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Original poster

Is there something you're really good at, but never tell new friends etc. because...

420 replies

SaladandGravy · 19/02/2022 18:58

... it sounds so highly unlikely you think people won't believe you?

I have one talent that sounds impossible (I may share later!!) but my great-grandma was about 4 feet nothing tall, not very agile but she could juggle with just about anything you could throw at her that she could physically hold (Diddy little hands too!). We used to just shout "oi Grandma" and throw 3 things at her. it was so funny, and she loved it too.

And my ex could turn a digestive biscuit 360° back to front and widthwaya without it breaking.

(Csn you tell I'm. bored?)

OP posts:
dreammattemousse · 19/02/2022 21:17

I'm really good at singing

It was such a massive part of my life
It's weird that new people I meet don't know me as the singer.
They just know me as a mum/colleague

So when I tell them they think it's cool but I don't think they realise how good I was/could be (if I had time to practice like I used to)

Nillynally · 19/02/2022 21:18

I can lick my elbow and I show it off at every opportunity.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 19/02/2022 21:19

I’m a bit of a Cassandra - I can look at a situation and predict pretty actually what will happen and how. I’m not quite sure how it works but I think I just have a very good grasp of people’s motivations and behaviours and can quickly apply them. I tend to just keep my mouth shut but write things down so that I know I’m not going crazy.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 19/02/2022 21:20

If I want to (and tbh I rarely do), I can charm pretty anyone. It's extraordinarily rare for people not to like me if I've decided to make them.

I don't mention it because it makes people simultaneously sceptical and suspicious.

MsMeNz · 19/02/2022 21:25

My job, I live in a run down northern small town and overweight often seen ferrying kids around. Drive an older car. But I actually have a quite a high power job at a huge company at Canary Wharf. I rarely if ever talk about heat I do as I don't think ppl around here would believe it or even understand what it is.

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 19/02/2022 21:27

I'm really good at sight reading music but I'm pretty much tone deaf. It means if I'm singing by ear I'm bloody awful, but pop the sheet music in front of me and I'm pitch perfect.

TheBigDilemma · 19/02/2022 21:28

@TheWayTheLightFalls

I’m a bit of a Cassandra - I can look at a situation and predict pretty actually what will happen and how. I’m not quite sure how it works but I think I just have a very good grasp of people’s motivations and behaviours and can quickly apply them. I tend to just keep my mouth shut but write things down so that I know I’m not going crazy.
I’m good at that too, can get to the right conclusion out of very random and unrelated information.
ZippyZap · 19/02/2022 21:29

I literally have no talents or secret skills, I'd love to have some of these and equally would love to listen to people tell me all about theirs, and how it came about etc.
I've always felt a bit like I have no strengths or strong passions, would love to speak a few languages with such ease!

Shannith · 19/02/2022 21:29

When I did a really high powered job I rarely mentioned it or played it down. Because I'm not a twat Grin

The people I did tell/who knew were often mildly incredulous. I have a work mode and a me mode and they are quite different.

WutheredOut · 19/02/2022 21:38

@dreammattemousse I came on to write exactly the same thing

I miss singing so much and no one knows how good I once was!

I recorded my DS on his guitar last year with me singing in the background (behind the camera) - posted it on social media and no one believed it was me they thought I was a backing track 🤦‍♀️

yetanotheruserchangingname · 19/02/2022 21:50

I am exceptionally good at a strategy game called zar... No one knows it unless they happen to do an online genre I do too.

WheresTheLambSauce · 19/02/2022 21:55

I used to be really good at speed reading when I was younger, to the point that the old Brain Training game on Nintendo DS assumed I was skipping through the reading activity instead of actually reading the text. But it's a pretty boring skill, so I don't mention it often.

I'm also really good at coming out with trivia about the most random things that come up in conversation. Makes me feel like all that time spent delving through the dark corners of Wikipedia wasn't such a waste after all Smile

Susu49 · 19/02/2022 21:56

To snakewoman-ghostpants - that's amazing, I'd want to know everything if you mention it to me!

feathermucker · 19/02/2022 21:59

I'm tremendously quick witted and can think of funny and clever replies instantly.

AchillesPoirot · 19/02/2022 22:00

Sorry had a busy evening. No one believes I do the job I do when they see me. I live in a deprived area and drive a wreck but have a really interesting job that takes me all sorts of places.

But my neighbours think I do call centre work from home (I’ve never explicitly told them what I do).

silverpinecones · 19/02/2022 22:02

I also got a first at uni and it's always a bit awkward when it comes up!

I'm good at picking up different musical instruments. I can get pretty good at them fairly quickly but then have to really start working after a point so cba as much after that! So when people ask if I can play any instruments I never really know what to say as I can play about 8!

EmergencyPoncho · 19/02/2022 22:05

Another linguist, 5 languages. But my real talents are my Cher/Tina Turner/Anastacia (and working on Amy Winehouse) impressions.

Jvg33 · 19/02/2022 22:05

I don't need to set timers on for cooking. I know when 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc has passed.

SilverSplitsTheBlue · 19/02/2022 22:07

Ruthietuthie and Thstsnotmygolem Can I ask which languages you speak? I'm green with envy!

treesandrocks · 19/02/2022 22:07

I used to be good at IQ tests, have an IQ of 158 tested by Mensa, but I'd never mention it because I'd sound like a twat.

Annoyingly, I have poor communication skills, people who meet me usually decide I'm 'ever so nice', or 'so cute', but I suspect, a bit thick because I freeze and go blank in groups!

Jvg33 · 19/02/2022 22:07

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

If I want to (and tbh I rarely do), I can charm pretty anyone. It's extraordinarily rare for people not to like me if I've decided to make them.

I don't mention it because it makes people simultaneously sceptical and suspicious.

Haha. I'm skeptical of this.
Tigerteafor3 · 19/02/2022 22:08

I can eat fire. And remember birthdays.

One is significantly more useful than the other.

TheLoupGarou · 19/02/2022 22:08

I can do the Cassandra thing too. Good at reading people I think.

I'm laughing at the 'give a good blow job' one - like it's hard?

SilverSplitsTheBlue · 19/02/2022 22:08

*Thats. Clearly I can't write in my own language...

CatDogMonkeyPOW · 19/02/2022 22:09

I can play the drums. I'm a 40 something overweight woman who works for social services. I definitely don't look like a stereotypical drummer!