What do you do when someone knows you, but you don't recognize them?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

They approach you out in the street, know your name, ask how you are doing and maybe ask about your spouse and kids too. They seemingly know everything about you, but all you can do is smile, be polite and try to remember who the are because you can't remember for the life of you.

To me it happens somewhat often, and usually I end up remembering. It happened with my half-sister too, I did know she existed, but I had seen her just a couple of times over the years so I didn't recognize her. She noticed this, because she even said "You don't know who I am, do you", but she wasn't angry about it, more amused than anything else.

[NathanDavis]

I greet them back... match their surprise and excitement to see me each other again, although different kind of surprise as they are like wow! THAT is NATHAN!! while my surprise is wowza! WHO this might be? but we're both still surprised... and excited, so that's what matters

I won't just say "and how are you?" that's not polite, so I do go along... because they're sure dropping a lot of names and situations which are the most familiar to me, so yes, we've known each other personally from somewhere and I can sort of recognize the eyes, but I can't exactly pinpoint who they heck they are, yet...

I like to walk around sometimes, or take public transportation to go places... so the many times someone just stops and they're like Nathan!!! "wth, get in here..." and want to give me a ride, but these people I know them so I know to just thank them quickly, and let them know it's good, I am okay...

but this person I have no idea who they are? sure!! I'll get in your car, let's go...

and there we are then, 10 minutes later... of non-stop back and forth, catching up on things on these and those people we both know well, lol... and then "enough of that" "how are you, what are you up to?" which I do go about fairly quick, I don't want to talk about me, I want to know WHO ARE YOU!!! it's making my brain itch in the inside... and I keep looking at them and I try my best not to laugh and start cracking up

and they usually catch on sooner or later... "you know who I am right?"

so I just go like hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... till they go on and say their names, and then I'm like, right... Ethan...

Ethan... the former, shorter, chubby, baby face, immature annoying kid from middle-school... that now, has turned into some sort of Hollywood action movie material... lol, so yeah, I did that...

[OlderAndWiser]

I tell my fiancee, "If we are out in public, someone approaches, and I don't introduce you. . . it means I can't remember their name. So don't wait on me but jump in and introduce yourself and then they'll tell you their name. Then I'll jump in and apologize for temporarily forgetting my manners."

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

Oh, happens sometimes.

Once a girl in university run to me and hugged me and was genuinely happy to see me. I still don’t remember who she was.

Had at least 5 occasions like that. Always very awkward.

However, to my defense, I hug them back and ask them how they have been and it’s great to see them, so on.

[petitedollbabee]

I usually say sorry, I don’t recognise you. Who are you?
90% of the time they’re people who were friends with my parents 10+ years ago and they expect me to remember who they are because they held me as a baby or something random like that.

[rosemilk]

oh god that's so awkward and has happened to me more times than it should. i'm awful with remembering names and faces. i just smile and nod lol

[PBandJ_Nerd]

Sometimes I'll ask if I know them since I can feel like I know the person but can't put my finger on who.

[Sour-rose]

"... nah, still dont know you."

However, this happens a number of times through the years. I assume they've met one of my clones, as I have 7 to my knowledge.

[Jamie05rhs]

This happens to me all the time (not recognizing people.). Thankfully I have a beard, so they don't recognize me, either. Lol