We all kind of want to be X-Men, right? To have something really cool and special about us that puts us ahead of the pack?
Well the good news is, most of us do have something really awesome and cool that we can do that pretty much nobody else can. We may not be X-Men, per se, but we might as well be some sort of superhero in our own stories.
u/Mordechi95 asked:
What rare condition, trait, or ability do you have?

Here were some of the answers.
A Limited Diet
My sister-in-law has Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Your mast cells are blood cells that react to foreign bodies and environments by releasing mediators such as histamines to prevent your body from experiencing anaphylaxis. This has only been recognized as a diagnosis for about 10 years. She is allergic to most foods. A year ago she was able to eat 3 things: chicken, blueberries, and green beans - all unseasoned. She can no longer eat green beans. This is genetic. Her dad can eat 30 foods, and her brother 10. She gave birth to my so-far healthy niece in November. Fingers crossed!
This isn't limited to foods. She told me of people who go into anaphylaxis from the heat or from cigarette smoke in the air.
Natural Selection
I have the gene rs8177374(C;T) which reads
"resistance to several diseases"
" less susceptible to infection with malaria, tuberculosis, bacteremia and pneumococcal disease. "
I'll take it.
Harvey Dent's Coin Toss
Identical twin with an autoimmune condition my twin didn't develop. Kinda unfair, if you ask me, and also a little unusual. But these things are like a coin toss, I guess.
My twin and I, being identical, are essentially identical in our genetic make-up, from what I understand (not a scientist). My mom has psoriasis (though she's been in remission for 30 years) and that predisposed both of us to autoimmune disease, which is where your immune system gets confused and attacks your own body instead of an infection. In my case, it attacked the joints at the base of my spine, causing inflammatory arthritis. And the kicker is, my twin didn't get it.Of course, there are other factors that go into this, like environment, stress levels, etc, but holy unfair Batman.
Blind, Yet Now I See
Being colourblind, I can detect some thing's better than normal vision people. For example, camouflage usually stands out. I spot wildlife creatures, animals, birds and insects a lot easier than normies. People are usually impressed I spot these things and they often struggle to see even when pointed out. That said, I don't see red stop signs and traffic lights very quickly. Red usually blends with green foliage. (Aside: speaking of green, I just learned this week after almost 40 years that peanut butter is not green, it's brown. It still looks the same colour as grass).
Fooling The Pup
I can bark like a dog, so realistically that I confuse dogs.
Once, when I was in the passenger seat of my friends car, I stuck my head out of the window and barked at this random poodle taking itself for a walk.
We had to drive off real quick because the dog got mad and started chasing us.
I can also do pigeons, seagulls, cockatoos, cats and annoying children.
Unicorn BB
I have green eyes, which I learned recently is the rarest color of eyes to have, about 2% of the population. This has brought about theories that I was adopted, because both my parents and sister have brown eyes. Green eyes have occurred before on my mothers side of the family. I was also born on February 29th, which I share with roughly 0.065% of the population. I'm guessing the percentage of green eyed leap day babies is some crazy small decimal.
One Buck McGee
When my teeth grew in as a baby I only had one front tooth. Straight down the middle. Like Patrick from Spongebob. They did some blood work to make sure it wasn't anything serious, but everything came back negative. Did x-rays when I went to the dentist for the first time and there was only one adult tooth as well.
Once I lost my baby teeth I got braces and they used a spring to push my tooth to one side and put a fake one in its place. There's no explanation for my missing tooth. it's just an anomaly ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Distort My Reality
I have Irlen Syndrome! It's a perceptual processing disorder which affects my brain signals when responding to certain amounts of light, causing distortions when I read. I wear blue tinted glasses to read and see, to avoid distortions when doing everyday things. It's not necessarily "rare" but not many people know about its existence because schools don't test for it like they do dyslexia.
