Thursday, October 7, 2010

What's in a Name?




I was walking through the mall one day when I heard my name being called by an unfamiliar voice. I turned around and saw this guy walking towards me with a big smile, his hand extended. I shook it and realized, to my embarrassment, that he knew me quite well, and that I couldn't remember him at all.

You know how there are people who are bad at names and good at remembering faces? Or who are bad at faces but good at remembering names? Well, I'm neither. I'm one of those unlucky bastards who are bad at both. Which is hell for someone as socially awkward as I am. I'm already bad at small talk, why would the universe add the fact that I had to fake-know someone into that equation?

This situation is a regular occurrence in my life. I would meet someone whose name and face I didn't know or recognize, but who would talk to me with such obvious familiarity that I knew I was going to hurt his feelings if I suddenly asked how I knew him. So, as confrontation-averse as I am, I would usually stand there hoping the conversation would end soon, and that whomever I was talking to at the moment would never realize I was only fake-knowing him.

This is a mistake. Here's why: there is a small window of opportunity where one person can still ask another person his name, and how they know each other, without being rude. It's definitely in the first five minutes of the conversation. After 20 mins of talking, it's just weird, but still doable. After the initial conversation, the window is gone. The next conversation will not only be weird, but if you ask him his name, he will probably feel humiliated and awkward, and you will be a jackass.

Which is why I now have countless acquaintances who I keep bumping into whose names I still don't know, but who I recognize now because I keep remembering them as the people whose names I can't remember. I actually have several "friends" I fake-know, and who I sincerely hope never ever realize I've been fake knowing all this time. Sometimes I give them fake names in my head. "Oh my god, it's orange-shirt guy. I need to act like I'm looking for something really important in my bag so that it seems like I didn't really ignore him; I was just busy looking for that something important in my bag that may or may not be able cure the world of cancer."

So, going back to the anecdote, there I was, feeling like a fool, hoping the conversation would end soon before he realized I was really just faking my way through his stories. I figured I could still give him a couple of minutes before I excused myself to go.

That was, until my friend came along and joined us. And of course the polite thing to do in that situation is to introduce them, and I would have wanted to do that, except I couldn't because you can't introduce your friend to a (practically) nameless stranger, and not if the stranger assumed he wasn't a stranger in the first place.

So a moment of silence. Awkward, awkward silence. I stood there grinning like an idiot because I knew both of them were expecting me to introduce them to each other. More silence. I decided, fuck it, let's do this.

"Hey, this is my friend Mike," I said. Period. Finito. I knew there was a second half to it, but really, I couldn't just pick a name out of a hat right? I mean I could, but that would be rude. "Patrick, your name is Patrick? Are you sure? You look like a Peter to me," I might have said.

Another heartbeat of silence. Then the guy looked at me, smiled sheepishly, and introduced himself to my friend. I smiled back, and tried to make my face look like I knew his name all that time, but that I only didn't know how to make proper introductions. Which I realized would also make me look like an idiot. There was no winning this thing.


Photo taken here.

61 comments:

  1. I think this is a situation we've all found ourselves in, one time or another.

    Nowadays I simply 'fess up and say "I'm so sorry, I forgot your name. You are...?"

    Which works much better than "I never forget a face I've sat upon."

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  2. Maybe you really DON'T know them!! And you're a stalker magnet!!!

    Alternatively, now that you've outed yourself (above) just make it all about you and say 'I'm crap at remembering names so I'll leave you to introduce each other!'

    Happy travels!
    Adventures in Australia

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  3. This is so funny, not 'cos it hasn't ever happened to me but 'cos of how you handled it.
    I consider myself good with names AND faces (don't hate!). I don't know how the faces bit works, but what I do with the names is spell the names mentally or associate it with a known name-sake.
    You might want to try that but what ever you do, don't allow a repeat of the narrated incident. Snatch your window of opportunity and jot down names and physical descriptions if you have to. Lol

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  4. This happened to me one time...and I got a guilty/bad feeling afterwards.

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  5. I blunt and honest. Really couldn't care less what people think of what I have to say. So if I run into someone that I can't remember their name I make a joke about how I've had a blonde moment and can't get their name out. They usually just chuckle and spit it out.

    CBG
    canadianbloggergirl.blogspot.com

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  6. Naturally, that badge would then continue "Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

    I am terrible with both names and faces, myself. People who seem to know me introduce themselves to me, and all I can do is nod and mumble "yes, yes," while I search my memory like a tremendously frazzled librarian.

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  7. I'm usually really good with names/faces because I was a fundraiser, but I can't remember people from a very long time ago. You are totally right, though, you have to catch it fast. Once you Ia person's name, my trick is you have to say the name three times in your fist conversation to imprint it in my memory.

