > > I can “hear” that a TV or computer monitor is on. I can do that too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/53 "2003-12-20T19:48:49Z")
I have the amazing ability to become totally engrossed in a thread, read it right to the end … and then realise I have _nothing_ to say. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![StanDup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@StanDup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StanDup)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/54 "2003-12-21T00:09:00Z")
I can hear a song once or twice and be able to play it. I can do impressions of people pretty well, including my homeroom teacher with her nasal voice “Guh-Ruls, it’s toymme to wash the bouurdsss, Laydeez, wash the bouuurdss!”, The Brothers Strong, Bubs, Homestar, Coach Zee, Marzipan, etc. I can squirt water that I’ve put in my nose through my eye. I can give someone such an evil look that they will be very uncomfortable. I can also hear when a TV is on. I can know what time it is judging by where the sun is in relation to my house. I can make my voice so low and use voice inflections so that people who hear me on the phone think I’m a man. I can hold my breath for 4 minutes. I can tell if someone is smiling just by hearing them on the phone. I can make my eyes shimmy rapidly and cross. I can fall asleep during a class and make it look as if I am paying attention. I recite Strong Bad E-Mails word for word. I also whistle inhale/exhale. I may have more, but for now, this is all I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/55 "2003-12-21T00:58:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Honeydew \* > \*\*I can lick my nose with my tongue. Okay, its not superhero stuff but it can gross people out 😃 \*\* I can’t believe no one said “How ya doin’…” I can put my wife to sleep in 15 minutes by reading absolutely anything to her. I can make total strangers burst out in laughter without trying. We’re talking physical comedy here. I can trip on a smooth floor. I can stick my foot in my mouth and my head up my ass at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/56 "2003-12-21T01:23:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Binarydrone \* > \*\*Total aside, but if this is true I have a list that I would like to send you. \*\* This power can be dangerous–it is often better to have your enemies grouped where you can see them . ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/57 "2003-12-21T04:20:17Z")
I can read very fast. I don’t think I have ever been in a class where I wasn’t the first person to finish a test. When I am in a group and we are all reading something, I always hear other people react or put their papers down or somehow indicate that they have finished long after I have finished and am looking around the room. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/58 "2003-12-21T04:42:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tikki \* > \*\*I can whistle as well on the inhale and the outhale and can whistle entire songs without pausing to take a breath. I can also fold my tounge a certain way against the roof of my mouth and, without pursing my lips, sound like a cheap plastic whistle. \*\* > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Max the Vool_ > **I can “hear” that a TV or computer monitor is on.** …Are you me?! ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/59 "2003-12-21T05:00:56Z")
I can start a campfire with one match. ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939/60 "2003-12-21T18:20:25Z")
I can crochet very fast , with my eyes closed or otherwise occupied by the television or a computer screen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-special-ability/219939.md?page=4)