"Hey, man."
The crutch used at least once by every person in college when faced with someone they know they know, but have no idea what their name is. When said to you, it implies that they know your name, but if you look into their eyes when they say it, you know the eyes NEVER LIE.
The first time I got a "Hey, man" in college, I wasn't aware of the existence of such a crutch. Growing up and in high school, I went to school with pretty much the same group of people for many years, thus making it impossible to not know everyone's name, even if you never spoke to them (I can think of one person I went to school with from 7th-12th grade that I have no recollection of ever speaking to at any point. It may have happened, but I don't remember it. JUDGE AWAY.).
In college, that changes because many more people become a part of your day-to-day activities. That means more names and details like hometowns that you've never had to remember before, but now need to know because the world functions best on common courtesy.
Unfortunately, at some point, due to limited space and your brain labeling someone as "NOT IMPORTANT", you are forced to throw out a "Hey, man." I remember how mad it made me when I got it because I AM IMPORTANT HOW DARE THEY NOT REMEMBER MY NAME.
Then I finally did it and I wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Unlike some people (BOSSMEN), it always bothered me when I did it, so I developed my own "Hey, man" that made me feel not as bad, which probably makes me even worse because all I'm really concerned about is how I'm feeling.
Anyway, if I saw a "Hey, man" situation approaching, I always gave a friendly, slightly jokey "Hello, sir" (tone is the key), followed by a handshake, because it implied that I knew their name, but I'm having some fun here (/ENGAGE FOLKSY BANTER). And I still use this method today because after college, the names and details don't stop.
The list keeps growing and I have even more important things to remember now, like being able to speak on Con Air for at least 15 uninterrupted minutes. To my brain, that is clearly more important than being able to appear socially competent.
And apparently, it will always be this way, as shown by Steve Spurrier, who was stumbled upon by Hugh Freeze in the hallway at SEC Media Days, and, quick as ever, gave a hearty "Hey, my man."
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