You must have a very good memory, then. I was made painfully aware of how not great mine was yesterday.
I met this woman through my wife. It turns out I already met this person 5 years ago, because we share a common friend. She remembered me quite clearly, but I had completely forgotten her, as well as the event where we met.
So far all good, it was 5 years ago after all. However, she also told me that we had met before that! 20 years ago! Through a work acquaintance of mine this time. We apparently did some hiking through the countryside together. I remember nothing of that. I don't remember that second acquaintance either. Apparently it was the same situation 5 years ago; she told me all of this, I apologized for forgetting her and everything around meeting her. And then I forgot her. And that was only the first time.
To me my memory is not a "bucket that eventually gets full". It's more like a "dark corridor". Memories are on the walls. As I move forwards, the parts of the corridor behind me get eventually darker, until only the brightest memories remain visible. I have forgotten most of my highschool classmates. I have forgotten most of my past coworkers. I have some memories from my childhood, still. But only the very bright ones. And they are continuously dimming.
I am completely fine with this. I am still me. I think forgetting is part of what makes us human.
Or at least, of what makes me human.
Going back to this person that I forgot twice. Apparently she remembers everyone she has ever met, even if just once. I have met at least another person with this capacity. I can't but consider those people freaks of nature, and in consequence a potential danger for society. We should watch them closely. And perhaps we should watch you closely as well.
At least until I forget all of you again.
I have no doubt in my mind that my memory will never "fill up". More like the opposite: the danger is that it empties too fast at some point.
I met this woman through my wife. It turns out I already met this person 5 years ago, because we share a common friend. She remembered me quite clearly, but I had completely forgotten her, as well as the event where we met.
So far all good, it was 5 years ago after all. However, she also told me that we had met before that! 20 years ago! Through a work acquaintance of mine this time. We apparently did some hiking through the countryside together. I remember nothing of that. I don't remember that second acquaintance either. Apparently it was the same situation 5 years ago; she told me all of this, I apologized for forgetting her and everything around meeting her. And then I forgot her. And that was only the first time.
To me my memory is not a "bucket that eventually gets full". It's more like a "dark corridor". Memories are on the walls. As I move forwards, the parts of the corridor behind me get eventually darker, until only the brightest memories remain visible. I have forgotten most of my highschool classmates. I have forgotten most of my past coworkers. I have some memories from my childhood, still. But only the very bright ones. And they are continuously dimming.
I am completely fine with this. I am still me. I think forgetting is part of what makes us human.
Or at least, of what makes me human.
Going back to this person that I forgot twice. Apparently she remembers everyone she has ever met, even if just once. I have met at least another person with this capacity. I can't but consider those people freaks of nature, and in consequence a potential danger for society. We should watch them closely. And perhaps we should watch you closely as well.
At least until I forget all of you again.
I have no doubt in my mind that my memory will never "fill up". More like the opposite: the danger is that it empties too fast at some point.