When You Have Forgotten Someone's Name...

[arwalden]

Poll question: When You Have Forgotten Someone's Name...

You're at a party or a meeting and suddenly you find yourself chatting with someone whose name you've TOTALLY FORGOTTEN. I hate it when that happens!

Do you admit it and ask them what their name is? Or do you bluff your way through it and hope that someone ELSE addresses them by their name? (And if you bluff-it... just keep your fingers crossed that it's not up to YOU to make any introductions!)

[trof]

1. See? See?

I read the subject line and knew it was you.
I need an "all of the above".

If I know them pretty well, I bluff and then go ask Miz t.
She's like an elephant, never forgets anything.

If I've only met them once or twice I say something cheesey like "I'm sorry. You'll have to forgive an old man who not losing it, it's GONE. Please tell me your name again?"

[arwalden]

3. You Know Me Too Well, Trof.

I considered adding an "Other" or "All The Above" option. But the two-choice "yes/no" and "on/off" and "this/that" surveys are more CNN-like.

-- Allen

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. I'm always forgetting people's names

That's why I don't call people by their names. :D

So I fake my way through it.

[Limbought]

4. When I forget a name,

(which is often) I just call them "Hon."

[arwalden]

6. "Buddy" and "Bud" and "Big-Guy" are good substitutes...

... for forgotten names too.

-- Allen

[trof]

7. Whenever someone calls me "big guy"

I knooooooooooooooow they don't have a clue.

[supernova]

5. Used to bluff, now I just ask

them to repeat their name. It's not that big a deal, really if you're upfront about it.

I have a very good Long Term Memory. I remember the most obscure details from when I was seven. But the guy I met for 5 minutes yesterday at the gym? :shrug:

I usually have to meet someone a couple of times before their name will stick in my head.

[trof]

8. same here

I've finally gotten old enough that I have a good excuse.
But it was the same when I was 30.

[supernova]

14. Yes, I think it's

just I'm more long term focused than short-term.

I'm not quite that bad, but I do relate to Dory in Finding Nemo!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. I just ask them outright and then apologize

making sure they know it's me not them.

[arwalden]

11. I'm Always Afraid If I Ask Outright They Might Feel Bad...

... no matter HOW politely or gently I phrase the question, and no matter how I assign "blame"... they will mis-interpret it as: "Tell me your name again. I was so bored and unimpressed with you the last time we met, that I forgot you already. You'll be lucky if I remember your name the NEXT time as well."

-- Allen

[arwalden]

12. NAMETAGS AT PARTIES AND MEETINGS SHOULD BE MANDATORY!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. If they forget your name do you feel this way?

my name is Teena...for some reason everybody wants to call me Lisa...it's happened FOREVER...it doesn't give me a complex or anything. If someone ever indicates in some way that it was because they aren't important or impressive, I make sure they know that if that were the case we wouldn't be talking at all. :D

[arwalden]

17. Well, Lisa... Perhaps I'm 'Projecting' My Fears And Insecurities

:hi: Are you a psychologist?

-- Allen

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. Bwahahahaha!

[Sting]

10. i'd ask them and not apologize...

i'm just an ass like that sometimes. (I'm very tired @ the moment, sorry for being harsh)

[FloridaJudy]

13. There are a few advantages of grey hair

As soon as I'm introduced to someone, I beam "Hi! Delighted to meet you! Of course, I'll probably forget your name a few times, before I commit it to memory, so I ask for your forgiveness in advance".

Then when I wave my hands vaguely a few hours later, and explain "I'm Judy, and this is um..." my new acquaintance jumps in with "Hi! I'm SoAndSo".

The Poor Slobs figure that I'm next to senile, and try to give a Little Old Lady a break. Little do they know I've got three post graduate degrees, and had problems remembering proper names ever since kindergarten.

[Skittles]

16. I just ask them

and advise them not be be offended; my memory is terrible.

[Phatfish]

19. ru home

and cry under my bed

[Lizz612]

20. "I'm sorry..

I suck at names, whats you're name again?"
There are only 1800 students at my college, but man, there are so people that are friend of friends of friends that are actualy in my Bio class... ugh! I give up!

[newyawker99]

21. This is an interesting thread Albert.

:evilgrin:

[NightTrain]

22. I pull a Bill Cosby and say...

"What the hell is your name? And don't lie to me, because I *will* find out!"

[GOPisEvil]

23. I am good with faces, but not names.

So, I usually say something like, "I know you from (insert location or event), but I've forgotten your name. I'm so sorry." Usually people are cool with that. At least I remember them. :shrug:

[SiouxJ]

24. I have this problem right now

I have a neighbor who I run into a lot when I'm out walking. She's a dog nut like me and I always remember the names of her dogs but can't remember her name (shows my priorities huh?). I've asked her at least 3 times so I feel absolutely horrible that I should have to ask her once again. She asked me the other day if I wanted to start walking our dogs together and I want to but I know eventually she's gonna figure out that I still don't remember her name - lol. I even did a reverse lookup with her address on the Web but it only brought up her husband's name. I guess I'll just have to endure the embarrassment and ask her - sheesh- I'm such a loser! :spank: