Unforgettable
Posted by Cottontimer on 15 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: Thoughts
A good memory is a key ingredient for success.
I have a fairly decent memory for most things except numbers and Chinese names. Pathetic considering my own name is Chinese.
David Brooks of the New York Times says that more and more of us are suffering from information acceleration syndrome in which “more data is coursing through everybody’s brains, but less of it actually sticks.” Here’s his solution to meeting a person who you can’t seem to remember at all:
“You have no idea who I am, do you?”
You can’t tell the truth. That would be an admission of social defeat. The only possible response is: “Of course, I know who you are. You’re the hooker who hangs around on 14th Street most Saturday nights.”
My own solution is pretty straightforward. I usually confess to not being able to recall the person’s name.
“I’m sorry, I can’t quite remember your name.”
It’s really not such a big deal, is it?
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I usually do admit to remembering them but not their name. I have a tendency to remember better if they write it out for me. I’d much rather be honest about it than beat around the bush as I have before! oh the stories of times I stuck my foot in my mouth! Funny now, but not worth repeating!!
On this note, hubby’s friend had called the other day and called me “hi, N’s wife!” He later in the conversation confessed he had forgotten my name! It was a bit weird since we had hung out with his wife and hubby several times, two-on-two! But I guess it took him courage to admit it!
Hi Smitha! I do find I have a harder time with non-Anglo, traditional names. I should try to pay more attention to international news so as to retrain my brain.