Has "lamp" always been a message setting?

So I've always been bad at sensing and categorizing a lot of things. I got better at some of it with practice and with learning specific markers for this and that, but I'm curious what most people are good at or not.
There's obviously gaydar and transdar, and guessing at ages, and the ability to get unlost when traveling. There's pitch attunement and tactile awareness and palate differences. The only other common radar thing I can think of that requires those same kinds of quick and subtle reactions is relating to animals.
I should probably make a poll for this. I know I'm being fast and loose with definitions and concepts here and I welcome any input.