Knit to This
Hidden Brain
Dear Ann,
You know who’s a good source of podcasts to knit to? Someone whose retina detached, that’s who. A dear pal o’mine recently found herself in this situation, which, thankfully in her case, excellent doctors can fix. But the healing process is slow, and you can’t do a lot with your eyes for many weeks. So: podcasts. Listening to books on Audible.com. Talking on the phone, old-school. Knitting with big yarn and big needles and super simple patterns.
Reattached Retina Recommends: the Hidden Brain podcast. As described on the website, here’s the idea: “Using science and storytelling, Hidden Brain’s host Shankar Vedantam reveals the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, the biases that shape our choices, and the triggers that direct the course of our relationships.” Hmm. Not sure I want to know the biases that shape my choices. Kidding!
I started with “Losing Face,” 14th in the list. It’s about “super recognizers,” people who are really good at facial recognition, and about how most of us suck at recognizing faces. I think I’m medium-good at it, but this podcast made me feel a lot better about those awkward moments when someone really knows me and I can’t quite place them without a little more information. At this point in my life, having worked several jobs, lived in several neighborhoods, had kids in several schools, and shopped in every dang yarn store in a 50-mile radius, is it any wonder that I occasionally stumble over how I know someone who looks so familiar? These little moments have led to one of my possibly-annoying behaviors, which is that when I do recognize someone I haven’t seen in a while, I often introduce myself to them, just in case they’re struggling with my face.
One nice thing about Hidden Brain: most episodes are under a half hour. Snacky!
I just realized that the issue of face recognition is relevant to a bunch of knitters next weekend. See you (and hope to recognize you) at Rhinebeck!
Love,
Kay
Anything that explains how the brain works gets me in……. after scrolling through episodes, number 56 “embrace the chaos ” got my attention. I was starting to get a little uncomfortable with the mess of so many WIP’s (my inner voice saying I need to be organised) but apparently mess is good for creativity, so who am I to argue with research?? Thanks Hidden Brain!
Personally, I have always been absolutely terrible at face recognition, and hope very much I never have to describe a suspicious person in a police report, or participate in a line-up (on either side of the one-way mirror).
Here’s hoping there iswill be (a) Rhinebeck pics; and (b) Rhinebeck stories! to share with those of us who won’t (sigh) be there.
Signed, she who is fair:middling at recognizing faces and is really bad at remembering names.
I always introduce myself if there’s the slightest possibility that someone won’t remember my name. Who am I to think I’m so special that they would know me, when there are so many people whose faces I vaguely recognize but whose names I don’t know? I think it’s a courtesy, and not at all annoying.
I agree with you. I’m so grateful someone does that. I do see Kay’s point-when I do it, I might get a funny look like “oh, you don’t remember me…” Just another opportunity for compassion to self and others!
Hidden Brain is one of my favorite podcasts! Perfect length for my walk to work, and often they leave me understanding my (and “opposing”) politics and world view better.
I re-introduce myself to people all the time. After we’ve been chatting for a bit, I almost always venture a ballpark guess with someone’s name. “OK, great. And you’re…Kelly, right?” “Oh, right, not Kelly…Kathy! Well, I’m still Laura.” Polite chuckles usually ensue. Sometimes I do it the other way around. “Oh, by the way, I’m still Laura. And you are…I want to say, ‘Kelly?'” I have to admit that I’m much better at remembering their dogs’ names!
Cats’ names, horses’ names, dogs’ names…yep. Or I can describe in detail the conversation and surroundings from the last time we spoke several years before. But the actual name of the human in front of me? Erm.
“Snacky” – I like that!
Me, too!
I meet a lot of people while teaching (knitting), and I’m a terrible face recognizer! But I’ll probably remember the project you were working on. I remember better if I have a picture of you with your name attached! And I love it when people re-introduce themselves; I try to do that, too.