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inlinedtoday at 12:55 AM1 replyview on HN

I’m not diagnosed face blind but I’m hoooooorble with names. It’s weird because I’ve been tested and score in the 98th percentile for memory generally.

I hung out with a large group of people for nearly a decade and couldn’t remember who was who until the pandemic. The names under zoom helped me gradually learn over weeks.

When I teach scuba I recite the list of student names for my class in as random an order as possible while I drive to the shop to lower my cognitive load to put faces to names. When I do roll call, I write down every person’s name and try to gradually move off the cheat sheet as I call on them to answer questions. But once they put on their gear (especially since I teach where they use hoods) it all goes downhill. Two white guys approximately 35yo? I’ll get them confused.

If this were socially appropriate I’d totally use it as my prescription glasses to help continue smoothing the curve.


Replies

hsbauauvhabzbtoday at 6:41 PM

I find writing or typing names helps a lot. There are also general tricks if you google it.