From an old, old post at faceblind

[conuly]

I'm not faceblind. At least, I don't think I am - people are everlastingly recognizing me when I don't recognize them. I think this is because I don't notice them, though.

However, I do like to call myself face-visually-impaired. I do have *some* trouble recognizing people whom I should recognize, especially "out of context" (recognizing a professor anywhere but in class, for example), and if I'm stressed or tired or sick my problems rise. *shrugs* It happens. There's rarely, if ever, a need to bring any of this up, but somehow I got into a conversation with somebody about this once, prompting the answer "well, why don't you/they try harder???" Um, right. What part of the word faceblind don't you understand? This isn't face-didn't-try-hard-enough or face-don't-give-a-shit, it's faceblind. I never got through to her on that part. Honestly, it's like talking to a brick wall. Why couldn't she try harder to not be... Ahem. Sorry.

On that note, I present This beautiful link. Learn it, love it, and no more sillies, okay?

Comments

[maladaptive.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty faceblind, yeah.

I went to my doctor yesterday and I didn't bloody recognize her. It's only been two years, and I used to see this woman every month.

I have an especially hard time with the A&F model type blondes that went to my high school. Unless they're all in a line or I already know which is which, I don't know if she's Stephanie or Katie or....

It's not an issue of not remembering them. I remember their names, but I can't put a name to the face.

Did you know that people that can recognize objects (cars, for example) at the drop of a hat are more likely to be faceblind?

[conuly]

I didn't know it, but I'm not surprised. Typically, the brain processes faces in a different location from other objects. If this is messed up, you get varying degrees of faceblindness. If the brain is spending all that time recognizing objects, it seems reasonable to assume that it doesn't spare as much time for faces.