    The thing I often do, is after a person introduces themselves, I forget their name three seconds later and have to ask them again. Occasionally, there will be a person that, no matter what, I cannot remember their name. And you can only ask a person their name so many times in one conversation.

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  8. I'm bad at remembering names.. one time I even forgot my cousin's name.. and I don't know whom to ask..

    I hope if that situation came to my life, I could use that 5 minutes you are saying to find out about his name..

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  9. Oy! I can see that happening to me. I barely remember faces let alone attach names to them either!

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  10. I remember names better than faces most of the time which unfortunately results in calling people by the wrong name. Ah well. I've never been in a situation like yours, but I can see myself doing that.

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  11. I am in the exact same boat as you are!! There are times when I can't even remember the names of people I have worked with for 10 years!! So I feel your pain:)

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  12. This happens to me all the time. It took awhile to figure out who most of these weird random strangers were but it dawned on me eventually. I used to have a job where we hired a crop of interns each college semester. usually 10 - 12 of them. And I had this job for about 7 years.

    So 10 - 12 interns times three semesters per year times 7 years. Yeah, thats a lot of people that I do not remember at all - but apparently they all remember me, I always was kind of a jack ass.

    SD
    http://simpledudecomplexworld.blogspot.com/

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  13. Do you think you've ever tried to fake-know someone who is fake-knowing you? You know if there was only a fake recognition between you lol

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  14. LOL... I remember faces but dont always know where I remember them from and fake it hoping they will say something to trigger where I know them. But names...I am horrible with...Thats why I never use names...This situation would have got me caught up but I woulda done the same as you lol

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  15. My husband is aweful with names, great with faces. I learned this early on in our relationship. We have a system now. If he is talking to someone I don't know, I introduce myself, forcing the other "no name" person to then introduce them self. Situation avoided!

    http://shutterbugmama2010.blogspot.com/

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  16. hehehehe... I have the same situation, only that my social life is yet to open up. So a little less embarrassing till now. Hope I get better at it ASAP.

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  17. Yup, been there. Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog, which led me to yours. I've enjoyed wandering about here--your 'random randomness' cracks me up.

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  18. You are so funny. I just always tell the person up front that I don't remember their name, although I don't ever tell them I don't remember them at all, if that's the case. When they leave I write their name down, so hopefully next time I can somehow look at my list and figure out who they are. I have quite a few names written down.

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  19. I know exactly how you feel. It takes me forever to learn someone's name, but somehow I have gotten away with the faces. Even then it's a not very good thing to go by. =/

    http://theadorkableditzmissteps.blogspot.com/

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  20. This happens to me often as well. I'm terrible with both names and faces. Sometimes there will be the air of familiarity with a face, but I really can never place them. I never remember anyone's names. It's especially bad when someone tells me their name and I forget within five minutes and I have to keep asking who they are. It's terrible when a person knows who I am and they strike up a conversation and I just stand there like a fool grinning because I have no idea who they are. I'm sad to say this happens often, but it's good to know I'm not alone.

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  21. Last time this happened to me...was at a job interview. I knew that I knew the girl, but I couldn't remember her name or where I knew her from. We had trained together 14 years earlier, and I knew her for about a year and saw her once or twice after the that. The worst part is that her name is very memorable because her first and last names rhyme.

    Anyway, I have the same problem (but this is a later life problem - when I was in my 20s I remembered every name and face) with names. However, when I try the non-introduction prompt, the unknown person always just says "Hi. Nice to meet you!" and never gives their name. Frustrating!

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  22. I remember names of people I've met recently but if someone reappears in my life after a few years my mind can be a total blank, even if I met them regularly at one time. I can't for the life of me think who it is or how I happened to know them. I have to prompt them and then feign some convincing reason why I forgot them (It's been so long, you look different etc)

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  23. How nice of you to pretend you were me in this story! ;0 - Hello, my name is Kristen and I can't remember a name to save my life and I always describe the person to someone else completley wrong! -they had red hair, I pictured it black.... ugh. I DO feel better though!

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  24. Oh God yes! I'm pathetic at names. When I was young I was very good at faces but years of working in the public has put an end to that also. Seeing someone "out of place" that I know them from sends me for a loop.

    Thanks, now I don't feel so alone.

