Context is everything, as we say in the religious studies biz. See a person you know well, but not in the location/situation where you usually see them, and the brain slips into neutral.
When I worked at the Philly Zoo, we had a Halloween party once and one of the administrative assistants came dressed in a zookeeper’s uniform. Not one of us recognized her!
I have had this happen. You meet someone someone outside of the work setting, they are dressed down and not in a place to expect them (usually a grocery store-keep it clean folks) and it takes a minute to recognize them.
I was shopping once and a lady with long hair came up to me at the grocery store and said, “Hi Captain.”. Hhmmm, she called me Captain so I mush know here from the Air Force. Mentally went up and down the hallways trying to think who I knew that would look like this in regular clothes (not baggy fatigues) and had their hair pulled up. She laughed and told me her name. She was used to it.
While at a supper club one evening, had some ‘stranger’ offer to buy my wife and me a drink. Sitting here, cleaned up and ‘disguised’ in a button-down shirt, nice pants, and a sports coat, I had no idea who I was talking to. Turned out to be one of the guys who worked in the shop – usually wearing dirty bib overalls, a tee shirt, and cap. We had just been working together a few hours earlier.
I have the same problem. I don’t recognize people out of context. I recognize the face as one I know but can’t place where I know them from. Nurses look so different without scrubs and without their hair pulled back and contained.
That happens to me a lot at the grocery. I see students and parents but sometimes struggle to remember their names. Seeing them outside of a school context throws me off.
I was in a carryout place when I ran into one of my church members. I spoke and she spoke back but didn’t seem to recognize me. When I saw her at church, she said she didn’t recognize me at first because I wasn’ t wearing a hat like I usually do. I am one of the few who wear Sunday hats. LOL
When I worked at the elementary schools, kids would have a fit when they saw me at the market. They must have thought all teachers lived at the school.
OldsVistaCruiser over 1 year ago
Wouldn’t Marcy have seen the good doctor in the market wearing a face mask during the pandemic?
LawrenceS over 1 year ago
Context is everything, as we say in the religious studies biz. See a person you know well, but not in the location/situation where you usually see them, and the brain slips into neutral.
jagedlo over 1 year ago
An interesting way of drawing Marcy in that second panel…
crookedwolf Premium Member over 1 year ago
When I worked at the Philly Zoo, we had a Halloween party once and one of the administrative assistants came dressed in a zookeeper’s uniform. Not one of us recognized her!
preacherman over 1 year ago
Both of these medicos should be wearing a mask just to be on the safe side.
Ellis97 over 1 year ago
Nice running into a colleague at the store.
Darsan54 Premium Member over 1 year ago
I have had this happen. You meet someone someone outside of the work setting, they are dressed down and not in a place to expect them (usually a grocery store-keep it clean folks) and it takes a minute to recognize them.
Sportymonk over 1 year ago
I was shopping once and a lady with long hair came up to me at the grocery store and said, “Hi Captain.”. Hhmmm, she called me Captain so I mush know here from the Air Force. Mentally went up and down the hallways trying to think who I knew that would look like this in regular clothes (not baggy fatigues) and had their hair pulled up. She laughed and told me her name. She was used to it.
darcyandsimon over 1 year ago
Whadda hoot! Happens to me any time I see someone out of context!
verticallychallenged Premium Member over 1 year ago
Yo! Mask up!
l3i7l over 1 year ago
While at a supper club one evening, had some ‘stranger’ offer to buy my wife and me a drink. Sitting here, cleaned up and ‘disguised’ in a button-down shirt, nice pants, and a sports coat, I had no idea who I was talking to. Turned out to be one of the guys who worked in the shop – usually wearing dirty bib overalls, a tee shirt, and cap. We had just been working together a few hours earlier.
jackthemailman over 1 year ago
It worked the same way for me when I delivered mail. Context is everything.
CitizenOfTheValley over 1 year ago
I have the same problem. I don’t recognize people out of context. I recognize the face as one I know but can’t place where I know them from. Nurses look so different without scrubs and without their hair pulled back and contained.
Katecst over 1 year ago
As an amateur astronomer, I can recognize fellow astronomers by their voice. Many I’ve never seen in the daylight.
Snoopy_Fan over 1 year ago
That happens to me a lot at the grocery. I see students and parents but sometimes struggle to remember their names. Seeing them outside of a school context throws me off.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault over 1 year ago
Unmasked by masking.
samfran6-0 over 1 year ago
I was in a carryout place when I ran into one of my church members. I spoke and she spoke back but didn’t seem to recognize me. When I saw her at church, she said she didn’t recognize me at first because I wasn’ t wearing a hat like I usually do. I am one of the few who wear Sunday hats. LOL
Brent Rosenthal Premium Member over 1 year ago
Context is everything. I’ve done the same
harebell over 1 year ago
Seeing my fellow reenactors in 21st century dress instead of 18th/19th has the same effect,
momofalex7 over 1 year ago
When I worked at the elementary schools, kids would have a fit when they saw me at the market. They must have thought all teachers lived at the school.
DKHenderson 3 months ago
I can absolutely see this happening.