Actually, most of the people diagnosed with dyslexia have a 50/50 chance of in reality, having Irlen syndrome. That's what Helen Irlen told us when I was diagnosed at age 7, we met her in person and she explained everything. Read up on this topic, it's really interesting to learn about things that aren't talked about as often.
Maybe You ARE An X-Man
I have a photographic memory when it comes to numbers. I remember my fifth grade teachers birthday and every phone number ever told to me, math problems from high school, my library card number from when I was a child... It can be stressful at times!
Also survived meningococcal meningitis without any complications so that's cool.
Fast Rock Incoming!!!
Apparently I have naturally very fast reflexes. I found out when I started boxing at 15 and the instructor pointed it out and did like his own little test. The only notable thing I can remember happening is I caught a rock that someone threw at my group of friends. That's not the interesting part tho the interesting part was that I barely even looked at it. According to my friends it was going really fast. Idk not that cool but I can impress people at parties with it
I'm Baby
I have no permanent upper canine teeth. I have all the others, just those two are missing.
Found out at age 32 when the right canine came out in an apple at 1am. Freaked out, sat up all night holding this tooth in place in my mouth, hauled ass to an emergency dentist appointment in the morning. They took an X-ray and the dentist came in with this puzzled look on his face and was like "Umm...did you know this is a baby tooth? And you have no permanent one to replace it?"
Now I have a bridge on that side and am twiddling my thumbs waiting for the left baby canine to fall out as well. No dentist in my childhood caught this, or if they did nobody ever thought to mention this to my mother.
How I Be
I can't get fat. I have the same diet that would probably result in morbid obesity in most people, but I'm 6'3" and weigh 70kgs. I never get more than 75kg, never less than 65kg. I get my cholesterol checked fairly regularly, and it's extremely low (to the level that I've been asked if I'm vegan by doctors looking at the results because my blood is so clean). It just how I be apparently.
Signals Ain't Comin Thru
Dyspraxia. It is a coordination disorder that means I can't always move my body in the way my brain wants it to. It is like clinical clumsiness. I don't have a severe case luckily. Mine is more gross motor movements rather than fine. For example, I can't skip, snap, or catch or hit a ball. I frequently drop things because I can't apply the correct amount of pressure. Also, lots of bumping into things and spilling. It isn't just body movements, most spatial things are challenging for me. Finding my way around a new place, reading a map, and estimating distances are hard. It took me ages to learn to drive, but I was medically cleared to at 19.
I help myself in lots of different ways. Mostly I just ask for help if I'm having trouble doing something. Embarrassing as it is, changing a lightbulb can be hard for me. So is running. So I try to be early and write directions down on a sticky note that I put in my pocket in case I get lost.
Information Superhighway
I'm a highly GT/TAG individual, so I can learn anything at least twice as fast as the normal population. But alas, it has its own difficulties. I have a hard time doing homework, and I have failed a class a couple times because of it, yet I do stellar on tests (for example, I got a 75 in WHAP(I really did not like that class) for the first semester, yet I got a perfect score on the midterm) It's a curse and a blessing at the same time.
Yeah, Good Call Avoiding That
I am one of the 2% of the population on earth that suffers from mirror touch synesthesia, a synesthesia where vision and sense of feeling is blended together.
This is the reason I don't watch horror-movies.
I tend to avoid public bathrooms if I can help it. They are terrible places. Few are clean and I admit I am a bit of a clean freak. My beautiful bottom will not grace a dirty toilet seat, no thank you. I have standards.
I'm being only sort of serious. I've been in a pinch before. But have you ever seen a gas station bathroom that was utterly destroyed by the patron (or patrons) before you? It's a horrible sight. 0/10: Do not recommend.
Naturally, some crazy things happen in your local public restroom. We heard some stories after Redditor RuffNBoy asked the online community,
"What is the wackiest thing you've seen in a public restroom?"
"At the theater I work at..."
