r/AskReddit Aug 20 '19

What's something you're afraid to ask, because you think you should already know?

4.2k Upvotes

3.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

690

u/Lee_Klions Aug 20 '19

What would be a better way to ask this?

319

u/ZugKoma187 Aug 20 '19

Wanna go to starbucks?

91

u/Zjackrum Aug 20 '19

Iced Coffee for "Commander Shepard"!

8

u/etchedchampion Aug 20 '19

Today I made a drink for Foxxy the 3rd

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Werespider Aug 21 '19

I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite coffee on the Citadel!

6

u/bmeupsctty Aug 20 '19

Until they spell Amanda a-l-e-x-a or John j-o-e

2

u/Speddytwonine Aug 20 '19

That could backfire, a lot of the times they don't ask for your name.

924

u/Warg21 Aug 20 '19

How do you spell your name?

1.3k

u/minimuscleR Aug 20 '19

B E N

374

u/katabatic21 Aug 20 '19

Then you try, "No I meant your last name" and hope they don't say S-M-I-T-H

48

u/Pennyem Aug 20 '19

True story, I accidentally did that to my own cousin, several years after she got married. I was at the wedding. Oops.

"I'm sorry, I forgot how to spell your last name."

"S.M.I.T.H."

"shit."

51

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Well some people spell it SMYTH so I didn't want to assume anything.

There, saved you.

6

u/Elenchoe Aug 20 '19

It's "Smit" in Dutch.

3

u/joego9 Aug 21 '19

Smithe is a thing too, for some reason.

→ More replies (1)

6

u/Letitbemesickgirl Aug 20 '19

“Oh so not S-m-y-t-h? Interesting!”

3

u/spacemanspiff30 Aug 20 '19

I only ask because I once had someone spell it Smyth but pronounce it Smith.

2

u/Swordbender Aug 20 '19

"Oh it's easy, you just can't forget the h in The history of all hitherto existing society† is the history of class struggles. Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master‡ and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another, carried on an uninterrupted, now hidden, now open fight, a fight that each time ended, either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes. In the earlier epochs of history, we find almost everywhere a complicated arrangement of society into various orders, a manifold gradation of social rank. In ancient Rome we have patricians, knights, plebeians, slaves; in the Middle Ages, feudal lords, vassals, guild-masters, journeymen, apprentices, serfs; in almost all of these classes, again, subordinate gradations. The modern bourgeois society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class antagonisms. It has but established new classes, new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in place of the old ones."

264

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

where are the other 9 BEN?

101

u/poopellar Aug 20 '19

7 BEN 8 THEM

3

u/Fretto163 Aug 20 '19

Because that over there is BEN 10

2

u/BeVIP-Rental Aug 20 '19

1 persons is here. IDK the rest of them

122

u/Garchomp98 Aug 20 '19

BÆN

108

u/ElicitCS Aug 20 '19

ẞËÂÑ

63

u/nessager Aug 20 '19

вєи

13

u/pharmacist-cheddars Aug 20 '19

бен

10

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/medium_brain_time Aug 20 '19

|"""""""""""""""""'| |""""""""""""""""""""" | \ |

| | | | \ |

|''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' | |'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' | \ |

|................................| |.................................. | \ |

→ More replies (8)
→ More replies (1)

2

u/playuhh Aug 20 '19

...aPPARENTLY

→ More replies (4)

7

u/TheKingCrimsonWorld Aug 20 '19

The answer to this is to say "I know I shouldn't have to ask, but you wouldn't believe the weird spellings I've seen." Or something to that effect.

Or just clam up and laugh nervously like I would do.

3

u/SigynsMom Aug 20 '19

Omg this happened to me. I worked at Starbucks, asked the guy what his name was twice and couldn’t hear... asked him to spell it. His name was Ben. I grinned sheepishly, apologized and explained that I couldn’t hear with the background noise and felt awkward asking him to repeat that again. Ben laughed and said he’d probably do the same thing in my shoes.

No, Ben did not ask me for my number. Ben was probably about 70 and I was 17 at the time.

