I remember small details moreso than larger, more important aspects. For example, I remember every outfit my room mate has worn for the past year, and I see her every single day. You could give me a calendar and I could tell you what she has worn on every date.

I also remember details from conversations, especially if it involves dates or numbers. I once argued with my cousin because she was saying that her son was 3 when they moved to their house, when in fact, he was almost 5. I memorize phone numbers after seeing them once, and I never have to look at my debit card when I'm making purchases because I've memorized that number, my ID number, and my bank account number.

As for long term memory, mine goes back to when I was 10 months old. My mother was sitting with me at the top of the steps in our apartment complex. She was distracted by talking to a neighbor, and I leapt out of her arms, falling down the stairs. If I asked her about it now, she would remember too. My first birthday cake was pink and blue, and I sat on a small toddler bike to eat it.

But this confuses me a bit, because I cannot remember directions (I get lost nearly everywhere I go) or where I put my phone. I forget to do things such as wash out the shower...but most people are suprised at the other stuff.

[jelly-bean]

Your memory is a whole lot better than mine is. I would think it comes in handy sometimes to have a memory like that. I am really bad at directions too so we have the same problem there.

[Lexi232]

same. i seem to notice things that others around me, never noticed.. often i have a photographic memory (usually not for words or numbers, just patterns and locations in my apartment. i can be else where and see the area to tell a person where to look..
i get lost all the time... lol so.. yeah... i know how that can feel and how the reaction of others can be kinda odd about it.

My memory is great, because I remember things from 20 + years ago.

[snickie]

I don't remember things from 20 years ago because I wasn't born yet. :P

I've a pretty good memory, better than some people's, but nowhere near savant level. Synesthesia helps with that a bit (especially with spelling and strings of numbers).

Does anyone have any experience with memory palaces? I've been working on constructing a memory palace, and so far the only thing in it (besides my home on which it is based) is a memory aid to help me with all-interval tetrachords and which piece we studied in Music Theory that used them.

[eskielover]

Yep....my H could remember phone numbers that didn't even exist any longer & he could remember all kinds of strings of numbers....but he had absolutely no common sense to remember the important things that needed to be taken care of in our marriage.

He was like a kid at times when he would remember a string of numbers like he was so proud of it.....but after 33 years of that & not having him even be able to take care of the simple things that needed to be remembered & handled in the marriage.....his remembering strings of numbers became a sore spot & not something that actually held any value in the functioning of life.

Maybe you need to find a career in code cracking or something that can make a practical use of that skill.....it's always nice when you can find something in life that can make use of the way the mind works.

Interesting because I can't remember numbers...I do good to remember my own phone number.....but you put me inside a building with no windows & I can usually tell you which direction North is. If I know the general direction I need to be going in...I can usually figure out my way there even without a GPS.

Each person has their own given talents......finding a good use for them is sometimes the challenge......I have found over the many years of life (I'm 62) that using talents just to impress others gets old after awhile & tends not to be impressive as the years pass along.

[Bernard54]

Long term my memory is great. I can remember standing in my baby crib so I must have been about 2yo. Can remember the house we lived at, kindergarten,etc. Facts and dates of something I'm interested in is something I'm very good at.
Short term is terrible. I can't even remember my own phone number. Or, if someone leaves a message on the phone for me to tell another person...it probably just won't happen. If someone wants something done it is best to write it down for me. If I didn't make lists I'd probably never remember anything.

Oh yes, my memory is quite good too, but regarding only certain things. I will usually forget a person's name after introducing themselves to me and even what they just said 5 seconds ago.

I can't comment on the getting lost part - I used to read world atlases and road maps as a child so I doubt I would get lost . When I used to close my eyes it used to look like a Garmin screen inside my head, LOL . I used to draw road maps too as a child. Then I moved on to topographic maps - it used to amaze me as a kid how you could see 3D mountains on a flat piece of paper just because of those little contour lines.

I remember phone numbers too, ID numbers, bank numbers. I also remember appointments and stuff without ever diarizing it. In fact I never used a diary in my life, mine were always blank and the teachers used to get so annoyed with me. But, I always used to say to them - "I did do my homework, didn't I? That's what counts, doesn't it?"

I must say though, if I try to memorize something, by repetitive learning for example, I cannot remember it. I would learn something say 30 minutes before an exam - a set of points, etc. In the exam, I just go blank.

I can remember things from before I was 3, because I remember my first house and we moved just before my 3rd birthday, but they are silent memories, I dont remember words or conversations. I remember things very well if I see them, but I find things like dates and words hard to remember, its like they are intangible. I still cannot remember my mums or sisters birthdays, or if someone tells me something I have to write it down if I want to remember it. It took me a few years to remember my phone number, so I hope I dont have to change it!

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by eskielover

Yep....my H could remember phone numbers that didn't even exist any longer & he could remember all kinds of strings of numbers....but he had absolutely no common sense to remember the important things that needed to be taken care of in our marriage.

We get it, aspies are useless. We don't know anything of importance. We're ALL narcissists that love to show off.

Or NOT.

I have a pretty good memory about some stuff, and that is just the way I AM, I can't change it to suit others. Actually people ask me about the past if they don't remember something cuz chances is I remember. But helping out is useless... cuz aspies are useless.

I think you have ASPERGERS confused with NARCISSISM a lot! Most aspies have horribly low self esteem because they get picked on all their lives. Do you know how it is to fear for your life every day you go to school just because people decided you are too different to live?

If not, try it and then judge us.