Comments on: Ask SP: Readers’ Queries Answered http://www.socialprimer.com/2009/10/ask-sp/ Manners, Conversation, Style & Handling Your Liquor Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:29:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: VB http://www.socialprimer.com/2009/10/ask-sp/#comment-850 VB Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:21:42 +0000 http://www.socialprimer.com/?p=1521#comment-850 Re: Reader 5, nice comments on the often-awkward name repeat. I recently returned to the city where I attended high school, and while at the wedding and post-wedding festivities ran into many old friends, acquaintances, and classmates. I have a memorable name but still find it polite to remind people and avoid the awkwardness of a recognition 'face-off'. I definitely do it when I remember the person but have not seen them in a long time (though admittedly use it at times when I don't remember a name but recognize the face/meeting). What I found profoundly disturbing and crass, however, was the surprising recurrence of questions like "Do you remember me?" or "Do you know my name?"!! I fortunately passed each test with flying colors (this time), but this doomed the interaction to awkwardness from the start (needless to say, it would be much worse if one does NOT remember). I just assuringly said, "Yes/Of course, Soandso." and carried on with the conversation, but would love your input on better ways to handle it and - anyone else reading - please avoid this faux pas at all costs! Dear VB. Thanks for writing. Check out <a href="http://www.socialprimer.com/2009/04/introductions-say-your-name-3/" rel="nofollow">this post</a> for more on social introductions. Cordially, SP Re: Reader 5, nice comments on the often-awkward name repeat. I recently returned to the city where I attended high school, and while at the wedding and post-wedding festivities ran into many old friends, acquaintances, and classmates. I have a memorable name but still find it polite to remind people and avoid the awkwardness of a recognition ‘face-off’. I definitely do it when I remember the person but have not seen them in a long time (though admittedly use it at times when I don’t remember a name but recognize the face/meeting).
What I found profoundly disturbing and crass, however, was the surprising recurrence of questions like “Do you remember me?” or “Do you know my name?”!! I fortunately passed each test with flying colors (this time), but this doomed the interaction to awkwardness from the start (needless to say, it would be much worse if one does NOT remember). I just assuringly said, “Yes/Of course, Soandso.” and carried on with the conversation, but would love your input on better ways to handle it and – anyone else reading – please avoid this faux pas at all costs!

Dear VB.
Thanks for writing. Check out this post for more on social introductions.
Cordially,
SP

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