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Remembering names

post #1 of 30
3/11/09 at 12:59pm
Thread Starter 
Although I am able to remember minute details of a conversation I've had with someone well after the fact, I am terrible at remembering their name, particularly if the name is an ethnic one. This causes some discomfort when I see the person again, and I try to put myself in a position where I don't have to address them by name. Is there an easy way to improve my ability to remember names, or a graceful way to inform someone I have forgotten their name?
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post #2 of 30
3/11/09 at 1:02pm
I suck at names, too. I think this is mostly because I'm a visual person, so when I see a person, I see a face, and whatever they said didn't necessarily register.
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post #3 of 30
3/11/09 at 1:04pm
this is my trick. say the name out loud after you hear it. then a moment later, use it again, like "it was shannon, wasn't it?"----or whatever his/her name is. then make an association with some physical or otherwise outstanding feature. like if you meet a Trudy with a large posterior, say in your head, "trudy with booty" or somesuch. if the association is inappropriate, so much the better.
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post #4 of 30
3/11/09 at 1:06pm
Al-ban-i-a, Al-ban-i-a
You border on the Adriatic
Your land is mostly mountainous
And your chief export is wheat.

No real tricks for name recall - some people are good at it, others have real problems. As far as the graceful confession goes, one can forestall the embarassment fairly easily, but if necessary, just do a simple sincere "I'm terribly sorry, but I've forgotten your name..."
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post #5 of 30
3/11/09 at 1:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by romafan View Post
No real tricks for name recall - some people are good at it, others have real problems. As far as the graceful confession goes, one can forestall the embarassment fairly easily, but if necessary, just do a simple sincere "I'm terribly sorry, but I've forgotten your name..."

+1. My short term memory is horrible these days, and it's probably better at least for me to get the pain out of the way upfront, before it deteriotates into "So, Mulva...."
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post #6 of 30
3/11/09 at 1:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spatlese View Post
+1. My short term memory is horrible these days, and it's probably better at least for me to get the pain out of the way upfront, before it deteriotates into "So, Mulva...."
Rhymes with Vulva! LOL.
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post #7 of 30
3/11/09 at 1:53pm
Wait.....Delores!!!
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post #8 of 30
3/11/09 at 2:00pm
ummm...
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post #9 of 30
3/11/09 at 2:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by romafan View Post
Wait.....Delores!!!

Anus?
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post #10 of 30
3/11/09 at 2:06pm
Reminds me of this bar I found in Osaka:
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post #11 of 30
3/11/09 at 2:09pm
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post #12 of 30
3/11/09 at 2:15pm
The Japanese take on English brands name and T-shirt slogans are sometimes incredibly hilarious
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post #13 of 30
3/11/09 at 3:03pm
I also suck at remembering names too but I'm very proactive.

I say "Hay, how y'all doing" and just keep going so the other guy has no chance to talk.
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post #14 of 30
3/11/09 at 3:49pm
Pretty terrible at the name remembering thing myself, if I have to remember them I usually try and jot them down at some stage, I can usually remember which one belongs to whom at least.

But the thing that works best in my experience, is the technique already mentioned of using their name in conversation several times with them when you are first introduced/meet them. It seems to be something a lot of American's I have met do, it is a habit I am trying to acquire.
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post #15 of 30
3/11/09 at 3:58pm
There's no real need to remember names... Men can all be bro, chief or buddy. Women prefer sweetheart, darling or sugarpie with a little Southern twang. And heck, if you have trouble with ethnic names just pick a celebrity whom they remind you of and use that... like "whatever Bruce Lee" or "no problem Denzel" I'm sure these ideas will work just fine for you
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