But if I do pay attention, I’ll just forget it anyway…

Alternatively:
"What's your name again?"
"T*********"
"Sorry, what?*
"Ti********"
😐

Anyone do a thing where to remember the name you mentally attach them to someone you already know. Then right on cue you can remember the link but not the name of the family member you linked them to.

"(Okay. Okay, okay, okay, here goes.) Hey, I'm so sorry, I'm so very bad with names, what's yours again? (Gawd that was awful, but it's over, we did it, I'm so proud of us, we overcame our fear and.... FUCK what did they say?!)"

I have a fun thing. I’ll meet a new coworker. Let’s call her Sara. I learn her name after a few days and say, “Hi Sara!” when I see them in the halls.

One day, I’m at the mall. This random person says, “Hi Kekahi!” And I say, “Hi… you!” It’s Sara.

They were out of place! I cannot be expected to recognize someone if I see them in a place where I don’t usually see them. That’s asking too much!

I find that repeating someones name after they introduce themselves greatly helps with remembering it.

Sigh… more often that I could admit