"At the theater I work at I was cleaning the mens restroom and in one of the stalls was an open condom wrapper, a tiny empty bottle of the nacho cheddar seasoning we sell, and the seasoning scattered near the corner on the floor. Bethesda wishes they had environmental storytelling like that."
theshazzmaster
Do I really want to know what went on there? I honestly don't think so.
"I used to be..."
"I used to be a hotel maid. Cleaning one room I found two things in the bathroom garbage can: a used condom and a whole pickle."
[deleted]
"I was taking a dump..."
"I was taking a dump at a movie theater and a little kid climbed under the stall and grabbed my foot. I screamed and kicked that kid so hard right in the face just out of sheer instinct. He cried. His dad said, "That's what you get Gavin."
AUSpartan37
Gavin is at it again and this time he faced some consequences.
"I walked in..."
"I walked in and my eyes were immediately assaulted by a fully naked man running a stick of deodorant up and down his crack."
JscottPilgrim
Wow... what a terrible day to be able to read.
"Not only did this bathroom..."
"Gas station bathroom in the middle of nowhere. Not only did this bathroom have a bathtub (?) but there was a fully dressed and made up mannequin in the tub. Very jarring."
AlpinePinecorn
This sounds surreal... and honestly rather creepy.
"I once stopped..."
"I once stopped at a gas station on a road trip and the bathroom was full of dolls…. Staring with their little painted eyes…."
Rabbit_Mom
Noooope.
Their creepy and unsettling eyes!
"Two women..."
"Two people were having sex in the handicapped stall. I was seven."
madamwhatnot
So something tells me you learned about the birds and the bees rather early.
"A clogged urinal..."
"A clogged urinal filled to the brim, with an anaconda sized turd spiral floating in it, in hypnotic circles. How a turd that size could be buoyant I have no idea."
effy4eva
This is quite the sentence. I don't think I needed it in my eyeballs, but it's too late now.
"I was in a Berlin dive bar..."
"Olives. I was in a Berlin dive bar with some friends. In the bathroom, there was a vending machine, stocked with tinned tapas. So I came back from the bathroom with a can of olives. When asked where I got them I just replied "bathroom.""
cristicusrex
This is simultaneously hilarious and horrifying. I can only imagine the looks on your friends' faces...
Okay, so now you understand why I can't abide public restrooms. If you're smart, you'll run for the hills the next time you're in the proximity of one. Things can only go downhill from there. (Am I being serious? Maybe... maybe not.)
Have some stories of your own to share? Tell us more in the comments below!
One should never be fooled by a first impression.
Certain people might behave in a way that is less than indicative of what they are actually like, and might prove to be far more impressive, or much less friendly, once you get to know them a little better.
However, sometimes people will behave in a certain way which leaves one unable to avoid making assumptions about people.
Namely, their intelligence.
Redditor sparklingshanaya was curious to hear what behavioral traits the Reddit community took as a sign of possessing a considerable lack of intelligence, leading them to ask:
"What are some behaviors that scream unintelligence?"
An unwillingness to learn
"I feel like the classic example is being unable to change your opinion or idea when you are presented with new information."
"You don’t have to set everything you believe in stone."- Rusty_of_Shackleford
"I think a key thing that separates the intelligent from the less intelligent is curiosity and how far you actually go to learn."- TuxedoWolf07
When even they don't know what they're talking about.
"Maybe not unintelligence but ignorance."
"People getting angry when I ask them to explain what they just meant as I want to understand them and not misunderstand."- smokinstuff·
"Getting angry when someone ask them to explain their point."- SuvenPan
It's never attractive to gloat
"Obsessively telling everybody how intelligent you are."- terribleUsername18
It's ok to admit defeat every now and then...
"Playing 'last word' in an argument you've lost."- LennonMcCartney65
"Being defensive when corrected instead of just accepting it."- Marthstewart123
"Claiming they are always right but not being able to argument why or have a serious debate about it."- GReatChinook
Are you sure about that?
"Constantly saying 'facts' that are extremely false."
