Cooking, it’s all fun and games until Gina asks you to cook for her family for free.
Having enough self awareness to know you should child free. once again, fine and dandy until FUCKING GINA volunteers your time since “you’re obviously not busy”.
What seems like a good skill to have but becomes curse when others find out about it?
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To be honest the question seems less important here than putting some space between you and Gina for your own peace.
My wife’s boss thinks I’m her personal IT resource and my wife is her personal assistant. It’s worse now that she’s retired.
Sorry we’re busy doing our real jobs
pretty much ANY skill.
you will either get asked to do it for free, or volunteered when an opportunity arises, the first person someone suggest for whatever that situation can be used in.
My wife is a notary. Once a few neighbors found out they reach out at all times of day asking if they can come over and get something signed in front of her.
I was musician (haven’t played for years but technically still could). I hated being asked to jam. I don’t like it and can’t do it. I’m the kind of musician who is good at memorizing and practicing, not improvising.
One time I was at a backyard wedding where people were bringing out instruments. Fun, but when they tried to get me to join in, I hid under the table.
Working on cars.
Fixing Computers. Was in IT for many years every time I ran into someone away from work they always be like: Hey I’m having computer problems can you come by and take a look. Then you get there and they some old sh*t box computer that has been updated in 10 years and they don’t understand why you can just magically type in something and fix. Then they are mad. Ran into this every week.
I used to work tech support. When an aquantance suddenly get friendly, their computer isn’t working.
Intelligence and massage skills
My wife uses me as a proofreader for things like her doctoral thesis, job applications, CVs, and cover letters. English is not her first language, so I come in handy, and she has a couple of mentees that I have also done this for, too. However, I have since become the person in our circle of friends/acquaintances to do this for everyone! I don’t mind, but my lord… sometimes I wish I hadn’t.
It was baking for me. When my ex’s large family found out I was good at baking, I suddenly had to make a fancy home made cake for everyone’s birthday and cookies or some other baked good for every family get together. They would not hide their disappointment if I skipped a week, either. It was exhausting.
Sewing – can you hem my pants, I tore my dress, can you fix it. It’s a really simple request (turns out to be very complicated) can you make curtains for me, etc…
I learned to play piano by ear when I was a kid. Everyone loved it but I hated playing in front of people. Now I pretend I’ve forgotton how to play so that I don’t need to in front of others
Sewing. I’ve been sewing since I was a child but learned to hate it because my family members and friends would dump piles of clothes on me to mend or tailor. My favorite is when they’d ask for a costume for Halloween 3 days before with no offer to buy material, patterns, notions or even pay me for the service. I was taught growing up that I should never deny someone my talents because it’s the Christian thing to do. Even as an adult with a newborn baby, I had my brother drop a project off for me to work on. I’m going to let it sit.
Owning a truck just to move other’s heavy shit on Saturday’s
The ability to fix stuff.
My ex wife used to volunteer my services to any of her friends that were doing home improvements. Yeah, I can do a lot of stuff, but I don’t even LIKE doing it for myself. Why the hell would I want to do it for someone else, for free?!
Painter and Graphic Designer. People are never aware of the time that goes into these kind of creative things. Always act as if they’re doing you a favour by giving you work (and expecting a huge discount).
I do like doing the odd thing for free or as a gift but it gets my back up if someone I barely know asks for a “favour” and then tells you they could just get it off fiverr etc for cheaper but wanted to work “face to face” with someone. To me that’s code for “I don’t want your creativity I just want to use you to make an ugly logo I’ve envisioned and the process is going to be long and painful and totally not worth it”
Quilting. I was newly sober and had little kids at home and I needed a hobby. I started quilting. It got me through many sleepless nights. Then I started getting “requests” and people would ask to make ugly things I didn’t want to do. Like can you make me an orange and purple quilt for my nephew with green Pom poms in it and sharks?? So I sold all my stuff and stopped. I tried picking it up again but it was ruined because a hobby became a job. I am eternally grateful that I had that to get through early sobriety. 19 years and 10 month later I’m still sober so it served its purpose in my life.
I was voluntold for 25 years 24/7. As soon as I said no, I was kidnapped and physically assaulted.
I dabble in a lot of fields. I don’t volunteer anymore and they aren’t happy.
Being able to hear the whispers from that book you found with your friends in the abandoned lodge in your last road trip through the Colorado mountains
For me, people don’t purposefully react poorly. I have ADHD (and suspect autism as well). As a result, I’m known for being a bit of a know it all and have excellent pattern recognition skills. I think people view this as me knowing everything at all times, so then they don’t even think to tell me anything.
I noticed a good coworker hasn’t been around for a little bit. Suddenly, now you feel the need to tell me they died? I get no warnings with policy changes, nothing.
I used to love drawing. I was good at it too. I’d now rather eat nails.
The amount of people that expect you to put in two days’ work and material costs in exchange for a pat on the head and a cookie. Fucking nonsense.
Being a resilient and dedicated worker.
I’m a chocolatier. When people find out they hit me up.
Being computer savvy. I bought my son a T-shirt that said, “No, I will not fix your Computer”. People were relentless!
Sometimes you have to whip out a box or two of Hamburger Helper and maybe some Miller Lite.
Any kind of fine art or fiber art. People get chapped when they find out you made the statement piece of your outfit but are unwilling to make one for them. They also get pissed when I tell them I’m a terrible teacher, but here’s a list of resources if you’re serious about learning. I’m decent with digital art, but that’s also a major time investment for me. I hate when people get upset I’m not willing to dedicate all my free time working on their wants and putting my projects on hold. Plus no one is ever really willing to pay what it’s worth. Also, they ignore the fact it’s a skill I’ve spent years developing. I stopped going to paint nights with one of my friends when I commented someone wanted to buy one of my paintings and when I answered honestly with what it was going for they pretty much told me “God, I can’t believe someone would pay that much.” ……. Yeah…… Welp, people will if they like your stuff enough.
Brewing beer lost all its fun when people started asking for special batches for special occasions.
Sewing.
Being able to fix cars.
Being that person who’s really good at planning stuff. It sounds great at first but suddenly, you’re the unpaid event coordinator for every friend hangout, group vacation, baby shower, you name it. And don’t even try to suggest a chill night in.
sex
Im skilled at not doing things I don’t want to do, regardless of whether people know I’m good at not doing them.