I fairly often (used to, pre-pandemic) introduce myself and say “Please repeat your name at least twice. That way I have a hope of remembering it to the end of the conversation. Sorry.” And fairly often the response is something along the lines of “Oh, okay. Me too.”
I had a blood vessel explode there, and couldn’t walk or talk for two years. I STILL have a little trouble with aphasia, where I don’t remember how to verbalize some names.
It is getting better, but I get plateaus where I don’t get better for months.
(I started commenting on gocomics about ten years ago to help me remember how to communicate.)
Names are the worst things in the world, because they don’t mean anything anymore. They used to mean things, like “Big Scary Guy” or “Fleet of Foot”. Now they’re just funny sounds: Mertle, Jefree, Groo, Fronk. Of course we don’t remember them, they don’t MEAN anything!
That’s why I give everyone nicknames that reference something about their appearance. Everyone can remember them! Just ask my mother, Sits Around The House Complaining.
I met a person I had worked with years before and remembered their name!! It came to me like a flash. The thing I messed up was the job we worked at, I got that wrong!! LOL! Different dept, I guess!
With me, it’s genetic. My mother couldn’t remember anyone’s name. She called everyone “You Know,” as in “I went to the store with . . . , oh, You Know.”
I had insomnia for a very long time. I believe our brains do the “filing” during sleep time. So none of my information is in the right department. Retrieval is sporadic. I can sleep now, so I hope the filing department is working overtime to catch up! I am terrible with human names, not too bad with pets, can usually remember where I am going and why. Otherwise, it’s an adventure.
BE THIS GUY about 4 years ago
The part of my brain that works that way is the part that’s suppose to remember to pay the bills.
Sherlock Watson about 4 years ago
Steven Pastry, you are my favorite cartoonist!
Bilan about 4 years ago
All of the competent workers went to the department that remembers inane lyrics from the sixties.
B UTTONS about 4 years ago
Explains Congress. To remember a name you need to constantly pay for the memory retention.
$0 – $999 – Who are you?
$1,000 – $1,500 – remember you for 24 hours.
$1,501 – $9,999 – remember you for a week.
$10,000 – $25,000 – remember you for two weeks.
sirbadger about 4 years ago
Explains why Stephan gave his characters easy to remember names like Rat, Goat, and Pig.
Concretionist about 4 years ago
I fairly often (used to, pre-pandemic) introduce myself and say “Please repeat your name at least twice. That way I have a hope of remembering it to the end of the conversation. Sorry.” And fairly often the response is something along the lines of “Oh, okay. Me too.”
DennisinSeattle Premium Member about 4 years ago
What about the department that tells you why you opened the refrigerator?
synp about 4 years ago
Just remember the old adage: First you forget names, then you forget faces, then you forget to close your fly, then you forget to open your fly.
JusSayin about 4 years ago
Painfully close to The Broca Region of the brain.
I had a blood vessel explode there, and couldn’t walk or talk for two years. I STILL have a little trouble with aphasia, where I don’t remember how to verbalize some names.
It is getting better, but I get plateaus where I don’t get better for months.
(I started commenting on gocomics about ten years ago to help me remember how to communicate.)
blunebottle about 4 years ago
Now I understand my problem! Thanks,……..um, what was your name again?
Major Matt Mason Premium Member about 4 years ago
This is located next to the Department of Thinking of the Perfect Reply Too Late.
Nachikethass about 4 years ago
I don’t have this department! Or it doesn’t communicate with the department that remembers faces and works overtime!
Algolei I about 4 years ago
Names are the worst things in the world, because they don’t mean anything anymore. They used to mean things, like “Big Scary Guy” or “Fleet of Foot”. Now they’re just funny sounds: Mertle, Jefree, Groo, Fronk. Of course we don’t remember them, they don’t MEAN anything!
That’s why I give everyone nicknames that reference something about their appearance. Everyone can remember them! Just ask my mother, Sits Around The House Complaining.
iggyman about 4 years ago
That explains it, Rat!