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  25. LOL~!
    Something slightly worse happened to me. Woman comes up to me in the grocery store, greets me by name, tells me she has lovely photos of me and her from the last time. AND a DVD. Complete and utter blank on my part.
    I said "I'd love to see them - should I come up and..."
    "Tomorrow", she says, "cup of tea at 10?"
    and she charges off.
    I still don't have a clue, it is like a black hole in my brain and twelve months later she is still waiting for me. And I haven't seen her since.
    we should all have name tags and a bit of history pinned to our shirts.
    Xo
    WWW

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  26. My trick which may be utterly ridiculous. After hanging out with them once or twice I give them nickname like you but always call them that because well I'm horrible with names except for the ones I've given them. I tell them from now on there this ___ to me because well otherwise I'd have no clue. I have friends whom I call Fish (chicken little), and even Cracker because her last name was Graham. My small talk skills are also lacking so when it comes to those little moments how are you fine, I tend to be like oh now what. Just so you know your not alone =]

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  27. It helps to have a throw-away nickname handy to address a person in that situation. You can't call someome "Pal" or "Buddy" because that is too obvious. But "Chachi", "Scooter" and "Stretch" could all be seen as playful attempts at being overly familiar.

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  28. Yah I'm with Canadian Blogger Girl..I've done that. I think it's fair to say we've all done it once or twice..found ourselves in that situation. And people are generally pretty good about it. I can thikn of one person in my life who would be pissed if I forgot her name, but other than that...go on..forget! It's kinda fun to laugh about it later anyway...isn't it?

    What was your name again? ;-)

    http://cinderitaadventures.blogspot.com/

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  29. I agree. Name tags should be obligatory. Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  30. You know, for as funny and entertaining as this post is, I could hardly laugh. I think it hit a little too close to home, as it's happened to me WAAAAY too often in the past. Gah!

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  31. Not quite lol status, maybe lqtm (laugh quietly to myself) status. Good post.

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  32. Yikes! What awful situation to be put in! I feel for you. I hate when I forget names of people who know mine *this actually happened to me in Gym class the other day, where a bunch of girls were calling my name and hugging me and I didn't know ANY of their names...good thing we all have our names on our t-shirts though!* it makes me feel absolutely dreadful, cause names are really important. It states who a person is, and just expresses that person. Like I can't ever imagine changing my name cause I'm a Talia. It's just unthinkable. Great post! =)

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  33. I virtually never remember someone's name the first time I met them AND I can't recognize anyone out of context. Its a deadly combination. So I laugh and exclaim that my mind has gone blank and they will have to introduce themselves. And then I try to pay attention as they are saying their names.

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  34. Totally been there. And hopefully you'll remember my name. Don't worry about remembering my face because you'll probably never see it.

    Much love,
    Leia

    http://yesliketheprincessinstarwars.blogspot.com

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  35. I've been to a lot of situation like this... Hahaha! Good thing, coz now I know how to do the segue or excuses . . .

    sometimes i just look at the ID's, or name tags etc...

    if none, ill just be honest and tell them that i i've forgotten their names then will just crack a joke or two to lessen the embarrassment.

    At least I'm not pretending that I knew them though really I don't... (please don't get offended)

    Its been a while, since the last time I read your blog. Got pretty busy lately. Still, you're really a very good writer FC

    have a good one!

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  36. thanks for your comment and love your writing!!

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  37. such an amazing writer.
    such a meaningful blog.

    im a new follower :]



    <3 dennica pearl
    - through the eyes of a pearl
    - vintage shop

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  38. i feel for you. that always happens to me. sometimes it really sucks being a memorable person, and not having a wonderful memory.. ah well, at least i can relate when people cant remember my name...

    in reply to your comment: at least now i know that you have your own tastes for dresses and gowns and such =)

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  39. I forget everyone's name! It's always worse when you're on the spot too. It's like I hear the Jeopardy music in my head and when the buzzer goes off, it becomes SOOO awkward. Then there was a time like you describe when a woman started telling me how good it was to see me again and I had no idea who she was. Didn't know if she was crazy or I had dementia!

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  40. This happens to me all the time, which sucks, because it's a huge part of my job to know who people are (and I absolutely do not)! ha, in fact, about 10 years ago, same scene. At the mall with a friend and a man approaches me, "Hi V" -- my first name really isn't Kay. Anyways, he approaches smiling excited to see me, he is a somewhat familiar face... kind of... but what is his name... I clearly had no idea (as I wear my emotions on my sleeve) and he introduces himself to my friend, Rick. Oh yeah! Uncle Rick, how you doing?

    A major O-M-G moment. On my own behalf, the man lives so far away and I see him about once every 10 years... we laugh about it now.

    But year to date, did it just last weekend. Meeting a friend for brunch, run into one of my ex-employees, we are chatting, my friend finally shows up .... and DUH!

    Feel your pain. Feel it all the time...

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  41. Story of my (social) life.

    Most of the time though, I get lucky and common friends arrive. Then I get to listen for the person's name. :))

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  42. We have the exact same problem! But what's worse is when I try telling a story about this certain person not knowing I was pertaining already to the one I'm talking to because gasp I completely forget faces and names! Great post, made me laugh, love the way you right. Very very witty!:-)

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  43. I have the advantage of age and can get away with blaming my memory for not being able to a name to a face. I do not find it embarrassing at all, again for the same reason of being a senior citizen.

