Things that most people can do and I can't

[billycat321]

I can't-
Send or receive texts (don't have a mobile phone)
Change a wheel
Do self service at checkouts
Do 'pay at pump' at petrol stations
But I can-
Grow potatoes
Darn a hole in the elbow of a jumper
Sing the tenor part of The Messiah
Make and repair clothes
Embroider

Anyone else not quite fit into the 21st century?

Well I suppose go out without my wheelchair is the obvious thing for me. Though the huge advantage of modern times is that my accessible vehicle and hoist mean I can go out independently, which I would not have been able to do a generation earlier.

I can’t install software on a computer or do lots of computer based things. DH is a computer nerd and was forever fixing his friends computers early in our relationship. I just felt if I got something wrong I was making more work for him so safer to let him do it right in the first place. After twenty years of marriage I’m quite embarrassed by how useless I am.

I can’t barbecue. Again, DH is good at it so it’s easier to let him. I realise I am calling my feminist credentials into question here. He also takes care of the money.

I do make the best Yorkshire puddings though. And meringues. I get loads of compliments by people who are convinced they’re difficult, but they’re just so easy I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t make them.

I am also really good at maths, which a lot of people seem to struggle with. I’m rubbish a languages though.

What do you mean you can't do self service? Do you choose not to or is there some barrier? It's just scanning barcodes and tapping a payment card.

I can't ride a bike, have even tried learning several times as an adult, I just can't do it

You think most people can sing the tenor part of The Messiah? And your including women, boys and girls in that ‘most people’ who can????

Things I've tried but can't do - whistle, knit, cook rice, climb ladders, headstands.

Things I can do - rebuild car engine, draft clothing patterns, know which direction I am facing by looking at a tree.

Remember any song lyrics. I'm a technical person and was very good in math and engineering science but I can't for the life of me remember one full lyrics for a song.

I struggle to open cans of pop. I usually end up using a spoon.

I can’t ride a bike 😬

Ski - I know not everyone can, but I’ve done beginners ski school several times and always had to drop out because I was lapped by everyone, including/especially tiny kids.

If you like rice Dandy buy a rice cooker - they are awesome.

I can’t-
drive,
remember times tables,
take a decent selfie,
start my own petrol lawnmower,
poach an egg,
wink my right eye.
I can-
cook and bake very well (aside from the poached egg),
stand on one leg for ages,
whistle with my fingers,
fall asleep at the drop of a hat,
paint,
get babies to sleep.

Snap. I can't ride a bike either. Tried several times but keep ending up on the floor.

What are the barriers to you paying at the pump or using the self checkout in supermarkets?

Yes, that’s a bit weird. And wheels have been around for a long time — there’s nothing ‘not quite fitting into the 21stc’ about not being able to change one.

If you don’t have a mobile or a credit/debit card, that’s your decision, obviously.

I grow potatoes, peas and various salad greens, can sew and darn, and can sing the soprano part of The Messiah, but I can assure you I’m a perfectly au fait user of 21st c tech.

Assuming no credit/debit card?

Or the OP is Catweazle.

I tried when I was a kid, hated it, and my parents gave up. I’m too scared (and too fat!) to try now!

Sorry, but I think if you can log into MN and start this thread, you can do self service and etc.

I can’t click my fingers of my left hand, only my right.. And I’m left handed!

I think there's a difference between can't and choose not to.

I can’t swim or read music - both sources of huge frustration as I would love to learn to play music properly and to go scuba diving. I just don’t seem to have any knack, despite having lessons in both instances…

I cant swim although I taught my 3 chldren to swim years ago, it just doesn't work for me.
I cant sing in tune.
I can cook and grow stuff in the garden.

Swallow tablets

@billycat321can you explain why you can’t do checkout self service? I really don’t understand.

Can waterski but can't ski.
Can cook all types of egg bar poaching.
Can't knit, too kackhanded or impatient but can crochet.
Cannot follow spoken directions (except satnav ones) but am a whizz at navigating without a satnav in areas I've visited before even if briefly. I remember strange landmarks.
Am a super-recogniser but can't remember names particularly well.

Swim. I have had countless swimming lessons but as soon as the floating device is gone I sink like a stone.