They say an elephant never forgets. So then Jason must be one. That guy never seems to forget a face.
I’m sure there must be those of us who forget someone we have met before. There was a time I was in a store, this was years ago and we stood there talking to another couple and when we walked away my husband asked why I didn’t introduce him and I told him I had NO idea who they were! I’m not kidding and we talked for quite some time. I thought surely something would happen or be said that would ring a bell in my head so I’d know where I knew them from and I thought about it for a long time and never did remember who they were.
Another time I was at the grocery store and knew a man in line but couldn’t for the life of me remember who it was. It turned out it was someone we bowl with and I did remember it later in the day. This happens to me all the time. Am I alone here???
I was watching JAG once and there was a new character on there and Jason came in the room and I knew that guy from somewhere and had been thinking about it during the whole show and I asked Jason who was it and he said without missing a beat, he played Andrew Garvey on Little House!! My favorite all time show and I couldn’t place him. Of course he was 20 years older but still, it was clearly him and Jason knew it RIGHT NOW. I can call Jason now if I need help and sure enough, he’ll know!!
How do you handle it when it happens to you? Do you pretend you remember them or do you ask them or what? I feel like such a dork when it happens to me so I just pretend I know who they are as to not risk hurting their feelings and to not let them know I’m getting senile!!!!
Us Girls..Our Views 
That is normal for me. I have figured out that I have to meet and talk to someone three times (on average) before I can hope to remember who they are the next time. I have tried every trick and nothing works for me.
I may recognize the face OR the name OR where I know them from, but usually only one of the three. So, I’ll notice someone looking at me like, “hey, don’t you wanna talk to me?” and I’m like, oh crap. I have to smile and greet generically. Some folks are smart enough to recognize that “who the hell” look in my eye and will re-introduce themselves. Others, no. Some are in the same boat as me. So the generic conversation starts. “So, how’s business?” etc. If this goes on more than a minute or so I will usually fess up that I know we’ve met and I should remember their name but I’m just awful at that. It’s embarrassing, but I can’t seem to improve.
On the other hand, once I remember a person, I remember stuff that nobody else would remember. Like the names, ages, and birthdates of all their kids, their wife’s hobby, and every detail of our previous meetings. It is weird.
So yeah, you have lots of company!
Ha! Ha! As you probably already know – this happens to me too. I have blogged my experience about having a chat with someone for about a few minutes, but the whole time, not remembering who this person was! Of course, I discovered who she was when she appeared on the TV program The Gladiators as a challenger – even then, I had to log onto the Gladiator’s website to read the challenger’s profile!
At the time, I had decided to not mention that I couldn’t place her, thinking that it would be insulting to say to someone “Hey,… I don’t remember you. Pls tell me who you are again.”. But now, if it were to happen to me again,… I would at the earliest opportunity mention that my memory is failing me and that I couldn’t place them. This is the only way to ensure that you have a meaningful chat and catch-up!!
I never forget a face. It will take some time but I will put a face to a movie, show or place I frequent. It’s a gift. The worst is when people wanna argue with me when I know dam well I’m right. After 10 years Today…..anniversary I think she has learned not to question me. But at times she still does.
Hey happy anna you guys. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since your first date 🙂
I totally fake it until I can figure out who I am talking to. And sometimes it takes quite awhile! I try asking leading questions to see if information gets revealed. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
I usually can recognize someone that I’ve met before, but it doesn’t mean I remember their name. Sometimes I ask and sometimes I don’t depending on if I think I’ll run into them again. About 2 weeks ago I was shopping at Fleet Farm and saw a lady who I worked with over 5 years ago and she said hi to me first, I stopped and said “oh, hi Roberta” (after the second it took me to remember) and she was amazed that I remembered her name because she didn’t remember mine until she asked. I think a polite “hey I don’t remember your name” is the nice thing to do!
I am really pretty good at this. I also live in a very small town and don’t encounter new people very often so it’s only one name at a time I usually have to learn. As far as actors, what I do watch on TV, if I recognize someone, I can usually place them like Jason can. My friends call me when they can’t remember.
My husband is like that and it drives me crazy. He can recognize someone after meeting them one time or see someone on a TV show that’s been on something else and know right now who it was and who they played.
I’m really good with people I meet but I can’t for the life of me remember who’s who on TV or in the movies and I can’t ever seem to remember singers and bands.