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?

I'm very good at naming songs & artists from a sample of the lyrics or tune, from say 1985 to 2015. I also am pretty good at naming obscure people in entertainment from their picture. Yes, I'm pretty good at music & entertainment rounds in pub quizzes (but not very good at all the other rounds!)

You should go to a pub quiz that has a music round. We usually win when I go as I tend to get all or most of the music questions right. OH & his friends tackle all the other questions!

This! If you’re on social media you’re probably able to send a text or pay at the pump. It kind of feels as though you’re trying too hard to be different.

I can't ride a bicycle.
I can't swallow tablets without nearly choking.
I can't crochet.
I can't swim.
I can't remember much of my childhood.
I can't complete a Rubiks Cube.

I can change the wheel of a car/check tyre pressures/oil and replace bulbs/wiper blades.
I can map read and remember my route to somewhere miles away after one visit.
I can build really complicated lego with barely a glance at any instructions.
I can picture floor plans of buildings in 3d in my head.
I can knit and cross stitch.
I can complete a jigsaw without the box lid/image.

I cannot:
ride a bike
learn choreography

I can:
Sight sing
Recall complete conversations, inc accent, as though I am running a recording through in my head

I can’t click my fingers at all on either hand

I can’t ride a bike but I’m bloody good with DIY and using a power drill!

To be fair to OP -

I work in a supermarket. I run the self service tills in our shop, as in I am in charge of them; of resetting their scales when they error out, sorting out payments and helping customers to use them when they can't find where to put their card/cash/shopping/bag etc.

But I struggle to use the self serve tills in other shops. Everything is in a different place, I don't have a key to over ride the scale or to cancel the payment and start again. I am easily flustered and put stuff in the wrong place or can't find the barcode scanner. So I usually choose not to use the self serves in any other shop. Despite knowing EXACTLY how they work and what to do...

I can play the piano by ear. If I hear a song I can usually play the melody

I can’t -
do a handstand or the splits
whistle
knit
sew

but I can-
swim breast stroke and front crawl to ASA standard
complete an official form with no stress
guess the time without a click to within 5 minutes

• I can't hear/understand lyrics
• I can't follow or remember dance instructions / timings AT ALL

• I can gracefully execute synchronised swimming moves - however I cannot synchronise with others : ((
• I can hold a basic conversation in Italian even though I've never learned the language

So true. I have told my young adult children that if I ever start saying I can’t do something technological and ask them to do it for me, they must refuse and teach me patiently. I too am terrified of being left behind one day.

At the moment I I’m in my 50s and capable, but I do not want future developments to leave me behind so I am helpless like my parents.

Amazing. Good for her!

Well you CAN send a text message. You just choose not to.

I can't sit crossed legged for more than a minute, or sit in a squat position without support. I'm working on both, they're on my 'things to do before 40' list.

I can...needle felt, knit, use a sewing machine, understand German.

Different category for things you can't do anymore? I used to be able to read music but lost the skill through lack of practice.

Do you mean you choose not to do those things?

I can’t lose weight. 1200 calories. 10000 steps, no sugar . Gain weight

I can gain weight. Just smelling food.

Try reading the OP again. It's perfectly clear.

I'm not sure most people can do this, but I can't whistle through my fingers. I tried doing it when I had a hand injury and couldn't applaud at the theatre etc, but I just can't do it.

Can't get my heels to come to the ground if I'm doing a yoga downward dog or squat. Teachers who don't know me well have thought that I'm deliberately raising my heels! I guess I just must have short tendons in my legs or something. Again, not sure most people can do this, but you do see an awful lot of pictures of people performing these poses with their heels on the ground.

I can't roll my tongue, but I know that's genetic.
Can't roll my r's either, which is a source of some sadness.

I can’t -

• tie bows the way you’re apparently meant to
• change spotlight bulbs
• do a good blow dry.

I can

• tie perfectly good bows
• hang pictures at the right height by eye
• grow sweet peas from seed - had never done it before but succeeded this year.

OP your cants are more "dont want to" surely?

I can't floss my teeth, it looks so simple but just no....

You could receive a text if you had a phone though. I think some of your examples are just things you don’t want to do rather than things you can’t do

Why CANT you use a self serve checkout? Do you find it impossible to understand or are you one of the annoying people who demand to be served by a person whilst holding the queue up?

I can’t blow up balloons.