INFP Scatterbrain - Bad Short Term Memory

**iDane** · 06-04-2010 05:08 PM

I can relate as well. It is funny at times really. I could describe to you in perfect detail the park I had one of my young childhood birthday parties in, or the color of the shoes I was wearing my first day of grade school... but heaven forbid you get me to remember your birthday or where I placed my car keys this evening

**moon** · 06-04-2010 05:26 PM

Isn't there already a thread about this? I can't remember

**OmarFW** · 06-04-2010 05:46 PM

our short term memory is based on our values.

if something isn't important to us, we won't remember it. our Te is too weak to force it into our heads and keep it there

**PorlockVisitor** · 06-04-2010 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Emiva

I am absolutely horrible with names.
If I forget your name, please don't feel insulted.
I just remember your face/ your emotions at the time I was talking to you.

Exactly! I know my first impression of a person and how they make me feel.
But I can't always remember their name. I've gotten better at that though.
After a person introduces themselves to you just use their name a lot when you're talking. I find repetition works, and sometimes "writing" it on your hand with your finger as you say it.

"Its lovely to meet you Emiva"
"Emiva, would you say we or the others are crazy?"
"Its funny to me that you, Emiva, think that I would ever eat cereal that turns my milk purple."
"It was nice chatting, I'll see you later Emiva!"

(Not even sure if that was your real name, just using you in my example)

Originally Posted by moon

Isn't there already a thread about this? I can't remember

LOL.

**MEM1976** · 06-05-2010 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by mysterysolved

Exactly! I know my first impression of a person and how they make me feel.
But I can't always remember their name. I've gotten better at that though.
After a person introduces themselves to you just use their name a lot when you're talking. I find repetition works, and sometimes "writing" it on your hand with your finger as you say it.

"Its lovely to meet you Emiva"
"Emiva, would you say we or the others are crazy?"
"Its funny to me that you, Emiva, think that I would ever eat cereal that turns my milk purple."
"It was nice chatting, I'll see you later Emiva!"

(Not even sure if that was your real name, just using you in my example)

LOL.

LOVE IT! You have a great sense of humor girlie. People like you color my world fantastic!

**Aero** · 06-05-2010 03:30 PM

This is all completely and totally me. I can't even emphasize enough how exact it is, lol.

One time I was taking out the garbage I had in my room (room was downstairs), and when I went upstairs I got a new bag and put it in my pocket right away because I knew I would forget. When I got back to my room, I was like, "Ah, damnit, I forgot the bag AGAIN - ..wait, what's this in my pocket.. OMG, THANK YOU PAST SELF!"

I even left it hanging out a bit to make sure I would notice it there.

**SquarePeg61** · 06-05-2010 04:08 PM

I have a good memory, but I tend to retain information other people would consider trivial while not easily remembering more important matters. To give you an example, I had a set of World Book encyclopedias as a kid (possibly showing my age, I know) and I became obsessed with memorizing all the information I could find in the encyclopedias about the U.S. presidents. I memorized the order of the Presidents, where they were born, when their birthdays were, etc. I also diligently memorized all the information about the players on my baseball cards. However, when it comes to the practical activities of daily life, I have always had a difficult time with my memory. I sometimes forget to pay bills because I've misplaced them or didn't see notices about them in my e-mail. Also, I sometimes forget to take my prescription medicines and other things.

**SquarePeg61** · 06-05-2010 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by Aero

This is all completely and totally me. I can't even emphasize enough how exact it is, lol.

One time I was taking out the garbage I had in my room (room was downstairs), and when I went upstairs I got a new bag and put it in my pocket right away because I knew I would forget. When I got back to my room, I was like, "Ah, damnit, I forgot the bag AGAIN - ..wait, what's this in my pocket.. OMG, THANK YOU PAST SELF!"

I even left it hanging out a bit to make sure I would notice it there.

Sounds rather like me. I will get the idea to do something, get ready to do it and then forget what it was I was going to do. I've always attributed episodes like this to the fact that I have sleep apnea, which I've heard can affect a person's memory. I don't know if that's true or not, though.

**SquarePeg61** · 06-05-2010 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by OmarFW

our short term memory is based on our values.

if something isn't important to us, we won't remember it. our Te is too weak to force it into our heads and keep it there

I recently took a cognitive functions test online and Te turned out to be my fifth strongest of the eight functions. Not exactly a function I can easily use.

**SquarePeg61** · 06-05-2010 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by FallenofTrack

I am really bad at keeping things in a specific place. I have a habit of leaving little things all over my apartment, so that when I need them I can't find them. Trying to find the keys for my apartment is always an adventure, unless I consciously decide to put them some place specific the last time I use them. I also end up doing multiple checks to make sure that I have everything I need before I leave the apartment, otherwise i will forget something.

I sometimes get the idea to move things around in my bedroom and then, when I look for a specific thing after doing that, I can't find it because I don't remember where I moved it.