[btilly]

Really? You'd immediately recognize someone you knew for a few weeks over 20 years ago? You wouldn't need a bit to try to figure out who they are?

If so, then your memory is unusually good. I know that this is well beyond my capabilities. Nor do I have the ability to visit a place that I lived 40 years earlier and find my way around.

[Spooky23]

I think it depends on the intensity of the experience.

I recently found myself in a hotel that I stayed in as a 7-8 year old in the 80s for a particularly memorable vacation with my extended family. It was funny that I still remembered the I unusual aspects of the layout and could spot many of the changes that had been made over the years.

But if you asked me to describe someone I met for a few days in a business context in 2020, I’d have a hard time remembering detail.

[Someone]

How many other elephants did these elephants see in those 20+ years? It wouldn’t surprise me if that was fewer than 100. How many did they spend a few weeks or more with? It wouldn’t surprise me if that were less than 20.

There also, AFAIK, isn’t evidence they remember _all_ other elephants they’ve shared time with for at least few weeks (I certainly do not rule that out, either, given the low number they likely will meet in their life)

[tshaddox]

> You'd immediately recognize someone you knew for a few weeks over 20 years ago?

Yeah? Maybe not if they were a kid 20 years ago or their appearance had otherwise changed significantly, but otherwise I don't see why not.