Storytelling is how we build memories. I like to just let em roll and see if I notice anything new. The idea that we can only tell stories exactly once to each audience and then have to seal them away forever is... kinda lonely.
this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2025
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yeah, some of my events that became stories have so many layers and moving parts i can tell the same event five times without repeating much beyond the major pivotal moments. you'll get a wildly different story each time depending on why i'm telling the story.
That's one of the cool things about stories, IMO. the narrative of the same events can change dramatically depending on the context in which they are being retold. You can tell a lot about why someone retells a story based on what parts stay the same, what parts change (and how), and what parts get dropped in later retellings.
Also you have to repeat some parts right after telling them, so technically they're hearing it 4 times ;D
Verbal reminders help me quite a bit. The stuff is in there, I just have atrocious recall.
I think it's common courtesy to say, "Let me know if you've heard this one before." When sharing. I can't stand people who retell the same stories over and over.
I don't remember telling "anyone" the story, so I get excited I have a relevant story to tell, and they interrupt me 2 sentences in saying they have heard it before, which breaks my excitement and I get sad my memory is shit.
I do sympathize with your sadness and don't really know how to help here. I can definitely admit to telling the same story more than once, but there are certain people that live in a calcified version of their past. Those are the ones that most annoy me. Once or twice, fine. The same stories every single day for years on end is tough.
I don't know the solution either, I was just venting :p
Shitty life pro tip: when you realize they're about to tell that story, interrupt them and tell their story but as if it was your own memory
And gaslight them into thinking it was always only your memory and they coopted it.
Lol, I have a colleague I could use this on. He literally cycles the same 12 stories. Every. Single. Day.
Oh I just make it clear to people that I've heard the story before, but I still let them say it because stories are fun and they know it
Yeah, I don't mind hearing it again. I just don't want them thinking I don't like the story, if my reaction doesn't match their expectation...
I just make stuff up until people realize I'm lying. That usually ends any further contact.