People who pretend they don't know you.

OldFrill

LovesBach

Another condition which must be as frustrating was described in an article by Dominic Lawson; he has no 'mind's eye'. He could tell you that his wife was pretty and had long hair, because he has learned that, but he cannot see her in his mind's eye. That must be quite a depressing thing to have - you cannot recall any beautiful sights, or faces of departed loved ones, unless you look at a photo.

That's ,aphantasia I've never found it depressing as l don't know any different.

That's thought provoking, OldFrill; you cannot miss what you've never had.

When I walk into town most people I pass say hello, and I say hello back, or vice versa, whether we know each other or not.

In my previous city if I saw someone I recognised it didn't mean I knew who they were. They might be someone I knew through a choir or a church or parents of a pupil I taught or used to teach.

I don’t think I am face blind, but something I discovered is that when turning the pages of a newspaper I don’t notice the photos, just the words. I have to really focus to take in the pictures.

kircubbin2000
What happens if you say ‘Good morning’ to the former colleagues?

I suffer from face blindness. I always had it, but it's only a few years ago I discovered it is an actual condition. I thought it was only me.

I've had chats with people on the street and walked away no wiser as to who they were. It's particularly bad if I meet people out of their usual place, or out of their work uniform. I'm sure some people think I'm just rude, but I'm not - honestly.

Another thing I can't manage is finding my way to a new place. I remember once having a new job a few miles from home, and I'm sure in the first month I must have travelled there by about six different routes. I couldn't manage to stick a route in my head. I'm the only person I know who can get completely lost with a SatNav.

It's awkward and embarrassing, but I've got used to it.

I have trouble recognising peoples faces so I rely on other details such as clothing or hair style. Women are especially difficult as hair and clothing style change more. I have particularly difficulty recognising people out of context- so yes I am likely not to recognise an old colleague when out shopping. ( I used to look at colleagues name badges to check I wasn’t mixing people up!) . When someone smiles at me I tend to smile back and see what happens next! Oddly enough once people speak to me - if it’s someone I should know - recognition usually occurs and of course their voice helps.
I once upset a neighbour who was unexpectedly working in a charity shop- and I just could not place her. She was very offended!.

LovesBach

Another condition which must be as frustrating was described in an article by Dominic Lawson; he has no 'mind's eye'. He could tell you that his wife was pretty and had long hair, because he has learned that, but he cannot see her in his mind's eye. That must be quite a depressing thing to have - you cannot recall any beautiful sights, or faces of departed loved ones, unless you look at a photo.

That's ,aphantasia I've never found it depressing as l don't know any different.

I have so often had people speak to me, sometimes at length and I m desperately trying to remember who they are
Their faces don’t look at all familiar
I also have total blindness with directions unless I m very very familiar with the place it just never looks the same twice and I cannot see in my minds eye what it should look like I hate going anywhere new on my own as I m always unsure where I am or which way to go

I walk head up but look around and if I see someone I know, I do look at them, usually a glance but keep walking unless it's obvious a chinwag is wanted. (Was in town a month or so ago, 'are you going to ignore me?) I was asked. I stopped and realised I'd walked straight past a lady I speak to once a month in the pharmacy, she said I was miles away. We had a good gossip for about 10 minutes.

Many years ago, I was crossing a road, an unpleasant relative was also crossing, we met in the middle, she took one look at me, turned around and walked quickly away. "Good morning *** " I said. She stopped, turned around, fake smile, and said she didn't see me!

A few weeks later, saw her again at a wake, I was talking to another relative, she came, stood between us with her back at me. Fortunately the other relative had a few more manners and told her she was speaking to me.

Even now she's obnoxious! My dad calls her Veruca after Veruca Salt due to the "I want". It's the attitude of her, she's also about 58 though she tells those who don't know, she's late 40's! (Meaning she'd be younger than me!)

I put it down to manners. Acknowledgement won't cost anything.

Another condition which must be as frustrating was described in an article by Dominic Lawson; he has no 'mind's eye'. He could tell you that his wife was pretty and had long hair, because he has learned that, but he cannot see her in his mind's eye. That must be quite a depressing thing to have - you cannot recall any beautiful sights, or faces of departed loved ones, unless you look at a photo.

Sometimes people can be going through traumatic events such as grief or illness and just managing to hold it together. Having a conversation can just be too much for them or they fear they may break down. I tend to give people this benefit of the doubt if I’m ignored.

www.faceblind.org gives more information about Prosopagnosia.
It's thought 1-2% of the population have face blindness to varying degrees.
Some well known people with prosipagnosia are
Duncan Bannatyne, Businessman
Stephen Fry, British Actor
Jane Goodall Anthropologist
Joanna Lumley, British Actor
Emily Maitlis, Journalist & TV presenter
Brad Pitt, American Actor
Oliver Sacks, Neurologist & Writer
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden
Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder

My brother once had 2 secretaries. He said he couldn’t tell one from the other. But one was a white woman and the other one was black!