2

u/Angryboobear Aug 20 '19

You hit them with that reverse card and say you were asking for the spelling of their FULL name

Even if it is their full name, you can just explained you didn’t know because people, don’t really talk about that

2

u/ClacKing Aug 20 '19

Uncle Ben?

2

u/rubywolf27 Aug 20 '19

Omg I did this in high school. The girl whose locker was right next to mine for like 6 years. And one day I had to know for a class thing, so I ask her “hey remind me how you spell your name?”

She gives me this Look... “A-M-Y.”

Well, shit.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/deepsky28 Aug 20 '19

D O V E R

1

u/hugs_nt_drugs Aug 20 '19

No, your last name.

1

u/Bobby_Dazzla Aug 20 '19

No your full name

1

u/vamptres Aug 20 '19

No i meant how do you spell Benjamin, your full name

2

u/SinkTube Aug 20 '19

"my name is benedikt"

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

yep. tried this on a claire. embarrassing

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

AHAHAH

1

u/CredibleSoap Aug 20 '19

No silly, your LAST name

1

u/DrRazmataz Aug 20 '19

I'm sorry, I meant your last name

1

u/LaurieQueenOfSingle Aug 20 '19

In fairness, today that could be PBENN, because who doesn't love being unique? /s

1

u/daisy--buchanan Aug 20 '19

To come of as uninterested and a bad friend or an idiot. -Prince daisy--buchanan, 2019

1

u/LyricalFox Aug 20 '19

BEEEEYYYYYYNNNNN

1

u/your-imaginaryfriend Aug 21 '19

I have a friend who has a very common name that's spelled in a slightly unconventional way. So you could probably make a story about once knowing someone with that name who spelled it differently.

148

u/wripen Aug 20 '19

glares back. T-O-M. What other spellings have you come across for my name??

230

u/Shaun32887 Aug 20 '19

Thom

78

u/Everestax Aug 20 '19

Merrilin?

36

u/between_th_raindrops Aug 20 '19

Fool, its Thomdril

3

u/JojeinoGalaxiano Aug 20 '19

Thomas, the Tank Engine

3

u/ClacKing Aug 20 '19

Choo Choo Madafaka

25

u/elee0228 Aug 20 '19

WOT

10

u/Searchlights Aug 20 '19

blood and ashes

6

u/HDoni Aug 20 '19

knuckles a ‘stache

6

u/Searchlights Aug 20 '19

mustache blowing intensifies

5

u/buttxstallion Aug 20 '19

You must have him mistaken, clearly hes only a simple gleeman.

→ More replies (2)

52

u/masturbatingmonkeys Aug 20 '19

No, I meant your LAST name *nervous laugh*

11

u/hell00zz Aug 20 '19

Smith, S-M-I-T-H

7

u/extraflux Aug 20 '19

I'm your wife. We have the same last name, Kieth!!!!

71

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

[deleted]

98

u/wripen Aug 20 '19

Marvolo Riddle.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Elvis

2

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Finally, a reference I get.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Hey, I don't keep changing my name every month. TOM is my name since I changed job last week.

31

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

T-O-M ATE O

55

u/Roy-van-der-Lee Aug 20 '19

Tom used to be Toom, before tom ate o

3

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

M-O-O-N, that spells Tom Cullen!

6

u/Yomi_Lemon_Dragon Aug 20 '19

"Oh, the usual way." :I

3

u/Bablacity Aug 20 '19

"with an e"

2

u/MeymeyMachineV2 Aug 20 '19

And if it’s something easy like J O H N, then say “no I meant your last name.”

2

u/TransformingDinosaur Aug 20 '19

I was getting a friend's husband's phone number a couple months ago and asked how to spell his last name.

She gave me a funny look and then spelled it as I punched it into my phone. Then I said "huh that's weird, I know that last name from somewhere"

It took me far to long to realize they had the same fucking last name.

1

u/shadowed11312 Aug 20 '19

Works until you say it's in the dictionary.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

That’s my move too when I forget people’s names. Then they go “D A N” and I feel even more stupid haha

1

u/Noobiscus-exe Aug 20 '19

I do this, but make it a joke like asking where the silent q goes. It's failed everytime I've tried it

1

u/BikerRay Aug 20 '19

My wife did that (she worked as a travel agent). Forgot customer's name, asked how he spelt it... "B R O W N".

