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[Frumple]

... what does that make those of us who can't draw a straight line with a ruler?

[Avis-Mergulus]

'Hey, remember that embarrassing thing that happened five years ago? Here's another five embarrassing things!'
-My brain

^this.

[i2amroy]

... what does that make those of us who can't draw a straight line with a ruler?

Those who live in a dictatorship, because you need a better ruler.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Drawing straight lines is really just a matter of confidence. Don't think, act.

Of course, for someone like me, even knowing that in an intellectual context does little to make it possible.

[i2amroy]

The biggest thing I've found that helps with sketching straight lines is just repetition, start by sketching a few light lines over the area before you put darker ones down and just keep trying and you'll get better eventually.

That said I usually find arcs easier to draw then straight lines, since you can just rotate your wrist to give a nice arc while straight lines require the movement of your whole arm more.

[Putnam]

That said I usually find arcs easier to draw then straight lines, since you can just rotate your wrist to give a nice arc while straight lines require the movement of your whole arm more.

...oh.

Ohhh...

Okay.

[Graknorke]

just keep trying and you'll get better eventually.

Comments like this always make me as-close-to-angry-as-I-get.
When people who are good at things assume that anyone can be good at a thing.

[i2amroy]

Comments like this always make me as-close-to-angry-as-I-get.
When people who are good at things assume that anyone can be good at a thing.

I'm not making assumptions, I'm just telling you what I've experienced. It took me years of practice before I could draw a fairly straight line, and even now I still have problems occasionally due to my shaky hands. I'm just saying that unless you have a physical condition that prevents you (such as parkinsons) it's possible to learn to draw a straight line.

[Helgoland]

just keep trying and you'll get better eventually.

Comments like this always make me as-close-to-angry-as-I-get.
When people who are good at things assume that anyone can be good at a thing.

Just keep trying, you'll get angry eventually!

[GlyphGryph]

just keep trying and you'll get better eventually.

Comments like this always make me as-close-to-angry-as-I-get.
When people who are good at things assume that anyone can be good at a thing.

Most people CAN be good at most things (not at the same time obviously), and this is specifically talking about a thing most people can explicitly be good at.

Mind you, practice along isn't usually enough - it needs to be studious practice. Practicing poorly won't get you anywhere, and the whole "teacher" thing is pretty much explicitly about enabling studious practice, after all.

[Willfor]

just keep trying and you'll get better eventually.

Comments like this always make me as-close-to-angry-as-I-get.
When people who are good at things assume that anyone can be good at a thing.

Because of this.

[Mr Space Cat]

The biggest thing I've found that helps with sketching straight lines is just repetition, start by sketching a few light lines over the area before you put darker ones down and just keep trying and you'll get better eventually.

That said I usually find arcs easier to draw then straight lines, since you can just rotate your wrist to give a nice arc while straight lines require the movement of your whole arm more.

Drawing with your wrist may not be the way to go. Try drawing with your elbow, instead. Keep your wrist moving as minimally as possible and instead move your whole arm at the elbow. Supposedly it's useful for drawing with graphics tablets and is generally a more fluid and controllable way to draw. Supposedly. I haven't gotten into the habit of it myself.

Source: Video by Feng Zhu School of Design, specifically at 7:39

[IronTomato]

I tried to turn on the computer. It just made weird noises.
Asked mom for help. It worked fine.
She leaves, I try again.
It doesn't work again.

COMPUTER Y U HATE ME SO MUCH!

[mastahcheese]

I tried to turn on the computer. It just made weird noises.
Asked mom for help. It worked fine.
She leaves, I try again.
It doesn't work again.

COMPUTER Y U HATE ME SO MUCH!

I have the opposite problem, where things break as soon as I stop working with them.

[SomeStupidGuy]

just keep trying and you'll get better eventually.

Comments like this always make me as-close-to-angry-as-I-get.
When people who are good at things assume that anyone can be good at a thing.

Most people CAN be good at most things (not at the same time obviously), and this is specifically talking about a thing most people can explicitly be good at.

Mind you, practice along isn't usually enough - it needs to be studious practice. Practicing poorly won't get you anywhere, and the whole "teacher" thing is pretty much explicitly about enabling studious practice, after all.

Spot on, GG. If you seek out the proper tools(lessons, online guides, books, or hey, even an already skilled friend), it is entirely possible(well, save for situations where it's literally impossible(person lacking both their arms wanting to draw(then again, with a little creativity...))) to gain some skill in whatever thing you want to do.