Etiquette help: I know you but forget your name

[Flashpoint]

Grow a beard. Then claim you don't know them. If you cared a tinker's cuss for them 10 years ago, you would have remembered their name.

Since you don't, they're clearly just relationship detritus.

[Bill Bumface]

I have terrible, terrible facial recognition. I took an online test for it that said I'm at near disorder levels for it.

I was out in the mountains Saturday and saw a guy who looked exactly like a friend I went to High School and 4 years of University with, and have seen several times since. Without context though, I'm not always sure if it is that person unless they are very distinctive looking. I looked at him awkwardly hoping he'd say hi first as I went by, but one of two things happened:

A) It wasn't him, and I creeped out a random guy
B) The girl he was with was really hot, and he didn't want to admit to knowing me

In hockey I always remember people by their equipment since it's even harder to see faces with visors/masks. Which works great until you go out for beer after and can't recognize anyone you've been playing shinny with all summer. "Green socks guy" no longer cuts it.

Even the faces that I do remember I can never place where I know them from.

My life is pretty much a constant stream of people I think I don't know at all coming up and making small talk. I've mastered having a 5 minute conversation without saying a thing.

I remember seeing a girl in the mall downtown who I totally recognized, so I gave her the smile and the head-nod, all proud of myself for finally recognizing a face of someone obscure. I spent about half a day trying to remember who she was, until it hit me that it was a girl I had dated before and done a really terrible job of cutting loose. My smile and nod probably just made me look like a cocky pr1ck.

Don't even get me started on names.... thank god for name placards on people's doors at work.

[Rhettzky]

The worst is when you try and pull the "introduction" trick... "Hey, this is my good friend Dave." and they say... "Hi Dave..." Followed by akward silence as they both look at you waiting for the second half of the introduction.

[Mtt48]

Just re-introduce yourself. It's okay not to remember someone's name.

[iLoveLamp]

nm

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Mtt48

Just re-introduce yourself. It's okay not to remember someone's name.

Once again, that depends on the circumstance. If it's somebody you've only met once or twice; that works.

However if I am at a party and I hear somebody yell "Hey Ken- come over here! (Person says to somebody else) This is my old buddy Ken. Remember I told you about the time I had to hide a body; Ken was the guy who suggested the spot and even helped me dig!"

That is when it is awkward to say "Hey- what is your name again?"

[troutman]

If we all spoke in the third person like Rickey Henderson, this would not be a problem.