At a quiz I got annoyed by a man who kept staring at me. I complained to his friend and he laughed. It turned out they were both blind.

I once had my face slapped by a girl in a wheelchair for staring at her. We were doing the crossword while having coffee and I must have been gazing into the distance, thinking about a clue. Next thing I know this woman is yelling at me for staring at her and slapped me - quite hard too. I was so shocked at the suddenness of it all I didn't even say anything - just stared at her. DH pushed her away and a few people came over to calm her down but she shrieked 'Haven't you ever seen anyone in a wheelchair before?' After fighting off all the hands holding her back she whizzed off out of the door and just left us all stunned. I just looked at DH and said 'Who the hell was that?? Where did she come from??' My cheek was stinging and red but in the end I had to laugh because it was all so unlikely, like someone was acting out a play and didn't know I wasn't a character in it. I try to be careful now to stare at people 🥵

Well , I'm so glad this doesn't just happen to me . I see so many of the Mums I used to chat to in the school playground , albeit 30 odd years ago , and quite a few look straight through me . I don't think I've changed that much , I certainly recognise them lol . Some see me and look away , it's very awkward . I can't understand it , ive given up now , which is a shame . I call it Pretending not to know you syndrome . It would be lovely to stop and chat and find out how their children were getting on . All very strange 😕

There have been several occasions where someone has spoken to me in a place where I’ve never seen them before and I’ve had to ask them who they are .

Prosopagnosia, is more common than people realise. DD has it and was recrutied to be part of a research study some years ago.

I do not think I have it, but I am very bad at recognising people in photographs and I am completely bemused by people who recognise famous people when they are in a shop or walking down the road. if the King was walking round my local Lidl when I was shopping, I wouldn't know him from Adam and would be bewildred why other people were stopping and pointing and nudging.

There is a woman who lives in my road who does this to me every time. I will see her at events in the village and ask her how she is and she will totally blank me. I used to get quite embarrassed by it, but now I just don’t bother.

I am terrible at remembering faces and names.
I was out walking when a car pulled up and a delighted woman poked her head out of her window. "Oh, it's so wonderful to see you, we must meet for coffee!" I still don't have a clue as to who she was.

So there are already 3 of us on this page with the same problem. Not so rare then. I have had this for as long as I can remember and have had some embarrassing moments.

People I know often come up to me in the street or in the shops and startle me saying jokingly ‘not talking to me now’ or words to that effect. I just seem to switch off when out and about and don’t see people unless they jump in front of me. Have walked past my DDs on occasion. I do tend to be running things through my mind when going anywhere, thinking of things I need to get or do whilst out etc., but is never intentional. The upside is I won’t even notice people who might be blanking me.

As Bazza said Prosopagnosia is a neurological condition also known as face blindness. Most people are unaware they have this. People can have different degrees of it. Mine is severe, if l unexpectedly encounter close family l don't recognise them. Having arranged to meet my son l totally blanked him until he spoke, friends and neighbours have no chance. I have developed a strategy where l go by distinguishing features but many don't have any - or change them., unusual facial features, scars etc. Not co-incidentally all my close friends throughout my life have been quite recognisable because of at least one distinguishing feature.
I can recognise most of my neighbours in the street but I won't recognise them out if that environment and will walk past them in the supermarket. I quite frequently mistaken other men for my husband, he doesn't have the "unique feature" so I always need to take note of what he's wearing so l recognise him.
Please bear in mind if people have prognopanosis they aren't being deliberately rude

My son was coming to meet us on a walk yesterday and his dad told him you'll see mum she's wearing a red hat.

Shopping in the supermarket I noticed a young man over the freezer sections who I had recently nursed at our hospital for some considerable time.
He caught my eye and I smiled and nodded, for a moment he looked confused, then he called across.
“ Oh hello, I didn’t recognise you with your clothes on”.

When I m out alone, my mind is going nineteen to the dozen and my family claim that if I saw them I would blank them because my eyes may have seen but my brain failed to make the connections. I know at times I fail to greet someone I know, but it is not deliberate. My eyes may have seen them but my brain hasn't.

If people blank me I just assume they are like me and busy thinking about how to bring about world peace or what to cook for supper and the brain eye connection has been temporarily suspended.

So do not assume someone who blanks you doesn't want to speak to you. It could just be that their brain failed to see you.

Oh, and it is possible they are not wearing their glasses, or the wrong glasses.