can't remember names

Helfino, but it might have to do with memorizing things that interest you versus things that you need but don't interest you.

That's interesting, dov, because I have the exact same trouble. I've always put it down to heredity, because my father is the same way. I am terrible with names, but never forget a face. I can recall intimate details of movies, but often forget the titles, and the actors....I am also looking forward to more posts here.

jespah has a point there...

Dov, Cav--

Count me among the afflicted. I have a great deal of trouble remembering proper nouns (and the year when something happened to me!).

Years ago I read there was a name for this condition--but of course, the name was a proper noun, and is gone with the wind and the snows of yesteryear.

I have the similar problem, and this has nothing to do with age. I remember dates, events, faces, foreign words, phone numbers, etc. but the names are an obstacle for me. When I have to visit my boss in his office, I make an effort to recall what have I to say after "Mr."...

Man, I always forget the names of the women tied up in my basement, too. Gets frustrating, to say the least.

That's okay, when Slappy drinks, he sometimes forgets he's straight.

Awww, man. Who told you about that night?

I mean, what the hell you talkin' about?
I dig FOOTBALL!
And CHICKS!
And TRUCKS!

STMARYSHIGHSCHOOLFOOTBALLRULES!

I once forgot the name of the woman I had been dating for four months. I met some other friends at a sporting event and I couldn't introduce her.

It was somewhat embarrassing. She is no longer my girlfriend.

I have trouble remembering my boss' name, my neighbors' names, etc., but I can tell you trivial facts ad nauseum.

10 Steps to Improve Your Memory

GET ON TRACK TO A BETTER MEMORY
by Betty Fielding

Understand How Your Memory Works

Understanding how memory works will give you insight into ways of taking control in order to increase your memory power. A summary of the major factors involved in memory functioning:

• Memory is the process of registering, consolidating, storing, and recalling information and also is the result of that process.

• Memory is an electrochemical process of the brain and nervous system in which specialized brain centers receive, consolidate, store, and respond to new information.

• The more memory traces you amass from sensory experiences, thoughts, feelings, and actions, the more ways you have to recall a particular piece of information.

• A stimulating environment makes a major contribution to improving your memory.

• People learn incidentally in the process of living and intentionally through deliberate study.

• New information becomes a memory by moving from sensory memory to short-term memory. There working memory creates the connections to consolidate it into long-term memory.

• Memory contains two kinds of material: knowledge?-both general and personal?-and procedures. Procedures do not require conscious attention in order to function.

Equip Your Memory Tool Chest

Natural abilities which you can use to maintain and improve your memory are:

sensory awareness
mental images
words and messages
making associations and connections
grouping
repetition
rehearsal and review
spacing
using memory aids as reminders

Sensory awareness involves collecting information from your senses to amass the memory traces which help you remember people, places, or events.

Mental imaging is to visualize in your mind an image of something or someone you want to remember.

Words can be used to help you remember in a number of ways. Talking to yourself creates verbal memory traces. Acronyms, rhymes, or jingles may help jog your memory.

Making new connections is the process which relates new information to what you already know thereby making the new information easier to recall.

Sorting and grouping are ways of categorizing data to provide memory traces to aid in recall. Relationships among major groups and among the items in each subgroup create the connections which make all items memorable.

Repetition helps you to hold information in your short term memory as your working memory organizes and integrates it into long term memory.

Rehearsal and review, both reinforced by repetition, help you to remember tasks or events that will take place in the future and to recall information or events from the past.

Spacing is the practice of leaving intervals between learning sessions in order to reinforce memory traces.

Memory aids are concrete reminders?-notes, calendars, pill safes?-which help you remember. Other people may also be effective memory aids if they have ways of remembering to remind you.


Find the Motivation and Commit Yourself

Improving your memory relies on motivation. When people are motivated, they pay attention and concentrate in order to consolidate what they are experiencing into lasting memories. When people are motivated, they often set goals.

We are motivated by seven urges which push us toward goals. These urges are: the urge to live, with goals of survival, comfort, and to find meaning in living; the urge to be free with a goal of self-determination; the urge to enjoy with a goal of happiness; the urge to understand with a goal of knowledge; the urge to create with a goal of originality; the urge to connect with a goal of love; and the urge to transcend with a goal of unity.

Your goals for your memory project are determined by your goals for your life. In looking at the natural urges of all of us, you may choose to set goals related to your health or your lifestyle habits or you may decide to find greater meaning in the events and circumstances of your personal experiences. Often a desire for self-determination or a desire to be free of the discomfort of memory lapses works as the driving motivation for goal-setting.

Making the decision to work toward a goal frees up energy and allows you to become action-oriented. Yet like water in a river, energy necessary to reach goals may be limited by dams, drains, or constrictions. These limiters, such as illness, excess responsibilities, and worry, need to be identified and alleviated or eliminated.

Working toward your goals may require a variety of personal resources including hope, courage, curiosity, imagination, enthusiasm, caring and concern, and an openness to new or different ideas.

In the end, motivation is the force behind the decisions, commitments, self-discipline, and patience required to reach your goals.

Equus, Equus...it's easy to introduce someone you forget the name of. Happens to me alot too. This is all you've gotta do:

Let's say there's a woman next to you whom you forget her name. Jim walks up and says hi to both of you. All you do, is say, "This is Jim."
Your friend will say "Hi, I'm Sara" to Jim.

That way, you don't look like a jerk, and you'll hear her name.

Re: can't remember names
I'm really bad on names and can't for the life of me remember the names of the women in Slappy's basement either.

There are times in social situations where I've just been introduced to some one and 10 minutes later can't remember their name.....
It could be a left brain- right brain thing. Because I can play alot of music by memory without even thinking about it.

I was the one that started this post. When I was two I was in a very serious car accident and the right side of my head got all screwy. That might be part of the problem. As for the problem, what was it that I wanted to know when I started this thread?

:wink: I will always remember a line from that old Marlo Thomas Show that was on TV about 500 years ago. Marlo's father used to say, "don't think about polar bears". Of course you can't stop yourself from thinking about them. I extended that thought a bit by thinking that if you saw a bear down by the cric', you might forget, but if you saw a bear in pajamas down by the cric' then you'd never forget. The things I can't remember are the things that don't stand out for a specific reason in my mind. The names of prescriptions for example, in my mind, are all long, a very similar type of a combination of letters, they don't stand out the in the bear type of reference. For example Clonapen and Clonazepam and Hydrocodone. To me they're the same word. As for that list of the names of Kings, I can remember because I love history and because they are all distinct characters. I can easily remember who was the father and the son and the cousin and the daughter. I even remember the dates of their lives even though they are only 10 variations of numbers.

yes this happens I forget what it is called - did you seek medical care?

Yes dov, I think a real interest in a subject, moves the memory to the front of the brain. Which lead to repitition-rote- keeps the memory fresh. Although if I don't stay with it the memories will fade like books and movies that I love while reading/watching, become distant memories after awhile. I'm always in awe of someone who can quote lines from books or movies years after reading/watching.

let's face it, in todays world we spend more time talking AT people then with them. Until we see others as important we will never be interested in remembering there names. So you may want to care more and listen instead of talk. This may also help others remember your name. If that matters much to you.