On a lighter note, last time Aiken saw Vincent, he looked like a different person and had a different name. Even if Aiken does in fact remember "Vivian", it was a long time ago, and a lot has changed.
I've been told stories of this phenomenon where people who are mid/post-transition can encounter old acquaintances/friends/etc and not be recognized at all. It's actually never happened to me though (probably doesn't help that I don't live in the town where I grew up though). Is it weird that I totally want to experience this at least once though? You know, just bump into a old friend from high school or a former co-worker and have them be completely unaware that they already know me. I'd probably tell them because that's just how I am, but to have that initial unawareness, I think would be kind of cool. XD
Unbelievably, this happened to me when I took 3 weeks off work and came back as myself. Most of my coworkers already knew about me. But for some reason, 2 different people who I've spoken to many times before, thought I was brand new girl.
Heh, that's hilarious. Did they know how long you were going to be off when you took that time away? If they did, and they still didn't figure it out, that would be fantastic. XD
I've had that happen! I remember a few times. I came out and started transitioning in my last year at my old university, and there was a point when I could run into professors I hadn't seen in awhile, specifically ones in whose classes I spoke up a lot and likely would have otherwise remembered me, and they had no idea who I was, even introduced themselves to me as if we'd never met. One professor in particular, I actually went to his office to ask for some advice on what courses to take for the next semester, and he had no memory of my presence until I wrote my birth name on a scrap of paper and said "I'm trans, so I used to look like a guy," after which he was like "Ohhhhh, I do remember you!"
That sort of thing happens to me pretty regularly, even without the student doing something as visually confusing as transition. Professors (or teachers in general) just meet so many students that it's impossible to remember everyone.
Looking at it from the direction of everyone else here, last summer at a family reunion I overheard two cousins (whom I hadn't seen for ten years or so) wonder 'who that lady was'. Later that day, an uncle commented how it was hard to remember which one of us, my brother and I, was which. And yes, we are about the same size and currently have long hair, so I can see the confusion – as long as one doesn't notice that one of us has breasts the other a beard. The joys of being genderqueer enough to not bother making people learn a new name.
I just had this happen to me. Someone I worked with went to add me on facebook and noticed we had actually met and hung out a few times before. She was really surprised when I told her who i was.
I will pass on this, had to deal with it before transition and that was awkward enough. To deal with explaining all that to them when they don't would just be a bit more then I would care to deal with. Though I have been an introvert since I was young and always was the quiet person so I guess that makes since why I would pass on this experience again.
Fara's answer sounds so real... XD
When I ask "Who's X", I'm often answered "Y's parent/child/sibling" without knowing who is Y.
Well, I'm terrible with names anyway. ._.
"Not being recognised" My cousin is a trans guy who has been transitioning for about 5 months at least, and as you know, T is very powerful. He also had top surgery a little over a months ago.ANyway, he posted a youtube video where he talked about not being recognized by old friends. :)
I had to re-introduce myself to some of my less connected co-workers and I occasionally wonder whether I look that different, or was that forgettable, or they're just being smooth.
Looking at it from the direction of everyone else here, last summer at a family reunion I overheard two cousins (whom I hadn't seen for ten years or so) wonder 'who that lady was'. Later that day, an uncle commented how it was hard to remember which one of us, my brother and I, was which. And yes, we are about the same size and currently have long hair, so I can see the confusion – as long as one doesn't notice that one of us has breasts the other a beard. The joys of being genderqueer enough to not bother making people learn a new name.
When I ask "Who's X", I'm often answered "Y's parent/child/sibling" without knowing who is Y.
Well, I'm terrible with names anyway. ._.