Is anyone a super recogniser?

[TeethKicked]

I think that’s what they’re called. This fascinates me because I’m the complete opposite - I’ve been known to blank my own dc (unintentionally, just didn’t recognise them!)

If so, please can I ask:

1. How and when did you realise you had this ability?
2. What actually does it mean? Eg, does it mean you can see someone just once and then remember them when you see them again even if years have passed?
3. Can you/do you make use of your ability? Eg, work for the police?

Thank you :)

I think I may be?

I met a woman briefly a couple of times when I was about 10 - she was a friend of a friend of the family. 20 years later I walked past her in a restaurant and knew her immediately. It was spooky for everyone!!!

I also remember a LOT of what people tell me.

They rarely remember me at all !!!!!!

However, I hardly ever remember peoples names.

I recognise people all the time, even people I’ve never spoken to but ‘seen’ them somewhere
just did this quiz and got 13 out of 14
greenwichuniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1zikSlrqNLDeYeh?Q_Language=ES&Source=Website

I remember faces but not names, so I usually call everyone darling! I can remember random facts about people, their families, friends, holidays, pets. I saw a lady at work this week, not seen her for at least 20 years and when we got talking she said she remembered me as i had twins but didn't think I'd remember her. I actually remembered her name, her address and her occupation, she was amazed! I can remember phone numbers, bank account numbers, (I worked in a bank years ago, can still remember lots of them). I'm very good at maths but.....
Crap sense of direction, couldn't find my arse in the dark with both hands and a flashlight! Left and right is always an issue as well.

“but.....
Crap sense of direction, couldn't find my arse in the dark with both hands and a flashlight! Left and right is always an issue as well.”

😂

@Curlygirl06 amazing that you can remember bank account numbers. I don’t have any useful talents!

I am. It can feel insulting when people don't recognise me back and I recall all the details they told me eons ago.

My dad and my sister are too.

I am. I figured out when I was quite young. I always recognised people and they wouldn’t remember me. It’s fading a bit now and it takes me longer to remember what I've seen an actor in before. But I always know if they are new to me eg if DH is saying ‘What have we seen him in’, if I don’t recognise him it’ll be a film DH has seen but I haven’t.

Also, I get this weird thing after a couple of times of meeting someone I start to feel like I must have known them before, but the first time I met them I didn’t recognise them at all. It’s like their data gets logged into my long term memory and it gets a bit confused.

I can do the map thing. Get address, look at map, memorise route, drive there (sometimes 100s of miles) no need to consult map further.
I argue with the sat nav so never use it

I can also do the get address and locate road in a town which really impresses people - that's a bit easier and NOTHING to do with memory - as 'lane' 'street' are often in the centre, 'drive' 'close' 'avenue' are usually not such old places so on the outskirts, and 'nearby village street/road' is the road heading to that village/town

@Ariela that’s interesting about Road and street names. It makes perfect sense now you’ve pointed it out but it had never occurred to me before!

There's a lady I can think of now- can't remember her name but I could tell you her bank account number, and I've not worked in the bank for 30 years!

I’m kind of sceptical about the Greenwich university Super Recogniser research. Someone somewhere is profiting , whether through ‘consultancy’ or simply by convincing people they have a special enough skill to become ‘accredited’ (ie, pay out lots of money).
it’s a real niche that someone has exploited.
Around 100000 people take the online super recogniser tests every month. Of those , if only the top few percent score highly enough to become accredited, it’s still a lot of money in the bank from people participating in the courses.

I’m the opposite.

Not quite the same but I have a good recall about what people have said to me in conversation. I can usually quote it word for word weeks later!

Just from this thread it seems there a lot of us with some proficiency at it.

There’s nothing like making people feel special for extracting cash from them 🤣

Yes @AltonHampshire 😀
its also worth noting that most articles and press releases written about super recognisers and the many many opportunities for them originate through either Greenwich University or Super Recognisers international, mostly the latter.
If it was such a rare skill, there’d be no need to keep accrediting people at £300 a pop,and the tests would be designed to cream off the elitist of the elite.

DH is like this, never forgets a face, not great at remembering names though. But he will be able to place them immediately as to where he meet the person before.