"Gets on my nerves."- Sharkifish
Read the instructions!!!
"I just started driving for UberXL."
"The amount of people who think they can fit 8 people with all their luggage into a midsize SUV is astonishing."
"You can see which car comes to pick you up and it says fits 5 people."
"If you have a piece of luggage each then it's more like 3 people."
"I had one group sit there and stare me down like they didn't understand."
"I swear some people just have a mental limit for figuring things out and they all find each other and never get anywhere."- predict_irrational
One should always reserve judgment, as one never knows for sure what lurks beneath the surface.
Even if more often and not, you are left with little to nothing which encourages you to see what's there.
One of my favorite horror films ever is Black Christmas (1974). It's the perfect slasher film. It's scary. It's uncompromising. It's sordid. It's eerie. It leaves you with a horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach. It features some great acting, too! There are some powerhouse talents in it, including Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and Andrea Martin.
But did you know that the film has been remade? It's been remade twice, as a matter of fact. The first remake, which was released in 2006, was so ridiculous. Not even Martin, who showed up in a glorified cameo in the role of a sorority house mother, could save it.
It was remade again in 2019 — this one bore few similarities to the films that came before it. One wondered why this one even had the same name, but there you have it.
Suffice it to say that the original Black Christmas is untouchable. But it is not the only film out there that should never have been remade. Far from it.
People shared their thoughts with us after Redditor CrescendoX asked the online community,
"What movie is so perfect that if it would remade, it would be a crime against humanity?"
Misery (1990)
"Misery. I could totally see a remake of Misery that used the way social media creates parasocial relationships so prevalently."
DocBenzanone
But let's not. I mean, who could ever replace Kathy Bates? She won an Oscar for the role!
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
"Who Framed Roger Rabbit."
I've seen the animation they've done for some of these new "live action meets cartoons" things.. The work the art/animation team put into Who Framed Roger Rabbit is STILL to this day putting them to shame."
TONKHANAH
A good choice. It was a pretty groundbreaking film and it's still influencing filmmakers to this day. That cast!
Aliens (1986)
"It would be impossible to remake that perfect movie. The cast, story, and practical effects are wonderful. A remake would be full of CGI and a BS script."
[deleted]
Don't you dare suggest this! Don't you dare give those horrible Hollywood execs any ideas!
Spaceballs (1987)
"Spaceballs. I don't want any other version."
OllieAreOllio
But think about the merchandising!
Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money
Jaws (1975)
"Jaws. I read somewhere that Spielberg won't let it be remade."
ferox965
If someone did someday remake it, I would highly suggest they remove a lot of the unnecessary subplots that are in the book!
Did we really need that affair?
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
"The Silence of the Lambs. Remakes should only be attempted when you are sure that it can outclass the original but Silence of the Lambs cannot be outclassed."
[deleted]
Two Oscar-winning performances. It doesn't get any better than Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. The film is a masterclass — the Criterion edition is especially beautiful.
Stand by Me (1986)
"Stand by Me. It would be an insult to River Phoenix and many others to remake that."
Gluonyourbosom
This film is so highly regarded that a remake just seems foolish. Why even bother attempting one? Go and read the novella instead.
Back to the Future (1985)
"Back to the Future. Please please please PLEASE don't ruin it with a remake."
Frodo_noooo
As long as Robert Zemeckis doesn't kick the bucket we're safe!
Uncle Buck (1989)
"Uncle Buck. Don't you dare touch it."
Wokonthewildside
Without John Candy that would be like trying to remake the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in a Denny's with only ketchup and mustard. Just a tragic, ill-conceived imitation.
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
"My Cousin Vinny. Joe Pesci's performance is perfect."
[deleted]
Hey, don't forget Marisa Tomei! She stole the show. And she won an Oscar for the role!
The list of movies that should not be touched is endless and you no doubt have your opinions.
Which movies should be left the hell alone? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!
Sex talk is still considered a taboo subject in many households. And I don't mean going into detail about your bedroom conquests at the dinner table.
