Because I suck at remembering names

This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on November 15, 2003). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

Vogue regulars I met tonight that I should remember the names of:

Ron: spoke with him up in the DJ booth for a while, on everything from the Vogue to Seattle weather.

Rhonda: friends with and works with Trish.

Sylvie: had the cute purple knit hat with fur trim to match her coat (because they both had fur trim, not because the colors matched). Has a boyfriend whose name I didn’t catch.

Christina: great 40’s (?) style hat. I complimented her on her hat, then Sylvie introduced us. Sylvie then proceeded to embarrass Christina by remarking that she had “great tits” (I certainly wasn’t about to argue, but rather than agree and make an ass out of myself, I merely kept my mouth shut), encouraging me to talk to Christina, and then declaring that I should be taken home by Christina and Josh, who was also talking to Christina.

Josh: the aforementioned person also talking to Christina, who wearing a top hat. Apparently this was a good night for good hats.

None of this will mean anything to anyone else. It’s mostly here for my own reference, in a (probably futile) effort to drill the names into my head for more than a few hours.

4 thoughts on “Because I suck at remembering names”

  1. Remmebering names names is one of the skills I would like to learn the most. So many situation that could be avoided if I only rememberd the name of the person I spent about 2 hours talking to. Being a foreigener in Scotland with an odd and short name, everybody knows my name and I know hardly anyones.

  2. I too suck at names, well I used to. I’m much better now because I have learned a trick.
    When meeting and talking to someone, say their name out loud three times during the conversation.
    Work it in somehow.

    Yes David you’re right about that. No David I’ll have to disagree on that one. Wow..That David is a crazy guy.

    Just find a way to work it in. The fact that you say it out loud somehow imprints the name in your mind. It works better if you say their name to them. Rather than saying it to someone else. That works as well but takes more time.

    We (people in general) love to hear our own name, Its been proven time and time again. So you don’t have to worry about sounding like a jackass.

    It works for me, you may want to try it.

  3. It may also help to associate people with certain things, like the hats. Like “Posh Josh with the TopHat” and eventually top hat reminds you of “Posh, which rhymes with Josh.” The more outrageous the better. But it has to be links that work for you. Saying their name three times is a good one also.

  4. I really suck at remembering peoples names which is a great hinderance to me now that I have married into a big jewish family. So I have perfected a foolproof way to remember people now… when they say, “Hello dez how are you?” I counter with a nod and a smile and a “Hi, how are you?” then run to Mitch and ask who the hell said hello to me. I figure smiling and nodding is the best way to remember names… Or if you work in coffee… you never remember names, you just remember drinks… so it’s “Hi Dez” and a “Hey double tall skinny latte with a shot of raspberry how are you?” is my reply.

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