I feel so rude forgetting people's names when they know mine

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9-9-2006
Raven
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10 Nov 2007, 8:10 am

I recognise this.



Zara
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10 Nov 2007, 7:13 pm

Happens to me too. I forget the names of acquaintances quite easily. I sometime forget the names of my co-workers too...



Brittany1212
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12 Nov 2007, 10:57 am

I have the same issue. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens I feel horrible.



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12 Nov 2007, 7:36 pm

I do this all the time. I forget names and don’t recognize people out of context. I have explained to my friends/significant other/co-workers that if I don’t introduce them to someone to take that as a sign that I have forgotten that person’s name and to please introduce themselves to get me off the hook. I used to feel badly about this, but through the years I have come across lots of people who are bad with names. I often apologize to people and directly ask them their name, pretending it is on the tip of my tongue. If I am lucky the name will trigger a memory about them, like something they did or where we last met, etc. It saves face when I say “Right, George. I am horrible with names. Wasn’t that *insert event* we were at great?” If I am lucky…


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Sunfish_McCaul
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13 Nov 2007, 8:50 pm

I don't tend to use people's names when I talk to them. It isn't that I deliberately avoid it, that's just how it happens. But it does make it much easier for me when I forget people's names.
But when I forget who people are then yeah, it gets a little awkward. I've learned how to fake my way through it, and it usually goes something like:
"Hey Sunfish, what've you been up to?"
"Oh! You know... the usual..."



0_equals_true
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14 Nov 2007, 6:16 am

Yes I have this problem. It didn't really bother me that much when I was less social. I didn't use names when I talked. It doesn't bother me too much now either. Apart form the fact that I learned to repeat their name every now and then throughout the conversation with them, which seems a bit redundant but the psychology is good.

Generally when I meet someone I discard their name immediately. I only start to pick it up again if I get to know them. Out of context I can completely not recognise people too.

On WP I recognise people from their avatar, and remember the more distinctive names.



CockneyRebel
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14 Nov 2007, 3:02 pm

I have that same problem, as well. I just remild myself that I'll remember their names, soon enough.


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Eire
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14 Nov 2007, 3:23 pm

I've only been on a date once in my life. And the whole time I was with this guy I was thinking, "oh my god I don't remember his name".



samtoo
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14 Nov 2007, 3:28 pm

Yup I definately do the same thing... and yes I also easily forget people's faces.


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0_equals_true
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14 Nov 2007, 7:19 pm

Eire wrote:
I've only been on a date once in my life. And the whole time I was with this guy I was thinking, "oh my god I don't remember his name".

:lol:

I'd of probably asked. It shouldn't be too much trouble. Mum mother and her sisters get each other's names mixed up the whole time.



earthmom
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18 Nov 2007, 4:18 am

I am very bad about remembering people also. I learn those tricks like "the tall guy who wears the green hat" and can recognize him if he's in the right place, but if he takes off the hat I'm lost.

This is a very good page to explain this if you haven't seen it already:
http://www.prosopagnosia.com/main/stones/index.asp

At an pretty early age I realized the best thing to do was to bluff. I smiled at everyone and said HI to everyone as if each person were my long lost best friend. The plus side - I got lots of new acquaintances. The down side - everyone thought I had this huge fascination with them (like every boy thought I had a crush on them because of the big warm welcomes). I still got caught not knowing who people were and a few of those were major embarrassments in front of lots of others (cringe) but at least now I know WHY. That does help.

After learning this and explaining it to my family, they are better about helping me (I can't tell you how much I appreciate that!). Now my daughters sometimes whisper a name to me as we're approaching someone familar. Boy does that help!



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Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
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18 Nov 2007, 7:27 pm

if i meet a group of people i shake all their hands and they say their names and i say mine and i remerber none of them, i remeber their faces but not their names, probably because i know i won't talk to them, but sometimes i do and then they know mine, and it's all awkward



Averick
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28 Nov 2007, 11:08 pm

I'm horrible at remembering people's names. It's real bad when i am out in public. I feel like a louse.



rexmas
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29 Nov 2007, 1:08 pm

I have trouble remembering people,
I can only recognize most new aquaintences through hairstyle,
one of my co-workers cut and dyed her hair and I had no idea who she was at that point, *laughter*


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Dreamweaver
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05 Dec 2007, 5:01 am

I work in a pub kitchen, whilst I can remember my kitchen co-workers names. I often struggle to remember the bar workers names (I never go out on the bar), which can be quite embarrassing at times. Especially when, for instance, someone's car is blocking me in and I have to ask who's it is and I get a name I don't know the face to. More often that not I will get someone else to get the person under the pretense of just nipping to the toilet or something similar.

Most of the time however, you can just get away without using their name if they start the conversation or literally just with "hi" and no names involved.



MattD
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07 Dec 2007, 6:55 am

3 years ago a new student joined my class and told us his name and about himself, then we where walking to the library and he was talking to me for about 5 minutes, then he suddenly asks "whats my name" and i couldnt remember :? ,then i said a name and he said no you dont even know my name, then i asked what it was and he didn't tell me till the end of the day. Then that nite i memorized his name and said it to him the next day but he didnt talk to me much after that. He left the class a few weeks later. Now after 3 years i cant forget his name... i dont think i ever will :? . its Yousef