People who pretend they don't know you.

Yes, out shopping or similar, you see someone you know, you know they have seen you, but they pretend not to.

Why? A simple ‘hello’ as you pass would suffice.

Do I ever do that, with someone I don’t really want to acknowledge?

If I’m being honest, probably yes, on occasions.

I don't think it is always a health problem. Our neighbours have studiously blanked us for over 20 years. It must take a lot more effort than a quick nod!

The clinical name for face blindness is prosopagnosia, I know this because I have it and it’s a huge social embarrassment, especially when I went to business parties with my husband. I know I’ve been guilty of blanking people for this very reason, something I would never do intentionally. My DH on the other hand remembers faces of someone he sat near to on a beach. I once reported disturbing a boy who was riffling through our garage, the police came and asked me what he looked like and couldn’t understand that all I could say that he was tall and blond.

My husband can't tell one newscaster from the other. He can only tell if they are male or female.

There are other things too. I once ignored someone (unintentionally) when I was apparently staring straight at her.

I was in a little world of my own thinking about the best route to take to visit the shops I was going to and she was across the road from me, waving. She crossed the road and grabbed my arm and said 'Hello, how are you?' and made me jump. If she hadn't approached me I probably would never have noticed her.

I have been told by other people that I've ignored them too. I tend to focus on what I am doing most of the time and get tunnel vision.

Flappergirl mentioned people being relevant. I noticed that a lot in sports club I belonged to. Unless you were a great player or came from an important family you were ignored by the elite group.My friend walked into the changing room one day and someone at the far end asked who's that? No one was the reply.

They may not be ignoring you, I have face blindness, my two dds have it too. I have had more conversations than I care to remember when I have had absolutely no idea who the person I was speaking to was. They clearly knew me because they used my children’s and husband names. I never had the nerve to confess to not recognising them because I thought they woukd think me rude so fished around trying to get clues from our conversation.
I now tell people I meet that I may not recognise them next time and they find it interesting. It’s called propagnosia.

They may not recognise you. Isn't it you who are doing the "blanking" kircubbin. You recognise them but don't speak to them.

I think that sometimes we have bland relationships with people .
There hasn't been a row or any discord-it just that a relationship that lacks any spark.
Some people can't pretend otherwise and can't be bothered to even acknowledge your existence.
I suppose that it's better than saying wow it's great to see you let's have coffee sometime.
And sometime never happens .

I was talking to an old friend yesterday and we both said that we are totally fed up with people , who actually have no interest in you , but can't resist a barrage of questions when they see you .
Just because they are curious !

A few days ago I suddenly had mid chest pain and started an asthma attack .
My inhaler didn't work .
I thought that I was going to end up in A and E .
Trying to get home - I met an old neighbour -someone I've not seen for years .
Please excuse me , I said I'm having an asthma attack
Oh what are you doing about your house ?
she persisted.
I had to walk away.
I just caught my bus and got home in time .

Don't worry if people blank you .
Just concentrate on people ,who can be bothered to pass the time of day with you ,because they like you and appreciate your company

I also find this with people who were friendly with my husband. Sometimes they don't notice the wife at all unless she is with him.

That could be it. I usually remember everyone but I know some don't. My friend told me I see too much.

My OH can't seem to recognise people if he sees them outside of their normal situation - a neighbour, for example, in a shop in the town. He always asks who it was and then can't understand why he didn't recognise them. There is a condition which no doubt has a clinical name, but is 'face blindness' - and maybe there are degrees of that. If you haven't fallen out with them perhaps there is some level of the condition .

I know exactly what you mean. It’s happened to me, too. My only explanation is that we have a good memory for faces, but not everyone does. On a long cruise last year, we spoke to many people and I could always remember them and where they came from etc. I spoke to one lady who we had sat and chatted to for over an hour about ten days afterwards, but she could not recollect me at all. For some reason, people don’t remember me, but yet they will always remember my husband!

Yes, I've known it on occasion over the years. Some people (not many thankfully) are just not very social or even rude. Maybe they only bother with people they know very well or that are "relevant" to their lives. Perhaps in your case (as you are seeing these women in shops) they are in a desperate hurry and don't want to get chatting. I must admit I have very occasionally tried to avoid someone in that scenario myself!

I don't see people if I go out without my glasses!
Maybe they wear contact lenses.. but not always?

I know I'm not very good remembering people I don't know very well. I have had someone come up to me and say Hello J and I don't remember them.
If they are deliberately blanking you then that's just rude.