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  44. w.o.w.i hate names.they just make the world more complicated. And if your name sucks, well, it makes you suck too. which sucks.

    www.mylifenawtyours.blogspot.com

    did i mention ur the first person who actually commented and I don't know you?

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  45. You are not alone as you can plainly read / see. That happens to me as well and I never know how to say “ummm I forgot your name.” Sometimes if I think the person will not be offended I just say outright that I’m a bit of a boob and forgot their name. So far I believe this works…or at least I haven’t been told to my face how insulted they were. Any tips on how to admit you forgot the person’s name and not feel or look like an ass?

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  46. This got a few giggles out of me, simply because I know the feeling! Unless in an excitable mood, I too am terrible at the small talk, and to be doing it with a complete stranger (who really isn't a stranger) would be quite the task!!

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  47. you have been tagged, check out my blog for details...

    amberlashell.com

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  48. You have just reminded me of a conversation I had with someone on the moors near my house, a lady and man were walking up thye hill that I was walking down and I started off the conversation with hello, how are you I haven't seen you for ages. I thought I knew her and we carried on having a chat about nothing much but as it went on I realised I couldn't remember where I knew her from so I said I couldn't remember where I knew her from. We told each other where we worked, what we did in spare time etc then we both realised we didn't know each other and laughed about it, her partner shook his head and off we went on our way. I would like to say she bacame a good friend as she was lovely but I have never seen her since and don't think I would remember her if I fell over her. I love your blog it sparks off so many thoughts and memories

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  49. I have the exact same thing. It even goes as far as my family reunions. There are tons of people there that look familiar...sort of... but their names... no can do.
    I have finally put it all out there for a friend of mine. If a new person comes up to us all happy and I do not say "hey sazy this is such and such" within the first thirty seconds she puts her hand out and says "hi I am sazy how do you know Jody"
    I get their name and how we met lol
    So far it has worked like a charm.

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  50. I'm lucky in that I never forget a face, but my problem lies in my bad eyesight. If I'm not wearing my glasses I have to be less than 10 feet from someone to see who it is. I've ignored a lot of people I know by not waving or shouting hi because I was scared it may be a stranger and I didn't want to be some random weird girl shouting at them

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  51. yeah remembering names is a pain sometimes, especially when you've yet to make a connection with that person and, no offense meant, if the person's face is not particularly memorable.

    cheers dude!

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  52. paumanhin kung walang kinalaman sa blog post na ito ang aking komento..nagsagawa kasi ako ng 'back reading' sa mga post mo at lubos akong natuwa sa aking mga nabasa..napakahusay mo!

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  53. HAHAHA oh man, I feel you on the introduction thing. I do that multiple times... I'm good with faces though...

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  54. this happens to me quite a lot LOL :) funny anecdote

    xo, cherie of Parade of Dresses

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  55. always happens to me.... and I usually do one of a couple of things.

    1) I ask him directly if I feel I only met him once or twice and in passing before. Otherwise, I just 'fess up early. Like in the second sentence and just say something like this is really embarassing but your name escapes me.

    2) if he hasn't mentioned your name, it's highly likely he also forgot your name, so I would go and re-introduce myself first. They usually reciprocate.

    3) If I'm with a friend I would just go "Excuse me for a while. Guys, introduce yourselves to each other!" with a big smile on my face and pretend that I am checking a cute guy who passed by and apologize for being rude after.

    4) At a party, I would pretend to be drunk out of my head and make up a name that is out there (but not an embarassing one) and introduce him to another friend and let him straighten it out. Like Moira, Gustav etc.

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  56. I'm laughing because you sound exactly like me. I was talking to this one mother in my sons' grade for weeks before I remembered her name. It's worse when you're walking along and someone calls out "Hey Shannon", and I'm like.."Oh, Hey.......you!" I'm terrible!

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  57. This made me giggle.
    I'm a politician's daughter, and I've learned the easiest way to handle those situations is to do exactly that: introduce a friend, if one's available. If not... be enthusiastic... and then be REALLY enthusiastic about how you'd love to stay and chat but you have an oh-so-important appointment that you just can't miss and LEAVE!

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  58. As an academic who's taught countless classes and employed many students it's rare to remember
    names and those that I do are usually for the wrong reasons like confrontations in the office over bad grades. Some years ago I had a student come to my office to complain about a grade on a history paper. I'd given him a D. I told him I'd be happy to reread the paper but that the grade could go up or down. Upon rereading I realized that the student hadn't answered any of the questions and lowered the grade to an F. Livid with rage the student charged out of my office shouting that I'd better not meet him in a dark alley. I still remember his name....

    Your blog is terrific..

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