• Hazzard@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    Man, one time I ended up volunteering at a weekend youth event, and this other leader they put me in a room with was friends with my wife on Facebook, from college or something, but I’d never met him. Weirdest conversation of my life:

    “So, how was your honeymoon in city?” “Oh, really nice. What was your name again?”

    I imagine that’s what this horror house would feel like. Was a nice guy, honestly. I’ve since forgotten his name again.

  • Drusas@kbin.social
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    9 months ago

    This is just my life. I’m bad with names and barely recognize faces. I can do voices, but then I’m bad with names, so…

    • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      I was like this for years and then I found the cure.

      “I’m sorry, I have a terrible memory for names and I have forgotten yours.”

      I have said this dozens and dozens of times in the last decade or so and have yet to have anyone be angry about it.

      In fact in a fairly large proportion of cases, they then tell you that they have also forgotten your name as well. They are so relieved that you broke the “must remember name taboo” for them that they are grateful to you.

      • Fester@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        I had a college fitness class teacher who told us all on the first day, “I am really bad with names. You’ll need to remind me your name many times this semester. It’s not because I don’t care about you, I’m just very introverted and it’s something I struggle with.” It made me feel better about having the same problem and I’ve been using that line since.

      • kase@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I do that sometimes, and I definitely agree with everything you said.

        But… ok so what happens is I’m talking to somebody and they remember all this personal stuff about me and they seem really cool and I’m like I don’t know you so I ask their name and they tell me but then SOMETIMES what happens is it doesn’t ring a bell AT ALL and I end up not saying anything in response and staring at them like an idiot because now I know their name but still have no memories of this person prior to the last five minutes they’ve been talking to me and then it’s awkward and they get disappointed and I just. Wyxbpshxjwdj

        • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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          9 months ago

          Then it doesn’t ring a bell.

          People remember different things because different things are important to different people.

          If the issue I have with remembering names, (I have tried multiple tricks to try and change that with no success) is going to upset someone who did remember details of a previous conversation, then the relationship is not going to have much success.

          If I am colour-blind and a person gets upset about it, there is nothing I can do and the problem is with them, not me.

          • kase@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            Yeah, fair point. The awkwardness definitely isn’t as big of a deal as it feels like in the moment.

            It’s still nightmare fuel imo, lol, but everybody’s different. I agree that it’s no reason to feel guilty or upset with someone, for sure.

  • DavidGarcia
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    9 months ago

    When clubbing I met a guy who told me we went to the same class in HS and apparently we were friends, but I swear I’ve never met the man in my life. It was a place where a lot of people from my HS hang out, so it’s plausible at least.Not sure if he was trolling, but he seemed genuinely upset. One of the most awkward interactions I’ve ever had.

  • Enigma@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    I had a job where I heard at least 50+ different names a day. It got to a point where I’d ask the person their name and immediately forget it. 4yrs later and I have not regained the ability to retain names. It’s so bad I automatically tell people I meet that I will not remember their name unless I hear or read it at least 5 times.

  • Harpsist@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Omg. That sounds like this coffee shop I used to frequent for like 6 years.

    There were like 12 regulars who’s names I had absolutely no idea…

  • tetris11 [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    9 months ago

    I live under the personal opinion that most people lead busy lives, and that over time they forgive/forget every stupid thing I’ve ever done, in the same way that my brain tries to. But now you pull this.