Names of fictional characters

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A recent thread made me realise that I have significantly less trouble remembering the names of characters in books and TV shows then I do remembering the names of real people.

Has anyone else noticed this?

It's probably (perhaps obviously) because you're more focused on the books and TV shows.

Maybe it's because you can reread the names of characters in books,. It could also be that characters are referred to by their names more often in books & films than in real life... (just an idea)

Happens to me all the time. I can remember the names of characters in books I've read 12 years ago, but ask me about the names of my fellow apprentices...

Well I know that I can follow the plot and trhead of quite complex films and books far better than I can in simple conversations and far better than my NT wife can(she gets lost in films at the first double cross!)

I "check in" to a movie or book. I opt in to it, I actively watch and absorb.

When some dude comes up to me and says "Hi my name is Mr Utterly Forgettable" it is completly thrust on me and therefore I don't give a rats ass what he does for a living or what his name is.

Definitely. If I'm in love with a certain series, I learn the names of the characters very quickly and never forget them. I'm prone to forgetting the names of real people though, even ones I like.

All the time. I'll also, in the case of a movie or tv show, often become obsessive enough to know all the actor's names, ages, and other filmography. As a contrast to this, it took me almost seven months once to remember the names of five other people I saw every day for several hours.

i know what you mean
it happens to me sometimes.
my friends and family struggle to remmember the characters in tv shows/books and im always the one who knows. But real people..dang.
xx