"I'm terrible at names"

[Anonymous]

Isn't it rude to meet someone, tell them your name, they tell you yours and then you say "I'm terrible at names" as in, I won't remember your name? Why even bother introducing yourself? It's a choice to remember names. I'm not inherently good at it, I just make it a point to repeat the name in my head a few times and quiz myself later. And if I don't remember it in a few minutes, I'll ask you again. I think it's rude to blurt out "I'm terrible at names". As a culture we don't make it a point to remember names because everyone has the same excuse.

[Anonymous]

Tell my chemo/menopause brain “it’s a choice.”

I just like to let people know it’s not because I’m forgetting them in particular, just that my recall of their name will be tenuous at best.

[Anonymous]

I don’t mind at all and view it as instructional, repeating my name as needed. We all have our flaws.

[Anonymous]

I AM terrible at names. It's a handicap that's can't be fixed by repeating the name several times in my head. YOU are not terrible at names if all you need to do is that. You think those of us with that handicap haven't thought of that? Do you also think people with autism and ADHD, or dementia, or whatever else, could just cure themselves if they were as smart as you?

Sometimes you have to announce your disability so people are warned in advance.

Dumbass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it rude to meet someone, tell them your name, they tell you yours and then you say "I'm terrible at names" as in, I won't remember your name? Why even bother introducing yourself? It's a choice to remember names. I'm not inherently good at it, I just make it a point to repeat the name in my head a few times and quiz myself later. And if I don't remember it in a few minutes, I'll ask you again. I think it's rude to blurt out "I'm terrible at names". As a culture we don't make it a point to remember names because everyone has the same excuse.

Face blindness isn't a choice. Social anxiety isn't a choice. Sometimes people truly can't remember names

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I AM terrible at names. It's a handicap that's can't be fixed by repeating the name several times in my head. YOU are not terrible at names if all you need to do is that. You think those of us with that handicap haven't thought of that? Do you also think people with autism and ADHD, or dementia, or whatever else, could just cure themselves if they were as smart as you?

Sometimes you have to announce your disability so people are warned in advance.

Dumbass.

Wow it's like when 10 people tell me they are "terrible at names" in a row, they must ALL be disabled. I'm clearly not talking about people like you, you're an a-hole for reasons other than forgetting my name.

[Anonymous]

I tell people that so when I stare at them in a blank panic for two seconds before saying their name they aren't as offended, or when I call Ashley Lindsey or I call Sophie Chloe, they chalk it up to me being terrible with names. I try really hard - I say their name over and over in my head after they've said it, when I know I'm going to see them I say their name out loud a few times to myself on the way there, I sometimes even put a note in my phone - "Ashley spilled drink Splashley new has dog lives next door Tricia." And even with all that, I still sometimes look at Sean and just ... blank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I think it's rude to blurt out "I'm terrible at names". As a culture we don't make it a point to remember names because everyone has the same excuse.

OP how many people are you meeting who say this? I encounter it very rarely. I'm sure at least half the people who say it are doing so sincerely, because they Try All the Things and still come up short. So if those saying it out of laziness constitute even half the people we're talking about, it's not that many people.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the middle of menopause and have low thyroid on top of it. I won't remember your name five minutes from now, sorry. Brain fog is real.

Stop being so angry and offended by little things. Spinning yourself up and creating endless dramaramas is no way to live your youth. You will look back and regret wasting so much mental energy on things that didn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Just think, OP, that if you had just a little bit more willpower, you could figure out a way to

NOT BE AN ARSEHOLE.

It's so easy. So simple. You must be inferior if you can't do it.

[Anonymous]

That kind of comment used to give me pause. Now, I embrace it as someone being upfront, and it’s easy to remember to remind them of name until no longer needed to do so.

[Anonymous]

OMG no it's not rude. I repeat my name, re-introduce myself as often as necessary. We have so many people we know from so many different circles. If people are out of context, it can be difficult to place someone. I like to make people feel at ease, like most (non-arrogant) people do who have manners. I laugh it off. We think of how we know each other and share tidbits so that next time it may be more memorable. If not, that's OKAY. I'll tell them who I am again and how they know me.

It's the height of hubris to be all "don't u noe who i AM?"

[Anonymous]

My DH is awesome with faces, terrible with names. If we run into someone he knows and doesn't remember the name, he says "this is my wife Larla" and the other person says their name. Or I say, "I'm Larla, nice to meet you" and the other person says their name.

[Anonymous]

This is such an ableist mentality. Just get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH is awesome with faces, terrible with names. If we run into someone he knows and doesn't remember the name, he says "this is my wife Larla" and the other person says their name. Or I say, "I'm Larla, nice to meet you" and the other person says their name.

This is me too. Including the spouse strategy. I am very good at remembering everything else. I've tried all of the tricks and it's a weird blindspot I can't fix.