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Original poster

I don't recognise people

64 replies

GilmoreMe · 15/03/2019 20:08

I've always been the same, I don't recognise people's faces if they're not where I expect them to be.
People have always thought me rude and stand offish because I ignore them but actually I simply haven't realised it was them. On a day out in London a couple stopped and spoke to my husband and me and were really friendly and it took them mentioning my brother and sister in law for me to realise they were her parents - who I've known for about 11 years and met countless times. Scenarios like this happen all the time and I never ever recognise people on TV if they're on a different programme as a different character.
Is this a thing? Or just me?

OP posts:
MoMandaS · 15/03/2019 20:09

It's a thing: prosopagnosia, otherwise known as 'face blindness".

Bloodybridget · 15/03/2019 20:10

It is a thing, prosopagnosia.

Bloodybridget · 15/03/2019 20:11

Snap!

AntiHop · 15/03/2019 20:11

Yes face blindness. I have it mildly - I usually don't recognise people until I've met them a couple of times.

Howzaboutye · 15/03/2019 20:22

It's common if you have Aspergers. Which many women won't have had a diagnosis for.
Folk just think you are rude!

DelurkingAJ · 15/03/2019 20:41

Argh! My sympathy - I spend a lot of time at work calling people nothing because there’s too much danger I’ll get their name wrong. And socially isn’t much better. DH is good at covering for me.

Windingstreams · 15/03/2019 20:43

It’s a medical condition but I thought it applied to all faces - so even those you know really well like partners. I don’t recognise people I’ve met a number of times, particularly if in a different situations it’s really hard

Ellieboolou27 · 15/03/2019 20:45

Face blindness? I read a book about it recently and was bloody terrifying - sorry op not helpful!

junebirthdaygirl · 15/03/2019 20:47

Yes it's a proper thing but must be stressful. I have the opposite and so has dad. We never forget a face and end up smiling like idiots at people who have no idea who we are.

Splodgetastic · 15/03/2019 20:49

I can totally relate. If I see someone in the wrong context, e.g., in the lift lobby rather than the actual office or my neighbour in the supermarket, I will often have problems. I rely on voice, clothes etc. It took me years to realise this, but my DH kept saying “you don’t know who that is, do you?” when we would pass neighbours in the street. If I know someone really well or they are very distinctive I may be okay, but sometimes I don’t always recognise DH.

S1naidSucks · 15/03/2019 20:49

I’m the same and I run my own business. If I meet you with your dog, I can remember it’s name, it’s favourite toy, etc, but not your name or face. It’s incredibly embarrassing, so I’ve taken to telling people that I suffer from face blindness and to never take it personally.

Windingstreams · 15/03/2019 21:40

I can’t think of how people look in my head either, I’m sure it’s related

ALargeGinPlease · 15/03/2019 22:14

Yep, me too. Can't recognise people, can't picture them in my mind's eye.
I overcompensate, so if someone catches my eye, I will smile in a friendly fashion, so they don't know I haven't a clue who they are. I'm sure they're are many times I've smiled at complete strangers as if I know them. Thinking about it now, perhaps they go off wondering if they do actually know me, but can't place me, when in fact we have never met.
I now rely on my eldest DD as my people recogniser and will whisper 'who's that' to her, when I meet people who expect me to know who they are.

marvellousnightforamooncup · 15/03/2019 22:18

I have a mild version of this. I could meet someone at a party and talk all evening then totally fail to recognise them the next day. It normally takes me a few meetings to remember faces and out of normal context and setting I'm even worse.

TotallyKerplunked · 15/03/2019 23:32

Yep similar here, when we go anywhere I have to memorize what everyone is wearing or take a pic so I can find them if we get separated. I get very anxious when out, it's stressful not being able to spot your own family, I can describe them to people I just can't recognise them myself. I've lost friendships over this and my wider family just think I'm rude. No real suggestions, just to say your not the only one.

MrMeSeeks · 15/03/2019 23:36

Yes! I also can’t describle a person either ( apart from if they have facial hair and that’s only my dh, i wouldn't even remember that of another person, even my own friends!

nocoolnamesleft · 15/03/2019 23:38

I walked straight past my own parents, because I had no reason to imagine they'd be there so didn't recognise them. My mother spotted me. She's partially sighted.

TBDO · 15/03/2019 23:42

I didn’t know this was a thing! I have trouble recognising people if they’re out of context. People think I’m rude as I’ll walk on by them, and if they do talk to me, I’ll have no idea who they are.

I also can’t picture things in my mind. Perhaps it’s related?

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 15/03/2019 23:43

Yes, i rely on hair style/ body shape/ walking gate/ context to help me identify people, but if any of these changes i’m scuppered.

BackforGood · 15/03/2019 23:49

Yes, this is a thing.
It is also a thing that seems to be on a continuum. I don't think you either 'have it' or 'don't have it' I think there are degrees of being great through to hopeless at recognising people.

FaithInfinity · 15/03/2019 23:54

I’m an Aspie and I have this a bit. I accidentally embarrassed somebody recently by asking if we’d met - she said that yes, we had several times but she was wearing a wig because she has alopecia. It was a totally different colour and style to her natural hair - the wig looked nice and suited her but I didn’t recognise her Blush It’s really awkward at times!
Also not sure if it’s related but when I dream people’s faces are always blank, but like when they are blurred out on the TV. I always know who they are but they are blank.

Slatkater · 16/03/2019 00:03

I went to see my favourite band at the weekend, and when I spoke to the bass player outside the venue I didn’t recognise him (I arrived very early and was checking I was in the right place.). He was wearing a hoodie and it just didn’t register with me who he was. I feel a right fool!

I even walked back past him after I had been to check if I needed a parking ticket and he shouted out, “enjoy your evening.” 😬

Singlenotsingle · 16/03/2019 00:07

It happens a lot to me as well as others. The other day I was in a shop and a woman recognised me. Our sons had been school friends 20 years ago and she must have known me then . But I couldn't tell her from Adam and I didn't recognise her even when she introduced herself ! Nice lady though.

SurgeHopper · 16/03/2019 00:08

I've heard of this.

HennyPennyHorror · 16/03/2019 00:10

Me too! I once was accosted in the street by a strange woman who spoke as though she knew me.

I let her walk along beside me, thinking "oh dear, she's a bit odd" but her chat was harmless.

I kept walking home and she seemed to be coming all the way with me which was a worry.

Then she looked at me and said "You don't know who I am do you?" and I said "No" and she said "It's Elaine! Your neighbour!" she lived two doors up and we'd been in one anothers homes and my DD played with her DD all the time.

She'd had a haircut...and I was seeing her "out of place" so she was like a total stranger.

If she'd walked into my garden I would have known her instantly...but because I saw her out of the usual context, I didn't know her.

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