John, John, Bo-Bohn..

I have often heard people say things like “I’m no good with names, but I never forget a face.” I don’t know why there’s some sort of requirement that we remember one or the other. Personally, I am terrible with both names and faces.

Seriously, every time I’m introduced to someone new I instantly forget both their name and their face, unless there’s something especially unique about them. If you’re 8 feet tall, have purple skin, wings, and your name is Vlad the Impaler, I will probably remember you. If, however, you’re a white male, about 6 feet tall, and have short, dark hair and brown eyes, there’s pretty much a zero chance that your name or face is going to stick in my memory. It’s nothing personal. It’s just the way my brain works.

I also have an irrational fear that even when I’ve learned someone’s name, I will end up being wrong if I say it out loud. So there are times when I will avoid it, even when I’ve known the person for weeks or months.

So I’d like to apologize in advance for getting your name wrong, Ned. Or is it Ted? Come to think of it, have we met before?

Comments

)en said…
Maybe you have face-blindness, or "prosopagnosia," where you can't distinguish one face from another. I learned about this in school.

how would that be? that would be crrrazy, is how.

I'm pretty good with names and very good with faces. I just have to make it a point to remember the name and I'm good to go. Make some kind of association and voila.
November 6, 2007 at 9:44 AM
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