8 ms·
I forget and “re-meet” people regularly. A few years ago, I picked up a habit I saw Michelle Obama use: she says “nice to see you” instead of “nice to meet yo
by iambateman 8y ago
I forget and “re-meet” people regularly.
A few years ago, I picked up a habit I saw Michelle Obama use: she says “nice to see you” instead of “nice to meet you.”
The phrase feels warm and appropriate to new folks, but keeps the ones I’ve met before from feeling forgotten.
- MisterOctober 8y agoYepyepyepyep -- I struggle mightily with this phenomenon and some time ago adopted the above practice [except my variant is 'good to see you'; my farewell is 'see you later / see you around' for consistency]. Has saved me a hella ton of aggravation and worrying. edit : if I know from context that I've met someone before but don't recognize them / remember name, I just come right out and admit it straight away : "Hi! We met before but I've forgotten your name, sorry -- what is it?"
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- BurpIntruder 8y agoI go with, "What's your name again?". When they tell me their first name, I say, "No sorry, I meant your last name?". Works every time.
- 121789 8y agoNo it doesn’t. Everyone with a mild bit of common sense knows what you’re doing
- drb91 8y agoWhat, they refuse to answer? How rude.
- b_tterc_p 8y agoThey’ll play along, but be aware that not only have you forgotten their name, you also believe you can fool them into thinking you didn’t
- kakarot 8y agoYeah it's double patronizing. It's worse than just coming clean and shifting the burden to yourself by acknowledging your poor memory skills.
- yjftsjthsd-h 8y agoAs rude as lying to save face?
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- drb91 8y agoThe lie would be for the benefit of the person whose name was forgotten, not to "save face". From what, forgetting a name? Nothing is more human. I do agree that to lie at all is a terrible idea.
- coldtea 8y agoThe goals wasn't to relearn their name, but to relearn it while not showing that you forget it. The latter part is what fails...
- oh_sigh 8y agoWhy would you be asking what someone's last name is, especially by asking "what's your name again?"
- dj43nq 8y agoNeat trick but it shouldn't be the only one you have. Which is to say it isn't the best way to proceed.
- netsharc 8y agoApparently "nice to see you" is a Hollywood thing, I remember a guest (an actor) on a talk show saying "I hate when people say that, it's so phony!"
- joncrane 8y agoHa ha I thought it was a Washington DC thing, where politicians and important people are constantly meeting lots of people so it's a good weasel word.