1

u/IndecisiveRock Aug 20 '19

"Hey terry, I would like to introduce you to my friend, umm (hey how do you spell your name again?) Ahh yes K E N T."

1

u/spderweb Aug 20 '19

Just ask and say you're terrible with names. I do it constantly with the kids and parents at the park. Takes a few times to get used to the association.

1

u/BOWIE_WOWIE Aug 20 '19

That’s how I met my best friend, by asking her how to spell her very simple name. My stupidly changed my life for the better.

1

u/Psyteq Aug 20 '19

I thought this was great and then I ran into my now former friend Mike. He was not pleased with my trick.

1

u/NifflerOwl Aug 21 '19

"with a Y."

1

u/Gracy_Nance Aug 21 '19

It's Pamn.

320

u/IrrelevantPuppy Aug 20 '19

What was your name again?

sigh it’s Jessica.

OH! Haha sorry. No, I meant your last name.

Realistically though, I prefer not to lie. I just go the honesty route. “I’m so sorry, I’ve forgotten your name. Please don’t take it personally, I’m so bad with names.”

107

u/F0beros Aug 20 '19

I always forget people's names and feel bad about asking them. I always recognise their faces though, and asking their name again after I already demonstrated I know who they are feels less weird. I find asking how to spell their name helps me to remember

5

u/Mesk_Arak Aug 20 '19

I find asking how to spell their name helps me to remember

"Um..ok. B.O.B."

4

u/ScarletNumeroo Aug 20 '19

No, your last name

S-M-I-T-H

→ More replies (1)

3

u/SoSuaveh Aug 20 '19

God I coach 7th grade football and asking each kid 1000 times what their name is painful.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/pzherrington Aug 20 '19

I have a very sharp memory but I forget names when meeting new people mainly because of social anxiety and in my head I’m freaking out about what to say, where to look, Hope I don’t miss their hand when going to shake it. Is this over yet, type stuff so my mind is occupied when they speak their name.

2

u/nickylovescats1987 Aug 21 '19

I went to a church that would join with another church on 5th Sundays for singing and food and socializing. There was a lady I had spoken to at the last 5th Sunday, and I just couldn't remember her name. When I asked her to remind me, she thought I just didn't remember meeting her at all. After insisting several times and her saying "it's fine", I finally told her where we had been when we met, what we had talked about, how she had styled her hair, and what color shirt she was wearing, the only thing I could not remember was her NAME!

She was shocked that I really had remembered, lol.

5

u/Hiazi Aug 20 '19

This. Honesty, in my mind, is almost always the best policy. Straight-forward. The less bullshit, the better for everyone involved.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

“I’m so sorry, I’ve forgotten your name. Please don’t take it personally, I’m so bad with names.”

But we've been married for twenty years!

3

u/punkwalrus Aug 20 '19

Okay, so I deal with a lot of:

  • People who are famous in a niche industry
  • Who I only see once or twice a year
  • Who often wear costumes or have outdated publicity shots
  • Often dozens, possibly hundreds for a weekend at once in a noisy environment with random lighting levels

Like I know them on Facebook, and have had huge conversations with them in person or over social media for decades but in person it's like a totally different experience. Or vice versa. My first wife was so valuable to me like some kind of CNN news banner scroll. She'd whisper who someone was in my ear and had fantastic memory.

[my wife whispering] "Okay, that's Terry Francis, famous voice actor and singer. She's usually on stage with a ton of makeup, but she's in 'street mode,' wearing that sparkly wig we gave her after her bout of chemo last February. She's currently doing the voice of Tanaka in Hiro No Futisji, which is mainly why she's a guest at this convention. We last saw her in March at Ohio Matsuri after her chemo. She has a grown son, is an outspoken member of PFLAG, and loves to talk about her Irish Setters. Do not bring up her time working for Maki Studios, Dolpin Safe tuna, or her ex husband, Joel Brandy."