Overprotective parents tend to be evasive about discussing the birds and the bees with their kids because they feel it's not up to them to have that conversation.
Remember Carrie White's religious mom who refused to talk about intimacy with her 16-year-old?
We all know how that turned out in the classic Stephen King novel.
Anyway, parents turning down an opportunity to have the uncomfortable convo or having their kids miss out on sex education can lead a child to potentially develop damaging misunderstandings about their body and puberty.
The effects of which were explored when Redditor sparklingshanaya asked:
"What’s a sexual misconception you had for way too long?"

It helps to have an earlier understanding about your body when you're younger.
Sex Education
"As a girl, I had no real idea of where/what the vagina was until I was like 11 or 12. My mom didn't give me a real sex talk, just a puberty/body book that said 'the vagina is between the woman's legs' and just had a full frontal diagram (legs closed) of a woman with an arrow pointing to her pelvic region. I also didn't know a period lasted longer than a day until I got mine at 14, and then wondered why it was still going on the next day."
"When my mom realized how abysmal my sex education was, her solution was to rent a video from the library about it and make me watch it on the big family TV in the living room at like 3pm. Granted— it was a very educational video but I won't ever forget one of the educators (a 50 year old woman) talking about how to give a satisfactory blow job."
– ash-on-fire
Hard Epiphany
"Ok so I grew up in a VERY conservative household. Was not allowed to take sex ed in middle school and they helicoptered in high school. Any internet access they had access to view so I never watched porn/looked at pics. Absolutely nothing. So for a long time I thought penises were shaped like a smaller pringles can. I thought it was just like...a straight up cylinder. Moved out at 17 and googled some things and man I had men's anatomy SO wrong."
– WholeLottaIntrovert
Wrong End Of The Stick
"Friend of mine has a similar background and I just about lost my mind when she said the balls are the END of the penis. Like she had seen those doodles and had it upside down so they just dangle off the end of the shaft lmaooo."
– xchakrumx
Let's get verbal about getting oral.
Satisfy A Woman
"Learn to go down on a woman, like become a master at it. Do this."
– ecallawsamoht
Excuse For Supper
"I second this. Been married for 20 years and it's something I'm happy to do."
"Get involved, people."
"Edit: thanks for the medals and upvotes, people! Be assured that I'll be celebrating tonight."
– AhabVanCleef
Semantics
"Friend of a friend thought it meant kissing. And they were like 19. So glad they found out through a conversation and not through a dude asking for it, or her talking about it. That would've been extremely confusing for everyone."
– SilverWaters793
Pucker Up
"My friend back in middle school thought a blowjob meant to literally blow on it. I still tease her about it to this day."
– Ashurii_desu
Failed Expectations
"Man, I thought I was gonna get so many blow jobs. That’s just not true."
– Studying_Politics
As young adolescents, these Redditors got these terminologies mixed up.
Dirty Talk
"When I was around middle school age I thought that oral sex meant talking dirty :’)"
– strawbrykat
"I used to sext with my girlfriend in high school. When we broke up, she just went crazy and told everyone in our grade that I was great at 'oral sex' (she meant sexting💀) School hasn’t been the same since then."
– Particular-Ad4356
Learning By Example
"I was kind of sheltered growing up, and like most sheltered kids, I learned a lot about sex through porn. I kept seeing 'blowjob' videos, and (i had no idea what a blowjob) assumed it was some kind of sex blooper. Like, something got messed up and the director said 'Oh darn, you blew it! Let’s take it from the top.'”
– Danny_my_boy
I had sex education in sixth grade after my parents gave the school permission for me to attend the special assembly centering on the topic.
But I remember how vague the instructor was. By the time I eventually had my first nocturnal emission, I remember being terrified, yet simultaneously elated. It was very confusing, and I didn't know what happened.
I remember reflecting back to sixth grade and thinking the school must've skipped that part in sex ed.