Jamais Vu: A Random Peculiarity of Familiarity

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Have you ever had a moment when you’ve bumped into someone that you haven’t seen in a while and they are so happy to see you, but you haven’t the slightest clue as to who they are? Or you go to a place that you’ve been to many times before, but you can’t seem to remember it? This happens to us all, especially to me (LOL), it seems like it happens to me more times than not!

When this happens to someone, they have just experienced “jamais vu”. And what the heck is jamais vu, you may ask? Well, according to Wikipedia “In psychology, jamais vu (/ˈʒæmeɪ ˈvuː/; French pronunciation: ​[ʒa.mɛ.vy]), a French borrowing meaning “never seen”, refers to the phenomenon of experiencing a situation that one recognizes in some fashion, but nonetheless seems very unfamiliar.” Strangely, it’s the opposite of “deja vu” which is the phenomenon that basically describes the feeling one gets when they’re experiencing a current situation even though they know that it has never happened to them before. Back in June of 2015, I wrote an article titled just that, “Deja vu” about its meaning and a couple of my very own deja vu moments.

And just for kicks…. here’s another “vu” that everyone’s well aware of, simply because it happens to us all. Ever have that moment when something is on the tip of your tongue, but you can’t, to save your own life, remember what it is? Like when someone starts to hum a song that you haven’t heard in a really long time and you know the name of the song, but you can’t quite get it out. Or when a couple of friends start talking about an old televisions series with what’s her name…. ya know the one… that actress that’s been on t.v. for years, but for some weird reason we just can’t remember her name at the moment….. Experiences like this happen to each and every single one of us. This phenomenon, my friends, is known as “presque vu”.

So many “vu’s” it’s hard to know what to do…. lol

Anywho… just a little quirkiness for a “Fun Fact Friday”! Hope you have a blessed weekend!! Massive love to you all!!! ❤

 

 

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~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

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~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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21 thoughts on “Jamais Vu: A Random Peculiarity of Familiarity”

  1. I know the feeling, like a ghost-whisper when you grab for something “you know” but can’t quite recall the right name. Charades, anyone? I’ve certainly gone through the motions as you seek out buried concepts with the edge of it, exposed ever so maddening like a beach bum excavating the sands of loss…… Makes me wonder of those brain-exercise apps clear any of that up!

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  5. I must admit I’ve never heard of Jamais Vu nor Presque Vu. I often experience the latter, though. Sometimes, when I’m writing, I want to use a particular word, but can I remember it? Not at all. It’s usually a word I know and use regularly, too.
    As to names, well, I can remember old actors, singers etc, but the younger ones frequently escape me, but I think that’s probably because I’m not as interested in them as I was in my youth. Too much else to think about.

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  6. I get from time to time this feeling of ‘Jamais Vu’. I never known there was a name for it. This term word is going to my list.

    Anyhow, yes, I run into someone and I’m trying my best to remember them but my mind is a blank and trying my hardest to remember where I’ve seen them from. They usually remind me but my head is still trying to process it. Again, its been a long long time since I’ve seen old friends or acquaintances.

    Excellent blog post.

    P.S Thank you so much for following my page and liking one of my older poems from last year. Curious, what made you want to stop by and read?

    I too, am following your page. 🙂

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  7. This happens to me all the time, especially because I work at an airport. I forget that my Celtic accent makes me memorable to thousands of passengers and airport workers. One traveler had reorganized a regular business route to come via Houston because I was so helpful the last time (months ago). I hadn’t a clue who he was…but kept smiling.
    As for movies – thank goodness for modern smart phones. It drives me crazy that I can’t remember anything anymore. 😁

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  9. Pingback: “Spooky Random Fact: #15” | SHEILA RENEE PARKER

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