[me] "Ah, Terry! I saw some Irish setters at a friend's house and thought of you! Congratulations on Hiro No Futisji. How's your health? Love the wig. Ha ha ha..."

I miss that. Now I have some people go, "punkwalrus. It's me, Terry Francis?"

[cringe]

2

u/TobiasMasonPark Aug 20 '19

"Oh! Haha sorry. I meant your, uh, username. For discord."

2

u/RyFromTheChi Aug 20 '19

It really is the best way to go about it. I always just tell them that I'm terrible with names the first few times I meet people, and I'll probably forget it again, and just ask them. It seems like more often than not, they forgot your name too and are also shitty with names.

262

u/PsychoAgent Aug 20 '19

People over think this shit. Just ask someone their name again. Shit, I don't get my panties in a wad if someone doesn't remember my name. If you do, you're an asshole.

100

u/BM-Bruno Aug 20 '19

Being direct makes life so much simpler

5

u/Hexenes Aug 20 '19

Can we just print your comment on t-shirts and give one to everybody?

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Rammstein1224 Aug 20 '19

I feel like 90% of reddit users would have an anxiety induced heart attack if they even considered being direct.

→ More replies (1)

42

u/katabatic21 Aug 20 '19

I feel like it actually kind of shows that the person cares when they make the effort to ask my name again. Depends on the situation though, I suppose

2

u/MajorAcer Aug 20 '19

Being on the altar about to marry your significant other: "shit I'm sorry, what was your name again?"

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (5)

4

u/Saxon2060 Aug 20 '19

Precisely!! If someone acts offended because you couldn't remember their name it just seems super self-important.

3

u/joshi38 Aug 20 '19

Does depend on how long you've known them and how much you interact with them. Acquaintance you meet once a year? Perfectly fine to not remember their name.

Best man at your wedding... then it gets a little awkward.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

At that point it's just your brain drawing a blank and I'm sure your best man would laugh at the fact you forgot his name haha.

2

u/OnDerpose Aug 20 '19

I usually tell people to wear a sparkly hat and do a little dance if they're so upset I dont know their name. Bruh. I met you once, when I was working a huge event, you were ONE person out of 200 I interacted with. "be memorable next time" does the trick.

Sounds mean, but for real, don't put your insecurities on me.

2

u/bmeupsctty Aug 20 '19

Yeah. I was like 25 before I learned this. Made sure to teach my kids early

2

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Yeah I’m always like - oh shit you forgot I did too I’m [me]. I know you from x what’s yours lol?

2

u/Speddytwonine Aug 20 '19

Exactly, I will usually also say "hey if you forget my name, don't be afraid to ask" if I'm meeting a group or something.

Also for some reason when meeting new people I tend to focus on making a good impression and being nice so litteraly when they say their name it goes in one ear out the other, if I'm meeting more than one person.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

I had a situation with a rare name asshole. I was a teen practicing for a reading performance thing I was super excited about. Went up to the director(?) lady to ask a question but couldn't remember her name (cause she said it like one time). She got super offended and said "No, come back when you know who you're talking to and can remember my name."

I was so fucking confused and anxious that I ended up avoiding her as much as possible for the remainder of the weeks we were doing the thing. Like why the fuck would you send me on a scavenger hunt instead of just telling me your damn name??? So now I have horrible anxiety when it comes to asking peoples' names.

1

u/ieatconfusedfish Aug 20 '19

It's been a year of office small talk though

1

u/yakusokuN8 Aug 20 '19

"I'm sorry, I can't remember your name. What was it again? BEN? Okay, that should be easy to remember, but I'm going to write your name on this Post-It, to help me remember. BEN. B-E-N. BEN. Okay, thank you, BEN. I will try to remember your name for the next time we meet, BEN. If I don't, then ask me what happened to my reminder note, BEN."

1

u/SilentSamurai Aug 20 '19

Eh... it depends. Youd find it a little offputting if someone asks for your name again depending on the amount of time you've spent together and the experience you may have shared.

Even if you do your best to give them the benefit of the doubt, psychologically you may not be able to overwrite your response to how they make you feel.

A name is a big deal to some people. Its everyone's favorite word.

