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PaperclipPerfector  7mo ago (text post)   3226 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 10, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Has anyone here ever been terrible at remembering names and then solved that problem? I'm thinking of just writing every new acquaintance's name into a notebook or something.

I literally make (digital) flashcards and just drill names with faces.

Yes you can just write down the names after the meetup and review later. It doesn't take that many spaced repetitions for a name to stick. I've also considered using a personal CRM to keep track of friends and acquaintances. I think this kind of thing is underrated.

I've read about people using Notion as a personal CRM.

I haven't solved that problem, but one mitigation strategy: I never ever say "Nice to meet you" I say "Good to see you" or "great to see you out here" or "thanks for coming out." Even if I think it's the first time I'm meeting the person.

The penalty for saying good to see you to someone you're meeting the first time is small, the penalty for saying nice to meet you the second time you see someone is huge.

I find it's a lot easier for me if I can see their name written beside their photo. Facebook was super helpful when people used it. I've had jobs where the HR solution has a photo directory.

Try imagining an emotionally salient “story image” for the name. Barbara = imagine the person as a Barbarian. Tom = imagine the passion as Tom the Cat, or with a tommy gun.

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