It's EMBARRASSING!! --- I Can't Remember Names To Save My Life...

[arwalden]

Within ten minutes of being introduced to someone (and even after chatting with that person for awhile) I will have forgotten their name.

Sometimes I'll struggle to remember someone's name that I've known for YEARS!

I'm only 43... so don't try to tell me it's a "growing older" thing! I'm not old (dammit). Besides, I've been struggling with this problem ever since I was in my 20's.

Is it genetic? Am I doing something wrong? Or am I just being rude and thoughtless?

-- Allen

[blondeatlast]

1. "QEFTSG" had a great tip for that:

When introduced, repeat the name right away like this:

You are introduced to, say, ME:

"Allen, this is Laurel."

"Laurel,. what a pretty name. Pleased to meet you, Laurel."

I've tried it; it works!

btw, I'm 44, tain't no age thing.

[arwalden]

3. I Missed Seeing That Tip...

... thanks. (I've got a few episodes Tivo'd so it might be one of the ones I haven't seen yet.)

-- Allen

[Padraig18]

2. My trick

Whenever I hear a person's name, I make an immediate visual association with ANOTHER person with the same name, usually the one I know best, or one who is the most prominent/well-known.

I seldom forget a name. :)

[MindPilot]

4. That happens to me too, umm, I'm sorry, what is your name again?

It's especially pronounced if I'm talking about something that requires the mention of say a senator. I totally know the name, I'm prepared to say it, then at the moment it should come out of my mouth, I forget it!!

I've heard many people mention this. An article I read a while ago mentioned it was a particular problem for Martin Sheen. He apparently often calls the West Wing cast members by their stage names because he frequently forgets their real names.

So no, it's a common thing. Are the any phychologist type people in the house? Does this thing have a name? Then we can forget about it.

[arwalden]

7. ... or when talking about a movie I just saw.

when referring to a character, I have difficulty remember BOTH the character's name AND the actor's name.

"... you know... that guy who was also in Lethal Weapon and Maverick and Thunderdome and Gallipole..."

I can't remember names, but I can recall the movies they were in.

-- Allen

[Ilsa]

5. It's the way your brain works and i have the same problem.

It usually takes me repeated introductions to nail down a name, unless it is written. I find that I learn names better from name tags (not that you can do THAT very often). You are probably a visual learner, and only hearing the name doesn't help much.

Sometimes, if I have the time, I go write down the names I've just learned. Other times, I try to figure out something about that person to make me associatethem with someone else I know. EG: the wife of my husband's coworker has the same name as my sister-in-law.

[MindPilot]

6. Your right Ilsa, (Please don't hurt me oh wicked warden)

I'm totally a visual/kinestic learner. I can remember part numbers, the location of some obscure setting in the Windows registry, and concepts like electronic--things easily visualised are very easy for me. I also don't need to used a dayplanner--I can just remember appointments and meetings. But who I'm meeting with--forget it!!