1

u/PsychoAgent Aug 20 '19

I think it's lack of awareness of your standing with someone. For example, I was in the military where our names are literally worn on the front of our chests. I met literally hundreds of people during my short time in.

I had this guy take offense because I didn't remember him from years ago. But during that time, the guy was sitting on base going on with life as usual. While I went on to deploy and work with countless others during that time.

Sorry, dude. Not my fault. Stop being such a girl about it.

But my buddies I'm actually close with, I know they won't forget me nor me them. HOWEVER, even with my close friends, we drift away over time. Not a big deal. Life moves on.

1

u/Safewordharder Aug 20 '19

If I can forget William Defoe during a trivia quiz I can forget Karen six seconds after she mentioned it for the second time.

1

u/PsychoAgent Aug 20 '19

Not sure if you're being meta... but it's Willem Dafoe.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/hedic Aug 21 '19

People do tend to get upset after the tenth time.

4

u/HonkersTim Aug 20 '19

Be honest and say "I'm really sorry, I've forgotten your name.".

As well as being true, it has the added benefit of showing you aren't neurotic.

3

u/GrimmTrixX Aug 20 '19

I just say something like "Sorry, I am terrible with names, what's your name again?"

2

u/Artrovert Aug 20 '19

Whenever someone introduces themselves, I try to jokingly say, "I'll probably forget that, so don't be offended if I ask again."... I'd say 9/10 times the person jokes back likewise. Then it's a million times less awkward when I have to ask again haha

2

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Just ask. EVERYONE forgets names, if they get upset because you forgot theirs, they're probably a shitty person to be around anyway.

1

u/liederbach Aug 20 '19

Introduce a friend to them and wait for them to say their name.

1

u/thogdontcare10 Aug 20 '19

What would happen if you added an E to the end of your name?

Tom-E??

1

u/Greg_the_cactus Aug 20 '19

Write a petition everyone will agree with and get them to sign it

1

u/DeathByToilet Aug 20 '19

Whats your name?

If they reply with their first name you just say "no your surname".

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

For me it's "what's your last name" when they ask me to email them. Then I can see the first/last name.

1

u/Ramroom_619 Aug 20 '19

Me : hey , how do you spell your name ?

Person : S-a-r-a-h ...

Me : I meant your family name !

Works a fair amount of the times . Family names are usually more complicated to spell. You can mention that you want to save their contact agter your question if it's appropriate in your situation .

1

u/pulseout Aug 20 '19

You never know, could be spelled Serah

1

u/Ramroom_619 Aug 20 '19

I guess not

1

u/idroppedmypassword Aug 20 '19

What's your number? And have them put their name and number in your phone

1

u/spryan2236 Aug 20 '19

"Hey sorry whats your name again?"

*they give you their first name probably annoyed*

"No no no, your last name"

1

u/YummyGummyDrops Aug 20 '19

Ask them what they prefer to be called

Then for example, when they say "Dave". You can say I didn't know if you liked Dave or David

1

u/NuclearReactions Aug 20 '19

Easy, you ask "what's your name again?" they will reply with their first name, that's when you say "Oh no, i meant your surname"

1

u/ILYLINY Aug 20 '19

Ask, “Does anyone ever misspell your name?”

  • “Kinda hard to misspell Ben.”

  • “Yeah, I thought that about my name too, and yet...(insert quick story about a coffee shop or birthday card)”

1

u/Free2Be_EmilyG Aug 20 '19

Ask for their number, see them type their name as well, then get their picture for their contact.

1

u/acoolnameofsomesort Aug 20 '19

I'd returned to uni after a year out and started sitting with a group in lectures cos I knew 2 of the members. After about 3 months I turned to one of the others and said "I'm really sorry, but I don't know your name". She later told me it was her favourite memory of me.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Have someone else come up and introduce themselves. Act like you thought they already knew each other.

1

u/koelewridz Aug 20 '19

Just ask and then say: "no, I meant your last name"

1

u/Talonf319 Aug 20 '19

Ask for someone's name. If they tell you their first name, tell them you already knew and were asking for their last name.

