Prosopagnosia

I listen to various podcasts, including Radiolab. Unfortunately, I recently caught up to the present, so I can't listen to hours of Radiolab at a stretch anymore. They once talked a bit about face blindness, or prosopagnosia. After listening to that episode for a bit, I realized that, hey, those things have often happened to me! So I found a face blindness test online. Turns out that I'm more face blind than the average person. Michelle says it's because I just don't pay attention. Fair enough, I'll admit that. They can work in conjunction.

Later, after walking around work without glasses, I started to remember how it was before I started wearing glasses 2.5 years ago. I remember having trouble recognizing even people I know before they are within five feet of my face. I would pick up on clothing and hair to help out (or just stare at them if I suspected knowing them. Creepy, especially if it turned out I didn't), if I was paying attention at all. And once people change clothes, it was over (especially in movies).

So just remember that there are people out there that don't perceive the world the same as you do. At least I don't have synesthesia. Those people are weird!