Comments on: Incog-recognito

By: OmbudsBen

OmbudsBen — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:07:48 +0000

I wonder if it has something to do with language itself. That words and names are things we later apply to reality, but are an artifical label.

QM, it’s interesting that you will remember the realities of these people’s lives, but not the name/label for the persons themselves. Stevo, I wish I had your knack! Details elude me until I know them well. But I guess we all wish we had the ability we’re short of, huh?

By: Stevo

Stevo — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:28:32 +0000

I’ll confess that I can remember faces (crystal clear, with details), but not that attached names. I forget them a millisecond after they are said. I’ve worked hard to change this, but it’s hopeless. You are in good company.

By: QuoinMonkey

QuoinMonkey — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:54:56 +0000

I remember faces and can place them in time but am terrible with names. It’s something I really have to work at. I can spend a week in a writing retreat with 20 people and only know 1/4 of their names. Yet, I know everything about them from their reading and from watching them and their faces. Strange.

I’ve never understood this about myself. And I’m glad there are others who suffer from various forms of face/name amnesia. I see I am in good company! Thanks, Ben.

By: ombudsben

ombudsben — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:20:35 +0000

“you keep the connection in general but experience this as feeling that the person has been replaced by an alien”

Oh my freakin’ god. just when you thought you knew most of the bizarre things that might afflict a body, something like this pops up. Yeeep!

Btw, aos, it’s actually my inability to even recognize th face that I’m writing about.

By: aos

aos — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 16:45:05 +0000

I too have trouble with names despite having good face memory. If I am in one of those situations where someone is going around the group and throwing more than four names out I don’t even bother. The disconnect of two types of information that tend to go together reminded me of the recent news item regarding Tony Rosati (Canadian comedian from SCTV then SNL for a season)(http://www.thestar.com/News/article/213298). He had been in and out of institutions for the last decade because he was a danger to his wife. Turns out he has Capgras syndrome. This is when you recognize the face but lose the emotional connection to it (you keep the connection in general but experience this as feeling that the person has been replaced by an alien).

By: ombudsben

ombudsben — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:37:16 +0000

Ybonesy, I have to say that, if it were recent and unique, I’d be worried. (As it is, I’m a bit embarrassed, as appreciate that he laughed it off. The upside is — I’m not too likely to forget that face now.)

A, why I’m I’m — wait a minute. Let me run home and check the name taped atop my bathroom mirror.

By: amuirin

amuirin — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 07:09:08 +0000

*blinks*

This is interesting, and all, but…who are you?

By: ybonesy

ybonesy — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:18:39 +0000

I often run into people who I interacted with through work or common interests, people who you would expect I’d never forget based on the quality of interactions we’ve had. But if enough time passes, that person’s image in my memory fades. But this experience of yours sounds like not enough time had passed to warrant such a fading, which leads me to believe, unfortunately, that you are sufferring from early onset Alzheimers. Just kidding.