Nope. Every face is entirely new, every time. I recognize people by their style, hair, voice, and any features I can fit into language. (“Oh, there’s the guy with a swastika scar on his forehead, something he can’t take off.”)
I have hugged strangers who weren’t my wife but who were really close to looking like her, which was almost always (but not entirely) followed with an apology. There was one girl who just said “I have no idea who you are, but I needed that.”
There was an ex-roommate who I didn’t get on with very well; she was conniving and underhanded, a real manipulator-type. And she knows the extent of my face-blindness. Here comes a brunette girl, on the heavier side just a bit, a big vibrant smile on her face, arms outstretched. “Tanis, give me a hug!” I can’t place her, but she means well, and she’s someone I should probably know.
After the hug, she reveals her identity and I walk off in tears, thoroughly grossed out and violated. She knew this about me, and she used it against me.
This affliction makes me quite vulnerable at times. Most of my real life friends re-introduce themselves to me every time they change their clothes, which shows a level of care that I do my best to reciprocate.
That’s really awful of your ex roommate, I’m sorry she did that to you.
I’m glad the rest of your circle is good about it, it’s an easy adjustment. Plus it’s probably pretty affirming for them to see your face when they introduce themselves :)
Nope. Every face is entirely new, every time. I recognize people by their style, hair, voice, and any features I can fit into language. (“Oh, there’s the guy with a swastika scar on his forehead, something he can’t take off.”)
I have hugged strangers who weren’t my wife but who were really close to looking like her, which was almost always (but not entirely) followed with an apology. There was one girl who just said “I have no idea who you are, but I needed that.”
There was an ex-roommate who I didn’t get on with very well; she was conniving and underhanded, a real manipulator-type. And she knows the extent of my face-blindness. Here comes a brunette girl, on the heavier side just a bit, a big vibrant smile on her face, arms outstretched. “Tanis, give me a hug!” I can’t place her, but she means well, and she’s someone I should probably know.
After the hug, she reveals her identity and I walk off in tears, thoroughly grossed out and violated. She knew this about me, and she used it against me.
This affliction makes me quite vulnerable at times. Most of my real life friends re-introduce themselves to me every time they change their clothes, which shows a level of care that I do my best to reciprocate.
That’s really awful of your ex roommate, I’m sorry she did that to you.
I’m glad the rest of your circle is good about it, it’s an easy adjustment. Plus it’s probably pretty affirming for them to see your face when they introduce themselves :)