Acworthless about 4 years ago
I think some of these have started moonlighting in other departments in my brain.
nosirrom about 4 years ago
Thanks Stephan. I knew all those people who call me $*%&head and #$$hole had a problem. Now I know what it is.
Breadboard about 4 years ago
First step everyone wear a mask … Next step everyone wear a tag with your name on it … You are under Our control ;-) Croc Power !
Sephten about 4 years ago
Nominal dysphasia — that’s the medical name for having trouble remembering names. Now tell me why I can remember THAT …
Say What Now‽ Premium Member about 4 years ago
A time will come when we will all be wearing devices that gives us the details of the person we are looking at.
monya_43 about 4 years ago
The memory is the second thing to go. I forget what’s first.
Purple People Eater about 4 years ago
Now I understand why I can never remember people’s names.
ole biker about 4 years ago
These comments are funnier than the comic strip . . . . Keep up the good work folks!!
jal333 about 4 years ago
Or walked into a room???
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 4 years ago
I met a person I had worked with years before and remembered their name!! It came to me like a flash. The thing I messed up was the job we worked at, I got that wrong!! LOL! Different dept, I guess!
naplllp about 4 years ago
This would work on Dilbert.
Troglodyte about 4 years ago
I think whatsizname has really hit the nail on the head with this one!
david_42 about 4 years ago
I remember dogs’ names no problem, their owners – not so much.
YippiKiAyMofo about 4 years ago
I never remember a name, but I forget faces, too.
Ksandler4570 about 4 years ago
huh?
diskus Premium Member about 4 years ago
Transfer a few over from the department of numbers, they seem to be over staffed
fszakaly about 4 years ago
Department of nouns… People,places,things.
Steverino Premium Member about 4 years ago
When you get older, you begin to think of the hereafter. You know, you wald into a room and you wonder “What was I here after?”
Homer J about 4 years ago
And my Department of Names only shows up to work at 3am.
Call me Ishmael about 4 years ago
“What’s in a name?”..a pig by any other name would smell as sweet…
Ellis97 about 4 years ago
Makes sense to me.
Otis Rufus Driftwood about 4 years ago
The human might be better than any computer system we can build, but it’s only effective if you actually use it.
Otis Rufus Driftwood about 4 years ago
I was taking about the human brain back there.
Whatcouldgowrong about 4 years ago
I have no problem at all with names, remember thousands of them, can list them whenever I want. Now, faces to go with the names, that’s a problem.
Squoop about 4 years ago
So THAT’s why they call eachother rat, pig & goat!
letoffsteam54 about 4 years ago
Oh, that explains a lot.
bob-droid12 about 4 years ago
Is that the same department that also handle proper pronunciation of names? If so, mine have some problems with that.
Lablubber about 4 years ago
Lots of great comments here today. Special recognition to… um… and uh… and you know..
JLChi about 4 years ago
With me, it’s genetic. My mother couldn’t remember anyone’s name. She called everyone “You Know,” as in “I went to the store with . . . , oh, You Know.”
Moonkey Premium Member about 4 years ago
I had insomnia for a very long time. I believe our brains do the “filing” during sleep time. So none of my information is in the right department. Retrieval is sporadic. I can sleep now, so I hope the filing department is working overtime to catch up! I am terrible with human names, not too bad with pets, can usually remember where I am going and why. Otherwise, it’s an adventure.
alasko about 4 years ago
Peter Stastis is so correct with his strip.
MFRXIM Premium Member about 4 years ago
I will open any door or appliance until I get the right one.
pchemcat about 4 years ago
Can’t, they are unionized.
asrialfeeple about 4 years ago
This is too real!
Laurie Stoker Premium Member about 4 years ago
I believe you have put your finger on it, Stephan!
knight1192a about 4 years ago
Must be describing twenty-five years ago. Today they’d be going home after three seconds.
austeve79 about 4 years ago
I call that new room moment CRS…Can’t Remember S_ _ _ !
Sisyphos about 4 years ago
Thank you, Professor Rat! I needed that!
Actually, still need it. O replacements!
da_villa about 4 years ago
I knew it!
alantain 6 months ago
I have phone number black hole in my brain. The numbers go in and can never escape the gravitional pull.