I linked this article in response to a post yesterday. Its about how most people assume competencies in others and inadequacies in themselves. But we all put on a good front so everyone believes that it is just them who are winging it.

www.theguardian.com/news/oliver-burkeman-s-blog/2014/may/21/everyone-is-totally-just-winging-it

It mentions a reddit post from 2014 asking what things you are unable to do at your age but can’t, I thought it would be interesting to come clean on a Sunday morning. I’ll start;

I’m 33 and only have a provisional license, also, I can’t swim.

28 comments

  3. I’m 38. Can’t drive, can’t swim, can’t read more than three pages of a book, can’t emotionally self regulate, can’t have an argument without crying, can’t speak to even a small group of people without turning beetroot, can’t afford a mortgage.

  4. Keep my room clean, it’s always been cluttered and covered in dust except for very brief periods when I summoned the energy to clean it.

  7. Can’t click my fingers, but I’ve only ever seen rude people do it to call someone over, so it’s probably a skill I can survive without?

  8. I know a guy that can’t make the cheek click sound to call a dog.

    Finding it hard to even describe the sound and even harder to tell him how to do it.

    I mean how do u teach this?

  9. Basic maths. At the mercy of any vendor when it comes to cash transactions, I’m honestly just stuffing the change in my pocket hoping for the best.

  11. Whistle properly.

    I can kinda mimick a whistling sound by sucking in, but that blowing whistle that can be maintained or turned into a tune baffles and eludes me. Don’t even get me started on the sorcery that is the finger whistle.

  12. I work quantitatively, in a quantitive field.

    I’ve completely forgotten how to add/subtract/divide/multiply through writing. I can do it in my head super easy, though I haven’t a clue of the whole “carry 1” type stuff.

    For all of those teachers who said “you won’t always have a calculator”, look at me now!

  16. Can’t parallel park and generally suck at any kind of tight parking space maneuver. I’ve given up at this stage and just go massively out of my way to find easier spots.

  18. 37. Don’t have my driver’s licence. I did all the lessons and then before my exam a family emergency happened and I never got the chance to go back. I really want to though. I can technically drive and it’s frustrating as hell.

    I’m shite at folding clothes too.

  21. I can’t understand money. Like, I get budgeting and generally try to spend as little and save as much as I can. But I don’t get investments and stocks and all that jazz. All my money is in a standard savings account. My financially savvy friends think I’m nuts to not work to grow my wealth but I’d be just guessing at this point. Even when it’s explained to me, it just won’t stick. I reckon if I was born a generation sooner, all my money would be in the mattress. The positives are that I avoid going into debt like the plague and never gamble, like I won’t even do the lottery.

  23. I can’t remember people’s names. I really concentrate when they’re telling me but then immediately forget it

  25. Cannot commit to social gatherings, I have huge social anxiety issues and am admittedly very flaky because I panic about the upcoming thing and rather just say no from the beginning. Otherwise I feel crippled during the thing because I’m using my energy to try remain calm and together lol.
    Also incredibly bad at public speaking, my voice shakes and the feeling leading up is horrible….

  26. I can’t dance, swim, ‘read the room’, or speak coherently to anyone in authority.

    I make a cheese and onion toastie fit for the Gods, though, so there’s that?

  27. I can’t dress stylishly. I’ll buy new clothes and maybe the first time I wear them I feel comfortable with them but after they’re washed and get worn I start to feel like they’re a bit scruffy. I’ll look at others and just think everyone is always dressed in best gear

  28. Please please please take swimming lessons. I mean no disrespect but it can be the difference between life and death on this island of ours

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