Forgetting... an Aspie thing or not?

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One time I had a pretty long job interview (and I think the guys who did the interview are both flirting with AS.), and I got the job.

The next day, I was being shown around, and I introduced myself to one of the engineers. He pointed out that he had done the interview. ACK!! ! That was embarrassing, but he said he understood.

Soon after that, someone at work came and asked me if I would do a little job for him. I did the job, and later on, this guy came into the room and I said, "I've finished that job you asked for." He was completely baffled, and had no idea what I was talking about. It turns out there were two guys, both medium height, dark hair. I had thought they were the same guy. I could NEVER remember which was which, so I basically ignored them both as much as possible.

Heh, faces

I took driver's lessons once, 1 lesson a week for a while. Then one saturday i was in line for the checkout register in a shop and there was this guy behind looking at me. He looked familiar, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out who he was. The next week in the car, he asked if I didn't want to know him when we were at the store. I told him I'm crap with faces and he kinda accepted that.

My first roommate had a GF; we've spent hours talking about stuff in the loft. Later when they'd broken up, I was walking in a supermarket, looked down an isle, and saw this person. I looked at her, she was looking at me, and i was racking my brain with "Do I know you? SHould I know you? Ah crap" and I walked away feeling rather confused.

i should probably be taking some meds for my alzhiemers, its getting worse

Totally agree with you. I have the same problem, faces and names, and then people rememer me from like 10 years ago! I ask for names all the time pointing out about my poor memory - as I tend to laugh and joke a lot people are ok with it. Oh of course I pretend to know people (don't want to hurt their feelings), I am sure they can tell at times I am faking but they are rather forgiving - as I do remember them eventually (well when I ask someone else "who was that guy?" or read their name tag (at work) and check it on the web directory.
BTW I am an NT. or I think I am, I am now begining to wonder!

I definitely have trouble remembering faces out of context. For a long time, I had a hard time following movies, because I wouldn't recognize/"mis-recognize" characters from previous scenes (related?)

I used to think I had a problem with this because I forgot faces so easily, but now I don't think it's the case, mainly because I have a very good memory for faces of people on TV. I've come to the conclusion that I'm just being blocked from taking in the details of faces in daily life for several reasons:

a) My poor eye contact; I probably just don't spend as much time physically looking at the person's face when I'm speaking to them as most people would,

b) Lack of interest in most people I meet; no subconscious wish to remember the face,

c) Having to concentrate so hard on the conversation itself to make sure I don't miss or misinterpret anything that there's not as much mental power left for memorizing appearance. If I'm watching TV, I'm not having to interact like that, and I don't have to worry that there's going to be consequences if I miss anything in the dialog, therefore my brain is free to give facial attention.

Happens to me all the time, particularly 'out-of-context.' The worst example was confusing two co-workers because of similar hairstyles/eyeglasses, and calling one of them by the other's name. Twice.

I have trouble with student's names; it usually takes me 8 weeks, but this semester, I have trouble with several of my students (they just don't stand out).

I do this all the time, the two worst situations were the time I didn't recognize a guy a had dated exclusively for over a year, 8 years after we broke up and the absolute worst was when I didn't recognize my cousin (that I grew up with) when she came into my work about 12 years ago, it had only been about a year since I had seen her.

Unless it was an amicable break-up, I wouldn't count the guy--you wanted to forget him.

But isn't TV also a context?



Yeah, I can identity with that. Especially having to put so much mental energy into making sense of what you're hearing and interpolating over gaps and then trying to rush it all because you can't delay too long -- sometimes I'm surprised I see anything at all. As a kid, when I could stand by and sort of just observe conversations, it seemed like I could pick up all sorts of things that I can't when I'm the one who has to be doing the actual engaging (and risking the "consequences" of slipping up).

As far as b) I think I have trouble even with people I really would like to remember. Hmm, not sure, though...