People Explain Which Everyday Skills They Never Quite Mastered

People Explain Which Everyday Skills They Never Quite Mastered
renategranade0/Pixabay

There are some things that society just seems to expect adult humans to be able to do, but it looks like not everyone got the memo.

Whether due to never being taught, or a simple inability to pick up the skill no matter how much you practice, there are some things that some folks just can't do.

I was a teenager before I was finally able to properly ride a bicycle, and even now I'm not a stranger to falling off. Let me tell you: flying over the handle bars of a bike hurt a heck of a lot more at 25 than it did at 15.


Reddit user DeterminedGames asked the folks over on AskReddit:

"What common skill do you lack?"

Whistle While You Work

I can't whistle.

-xotaylorj

I'm certain it has something to do with the shape of my mouth and tongue. Been trying to whistle for 20 years and all i've managed is a very deep single tone that sounds like wind through an old building lol

-Hobbs512

Ugh I even watched YouTube tutorials and read a whole wikiHow article and I am still unable to do it.

-Feisty_Baseball_8911

Sticking With It Is Hard

Long-term passion for an activity.

There are people who remain active in a single hobby or club for decades. I can't do that. I burn out on most things after a couple months max.

-50thUsernameAttempt

I'm the same but I've convinced myself it isn't such a bad thing.

I enjoy trying new things and I'm kind of the 'jack of all trades but master of none' type, which I think is probably more useful in day to day life, rather than being really specialised at something.

-Travellingjake

I’ve always struggled with that. lately I’ve been trying to wrap new hobbies into my old ones. Oh, you’re tired of woodworking but doing photography? Guess what we’re filming your woodworking now!

-Affectionate_Local59

Is It Worth It, Though?

Neatly folding the laundry. Usually it looks... acceptable. Unless it's a fitted sheet, then it just looks chaotic.

Shower thought: but is it worth it?

-SillyFrenchman

Rrrolling

I can’t roll my R’s

So I’ll never be able to properly speak Spanish or impersonate AOSTH Robotnik

-BrawlStar17

Same, my mother tongue has a lot of rolling Rs and I just never clicked it. It's taken me years of practice to even manage to do it properly occasionally, and if there are a lot of consonants around the R, there's no way I'm gonna say it right. People frequently laugh at my pronunciation of certain words in said language bc I sound like a lil kid or that dude in the Princess Bride. Meanwhile my younger brothers, who've lived in the UK all their lives, can speak the language with perfect accents. :/

-animaginaryraven

Words Are Hard

I forget words and end up silent or saying something really stupid and then it's awkward.

-atpirkau021

I feel that, people always seem to have every word they need ready, and I'm just sitting there thinking of a single world that fits the situation...

-DeterminedGame

I feel you. Sometimes I’m at the end of my sentence and then just forget the last part. I just give up on the sentence when that happens. Sometimes other people finish the sentence for me which is pretty awkward.

-Tasty01

As Long As It Works

I can only tie my shoes by doing bunny ears

-Icy_Ad_6066

Yeah same and I don’t give a damn that I can’t do it the ‘adult’ way.

-GreyandDribbly

What's That Look For?

When someone gives me 'a look' I have absolutely no idea what they mean

-bee-sting

People shouldn't always expect people to pick up on subtle signals, even if they think it's very obvious themselves.

-DeterminedGames

And then they get mad because I couldn’t understand the “weshouldgotalkoutsidewhiletheyaregoingtodancesothatwecanbealoneandeatsomefreepizza” look. what the f**k?

-Feisty_Baseball_8911

Express Yourself

Drawing.

I can't even make straight lines due to my hands being so shaky. Fortunately I can get around this by using art programs with bézier curves and other shaping tools.

-LimeGrass619

Drawing is an unfathomable mystery to me. I just don't understand how people can do it. I've never been able to.

-esmith22015

Can't Initiate

Talking to people randomly. I can carry the conversation for hours with literally anyone, but they have to initiate it

-bumdeedeedumdum

My brother is 48. He mostly has his same friend circle as we did in high school. Other people can be around for years but if they haven't initiated a conversation with him. He doesn't speak to them. People have said they thought he was an arrogant a*s but one day they said something to him directly and he talked their ear off. He's shy, not arrogant.

-Sad_Poet_3429

I Want To Ride My Bicycle

Bike riding. Never learned because I had supposed epilepsy and fainted a lot when younger.

-A24margot

I can't ride either. Tried to learn as a kid but couldn't get the hang of it. Friends tried to teach me as a bigger person. I can go, but can't turn. I'm afraid of getting hit by a car too.

-kamehamehahahahahaha

You might get teased for not being good at any one of these skills. But the likelihood is, if you've made it this far without the skill, you're probably fine.


Among the many reasons people watch, and rewatch, sitcoms is to imagine your life was more like the one you were watching.

Being able to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Greenwich Village on a line cook's salary, somehow always having the comfortable sofa available at your favorite coffee shop whenever you pop in, or having your best friends always available at your beck and call whenever you need them.

For the romantics, however, it's wishing you could have a romance like you've seen on television.

True not all sitcom romances are exactly the sort that makes you go all aflutter (Were Ross and Rachel actually on a break? And don't even get me started about Ted and Robin.)

Other sitcom couples are so captivating, though, that we would have given anything to be at their wedding... or at the very least go to their home for dinner every Friday.

And this includes plutonic couples, as there is nothing more heartwarming than a lasting friendship.

Keep reading...Show less
a woman with her hands on her face
Photo by Kier in Sight on Unsplash

As an editor, I am not just in charge of proofreading and correcting style and format. I am also in charge of making sure all the contact information provided, such as phone numbers and emails, work.

After working for 10 hours straight a few months ago, I forgot to check the phone numbers and let a brochure go to publication with a phone number that did not work.

Luckily, a similar mistake had actually happened before with another editor for another client a year prior, so contact info on print materials like this brochure were checked by every department rather than just editorial, and the mistake was caught.

Since I didn't know this, when I heard the phone number was wrong, my heart dropped to my stomach and I thought I was sure fired. Luckily, I was just told to make sure this never happens again. I was relived that there was no fallout, but when I first heard what happened, my only thought was. 'I totally f**ked up!'

Redditors are no strangers to this feeling, as they've made egregious mistakes themselves. They are only too eager to share their experiences.

Keep reading...Show less

With the world's finances the way they are, it's a miracle if people can save their spare change.

Inflation has a stronghold on too many people.

Sometimes it feels like just breathing can cost you money.

It's hard to make and absurdly easy to lose.

So be vigilant with your wallet.

And try to spend on certain things in moderation.

Going out for meals three times a day adds up.

Even with Wendy's value menu.

Keep reading...Show less

We all have strong opinions about something, but when we think of opinions, we often think of hot button topics like political subjects.

But as it turns out, sometimes we can have just as strong of opinions of our preferred types of pasta.

Keep reading...Show less