Yesterday I took Thing 2 to a friend’s house for a play date. The mom asked me if we’d met before. I told her, in fact, this was our third meeting, and we moved on.
It got me to thinking though: I feel like the number of people who do not remember me is higher than ‘usual’ whatever usual is. I may have mentioned the neighbor across the street who, every time she sees me on the school bus stop, looks at me as if it’s for the first time.
(source)
There are more occasions I won’t bore you with where people simply have no recollection of ever seeing me before. Not that this is a big deal. My ego is not so huge that I require everyone to stop and take notice of me when I enter a room. In fact, I think there’s much to be said for anonymity.
But what if people are so forgetful because I am not making a good first impression, or any impression for that matter?
Who do you notice?
- Someone larger than life? Um, I’m 5’2″
- Someone loud? Not me either.
- Flashily dressed? I looked at my coats: 2 olive 2 black, 2 white. No flash here.
I probably get noticed the most at races, likely because of this blog and the fact that I love me some hi-viz gear.
So does it bother me that I am often overlooked in ‘civilian’ life? Not really. But I’d rather not be seen as a boring, shrinking violet. I guess being overlooked is better than being known for rudeness, complaining, etc.
Or maybe people are so wrapped up in their own affairs, they simply aren’t mindful when they interact with others?
Typically I’m very good at remembering names and faces. Except one time when my mom and I were in the bakery dept at Costco of all places. A guy putting out pies stopped me and said “you’re Marcia aren’t you?” Stunned, I had no freaking clue who this guy was.
Me: “Yes, do I know you?”
Then he goes: “We went to high school together. I was a year behind you. I was on the swim team and I’d always see you in the dance studio when I passed by on my way to practice.”
Me: Blank. I never knew this guy. I had a stalker/admirer? and didn’t even know it until a bazillion years later! Maybe it’s better that way. And now here he is arranging pies…
Apparently someone remembered me.
Are you good at remembering names and faces? Do people remember you?
I am AWFUL at names and faces. I’m super lame.
I’ve had people recognize me in local races, and I’m always befuddled – I don’t think I would recognize anyone from the internet if I saw them in real life.
I can vaguely remember names and faces from people from school. I did have someone recognize me yesterday at an event from the blog. I felt like a celebrity. I could remember blogger faces if they are someone I read often.
You should’ve flirted with him and got a free pie!
I feel like most people remember me…but I am fairly outgoing and loud so I’m sure that helps. Maybe they wish they didn’t remember me!
I have a photographic memory so I am really good at remembering faces…not so good at the names though!
No one ever remembers me. I just don’t have that kinda face. It seems like I remember people from places and they look at me like that lady looks at you at the bus stop.
I’m not sure what makes me remember people. If it’s someone from blogging or who I’ve met racing, I definitely make more of an effort to cement their name in my porous brain. Usually I’m pretty good at it, though I had a very embarrassing and OBVIOUS slip up this weekend where I first introduced someone wrong and then clearly didn’t realize he was the person I’d spent 8 hours in the woods with volunteering at a race. Doh! It wasn’t that I didn’t remember him, I just had mistaken him for someone else.
I regular (non training or racing) life, I’m not so good with names. I kind of live in my own little world, and usually the names evaporate as soon as I hear them. Facebook is both a blessing and a curse for this, because I know more about people thanks to their online presence, but it’s sometimes hard to recognize folks from their profile pictures.
People regularly recognize me at races from my blog (I’m sure the braids and the tall socks help). That’s pretty cool. It’s a little weirder when people around town recognize me and it’s pretty clear that they know me from my blog but I have no idea who they are.
Not entirely related….but I’ve noticed that my memory for people’s faces/names has gotten worse. I can think of at least three occasions recently where I’ve called someone by the wrong name–I almost always realize it immediately after doing it, and I hate myself for it. I don’t know what to do about this, and I wonder if I’m just too distracted and/or online too much, and this is a sign I need to stop multi-tasking….
If it’s any consolation, I think you are very memorable, in a good way. :^)
Unfortunately I think that’s just the way our world is these days. People tend to not take the time to notice others. I’m a pharmacist so I make it a point to know most of my patients names. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes when we call them by their names. I love how happy it makes them 🙂
I absolutely suck at remembering faces/names.
I am often overlooked in public – I think it’s because I stand a whopping 4’10” and am the size of a 5th grade student and people assume I’m a child. (but I don’t *feel* little!!!) I hate standing at the meat counter at Whole Foods – I’m often overlooked there – but of course from the other side they can probably only see the top of my head! pluses and minuses.. 🙂
ooh, that is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves. if i don’t know your name,i definitely know the face. I am a loud person and you would think that would stand out, but it doesn’t and i definitely know how you feel. i think i am good at remembering faces-names are tough-but i try to play a quick game to remember them (especially if i am at some place new or big)
The same thing happens to me. There is a lady that goes to many of our family functions who I have met at least 8 times and every time she introduces herself as if we have never met. I can’t stand it!! I want to scream, “we’ve met several times already!” but I don’t. I can remember faces, but am really bad at names. Wish I was better:)
How odd that people do not recall you! I make it a point to remember people’s names and faces, but I do know others who do not. So maybe people are rude and just don’t care? 🙁
I am bad. I remember people’s dog’s names but not always their names! But see I am a big dog lover so that is why I pay attention.
For example, I went to a new dentist today. He has a lovely little charcoal poodle in his office named Ebony, but I’ll be darned if I can remember HIS name.
I am forgettable too. But I think it is better than being remembered for being rude, loud, and the like.
People remember me because I’m the crazy person with curly wild pink hair who brings her dog everywhere with her. Sometimes it’s good not to be noticed :).
I’m terrible at remembering people’s names, but I always recognize faces. I tend to give people nicknames in my head when I don’t know their names. That can backfire, though, if I ever use the name out loud.
I’m pretty good at remembering faces and names. However, I’m not sure people remember me when they see me.
I am horrible at names but good with faces
I am sure I would recognize you!
Purple…orange….!
For me…I am 5’11” since the 6th grade..and blonde so back home people would usually remember me
Here I am still all that plus I have this huge accent…so they remember also…it is not always a good thing…:)
I think I am pretty good at remembering people I meet
I think it is from coaching all these yrs. I would meet new families every year…
i’m not good with remembering people’s names. i’ll be thinking for days “who was that person, they looked familiar”. lol. sometimes i think people just forget, but sometimes i think they’re too full of themselves too.
Of course, yes I do remember you. You are that awesome caring runner that every one admires, and an awesome mommy and everything else. I have to remember 200 people that I supervise. When I forget there name and ask……..What was your last name again? Then I remember their first. lol. Associative thinking process or some crap like that.
I’m not good with names so when I remember someone’s name that obviously forgot mine, I make sure to say have a nice day (insert name here) and get the ” you too man” response:-)
Too funny. Today on my flight I recognized a person that use to do ISO audits on our company. Ivemet her maybe 5 times for an hour and I remembered her name! She obviously didn’t remember mine so I was nice and offered it up :-).