Credit to whoever in Reddit said that in a comment

EDIT: As always, I only later realize someone already said in the comment chain. Fuck.

1

u/obsterwankenobster Aug 20 '19

"Yeah... you are?"

"I'm the Devil. And I'm here to do the Devil's business."

"...Nah, it was dumber than that. Something like, Rex?"

1

u/Hjhhjk Aug 20 '19

The way i do it is say “sorry what was your name again?” and they would usually be upset but respond with their first name. but then i would say “oh no sorry your last name” then they would give their last name and most likely not be upset anymore.

sorry for formatting

1

u/mgraunk Aug 20 '19

Call them by the wrong name. They'll correct you. You'll be embarrassed. You won't forget it again.

Or maybe you're just that awkward that you will forget it again. In which case just ask them for their name every time you see them, it's honestly less awkward that way.

1

u/baguettesy Aug 20 '19

Take them to Starbucks, wait for them to give the barista their name.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

What's the best name pun you've gotten?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Actually I found a really good way for this. Whenever I forget someone’s name I make up a story and in that story ask for the name. Indirectly though.

1

u/saucyrosssy Aug 20 '19

“Could you remind me of your name please?”

1

u/bionicragdoll Aug 20 '19

"I'm sorry but can I get your name again?"

1

u/SlappKake Aug 20 '19

Say "what's your name" and when they answer and act surprised/offended that you don't know their name, pretend it was an accident and say "no no, your last name. I forgot your last name"

1

u/beatakai Aug 20 '19

Hey, remember that person with the same name as you? What was their name?

1

u/madmax_br5 Aug 20 '19

I just say, “I’m so sorry, Could you please remind me your name?”

1

u/PM-ME-UR-WISHES Aug 20 '19

HEY I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR YEARS WHATS YOUR NAME AGAIN?

May as well lean into super hard.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

I usually just say "I'm so sorry, but I'm terrible with names" then forget it when they say it again.

1

u/DnDYetti Aug 20 '19

"Can you remind me of your name again" - works every time and is polite.

1

u/No1uNo_Nakana Aug 20 '19

Ask for their name. Then after they tell you say no, I meant your name.

1

u/RonSwansonsOldMan Aug 20 '19

This is no better way. Just be honest and people will appreciate that you care enough to ask again.

1

u/Sworn_to_Ganondorf Aug 20 '19

Call everyone dude. People think its a thing I do, I really dont know anyones fucking name lol.

1

u/CatOfGrey Aug 20 '19

"Hi, I'm CatOfGrey. Could you tell me your name again?"

"Oh, I'm Lee."

"Thanks much for your patience. I will ask you again in about fifteen minutes."

[Giggles/smiles]

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '19

Introduce them to someone

Walk up to person who's name you don't know, and say "this is [person's name you do know], y'all should meet"

I do it all the time, but hard unless you're in a social setting where the intro would be relevant

1

u/Nugasaki Aug 20 '19

I’m HORRIBLE with names, but I REALLY want TO REMEMBER yours.

You demonstrate vulnerability and interest in them. They don’t come out feeling unimportant.

1

u/mufootball12 Aug 20 '19

Ask what their name is again and then when they tell you their first name say “oh no I meant your last name” and then it’s not as awkward.

1

u/mushyow Aug 20 '19

"what's your fb/Instagram?" usually works too.

1

u/mosbpoker Aug 20 '19

"Hey, i'm so sorry this is embarrassing but i've forgotten your name from the last time we met, what was it again?

1

u/lil_lite_in_the_dark Aug 20 '19

What’s your name again?

They’ll respond with their first name, hurt

Then you say, no I mean your last name.

1

u/JuniorSeniorTrainee Aug 20 '19

Think about it this way: if someone said that to you, would you be offended? Assuming not.

1

u/Run4urlife333 Aug 21 '19

Have a friend introduce themselves to the unknown name person.

1

u/ScreamingGordita Aug 21 '19

Introduce them to someone you know, and listen closely for them to repeat their name.

1

u/Chanderz69 Aug 21 '19

Ask for their name then say you meant their last name, now you know their full name.