When you haven't seen someone for many years do you look for similarities or differences in how you perceived them from when you last knew them?

It's hard to answer this. I guess I'm not sure I really get it or see it the way you do. It just varies too, I guess. I'm pretty good at recognizing faces, in general, I think. I'm not as good with names, though. So, I often know I know someone and even from where, but I may not know their name. Then, the whole difference versus similarities thing. Well, it's seems like the same thing to me. To perceive a difference you'd need to recognize other aspects as similar. Sound does help me indentify people. I notice this most with actors. Hearing a voice-over is often enough for me to recognize them.

Most of the time I am pretty good at figuring out who it is, unless time has been very unkind to them.

When I was in high school I was tall,slim long blond hair to my waist, just a foxy dog When I went to my 20 yr reunion I know I looked a lot diff. Short hair a LOT fatter ect. When I told someone who I was they said Oh....you got your hair cut, I know they wanted to say, Oh my god, your ass got big. I thought it was pretty funny.

I think I'm pretty good at overlaying past and present.

You did not have an option for "Other" so I put the first. I rarely see people I knew in the past that I recognize at all if I see them again. I do notice differences in people I am VERY familiar with -- like my sister and her husband for instance -- but people I am very familiar with are not many. I have moderate prosopagnosia. This means I am mostly unable to recognize and/or remember faces. It takes many times seeing a person, like a neighbor, for instance, before I can recognize him easily. Many of my neighbors I cannot recognize each time I see them again. It's a very embarrassing condition and one that most people cannot begin to understand I guess.

I'd have trouble recognizing people even if they haven't changed.

Yeah, I'm kind of like that.

I still prefer name tags. Especially with my 28th high school reunion coming up.

I just went to the 51st reunion a couple weeks ago. We'll be having a reunion every year for the next 5 years, then a cruise on the 55th. We've lost so many of our class, sad to say.

Of course, at this stage in the game you see differences...but their hearts haven't changed. I was just so happy to see the classmates ...ALIVE..it brought tears to my eyes. I am a detail oriented person, but outside appearance never meant anything to me. Last reunion, I had one former classmate hug me so hard I could hardly breathe, but she wasn't here this year...I miss her.

NEVER take your loved ones for granted, always appreciate them. I know we'll see them on the other side one day. Don't let an opportunity go by, to say 'I love you'. There isn't a time that I talk or see my children that I don't say I love them. I missed the opportunity with my parents...with regrets. We all knew we loved each other, but didn't always say it...then it's too late.

Similaries, I guess.

Good to hear from someone else who's had these kinds of experiences.

I guess the closest option for me would be #3. It depends on how well I have known them and how much time has gone by. Those who I have known very well, I can immediately recognize them...despite the changes. Those I only casually knew, it takes me a few minutes to remember who they were/are...if I do at all.

I just take people as the come. Nobody is really the same twice.

takes 2, 3, 4, or some combination.

> You did not have an option for "Other" so I put the first. I rarely
> like my sister and her husband for instance -- but people I am very
> familiar with are not many. I have moderate prosopagnosia. This means
> I am mostly unable to recognize and/or remember faces. It takes many
> times seeing a person, like a neighbor, for instance, before I can
> recognize him easily. Many of my neighbors I cannot recognize each
> time I see them again. It's a very embarrassing condition and one
> that most people cannot begin to understand I guess.

I should have put "other" so next time around I'll think a little longer about answer options.

yes, mine was 40th and 14 of 127 are dead! We are already planning to have one in 5 years.

I came from a small school. 127 students attended during the four years of high school but of those who came and went 93 graduated at my school. We tried to find and invite all.

I was involved in reunion preparations, as conversation starters and table decorations I put together collages of the pictures of 127 individuals and school events from annuals which helped refresh my memory of everyone. I think that is one reason I recognized more people. After the reunion I have looked at photos of everyone as they look today and started seeing the resemblance of the people I was expecting but did not recognize.

It is funny how some remember different people and others don't remember them at all. People brought photo copies of class pictures from elementary school. Names were not on them as they do now so it was fun seeing the people I knew that no one else could put a name to and vice versa.

Cool. Then sometimes I think I know a person, then (also very embarrassing) it turns out it's not who I think it is. I do this double-take and they wonder why I'm staring at them.

My eccentricity is giving some people a completely different name. It's is like my subconscious has determined they were name incorrectly and the wrong name just comes out of my mouth; it lasts for years.

I never recognize people. This is difficult because I live in the same community that I went to high school. People recognize me and I don't recognize them. I'm bad at facial recognition anyway.

God bless you Coffee5437...for helping to keep your class in contact. I'm sure your classmates really appreciate it.

While I didn't really communicate with many of our class while in school (we had a large class)..I wanted to hug everyone. Next year, a big picnic is planned...I'm so excited to go. Many of the people I hung around, live a distance, I'm hoping they make it. This year there were no name tags, so people were forced into asking everyone their name, able to talk a little more.

We had a yearbook available, and I would not have recognized most, except those that I hung around with. It is great fun...especially as we age.

Take care, God bless! Keep up the good work!