Understanding TV better than real life

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Does anyone else find it easier to follow and understand interactions between characters on TV better than they do between people in real life situations? In my case, this is for two reasons:

a) (to some degree) For the same reason that I find it far easier to remember faces of people on TV than I do people I actually meet: I'm not having to work hard to interact and respond in turn, and therefore have far more 'brain power' free to concentrate on them.

b) (to a large degree) A situation in a (fictional) TV show is crafted and scripted to appear as natural as possible, but it's actually highly unnatural. Facial expression and emotional reaction is exaggerated in a subtle way. There's no idle, essentially meaningless chit-chat: every line has a purpose, to convey information to the audience and to move the story along. Indeed, absolutely everything that appears on screen is carefully presented for a specific reason.

When I see people on TV interacting in more natural, unscripted ways and with no specific purpose - such as on a reality show - the confusion is very nearly as bad as it is in real life, only slightly improved by the fact I can concentrate on them more as I described above in a). With the exaggerated, artificial format of a fictional story, I'm nearly always alright.

I've noticed that I almost without exception prefer TV shows with over-the-top, 'larger than life' characters and writing (some might say 'cartoonish') - do I find them more appealing and entertaining partly because I can understand them better?

It's interesting that you bring this topic up. I do find it easier to follow human interaction on TV, rather than real life. To me, the blatant behaviour of actors (in trying to fulfill their role) seems more real than that of people around me. Even though it is as you say more unreal. I think the reason for it, for me, are the boundaries under which they act. What I mean by that is, they are acting within a certain constraints, to which they must follow in order for their acting to be convincing and for the plot to be represented.

In real life, you are not aware of any constraints (for example, a horror movie will contain certain events and a kids movie will not), so you are watching the movie with a certain set of pre information.

You already have an idea as to what is expected from the actors and you see life from more than one perspective, where as in real life you don't. For me in real life I feel like an onlooker, like I am not part of the acting but just observing. Imagine trying to watch a movie, shot by only one camera, at one point in time. The movie would be dull, and then seem very unrealistic. Thats probably why I feel more detached from the human interaction in real life.

Sure, it's easier to understand. It's just fiction. Entertainment. You won't learn very much from it because it bears little resemblance to the real world. It has a simplified plot with a background, a beginning, middle and end, all packed up within the half-hour time slot. And it's all spoon-fed, so that very little of it is open to interpretation. People in real life never act that way.

Real life is "but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." (Macbeth/Shakespeare)

I have noticed how imitating cinematic characters can be disastrous, especially when I recommend hiring a hitman to solve every problem of life. TV series can be unrealistic because the murderers are always caught in CSI. I'm feeling kinda sick about it. The CSI people never go into a rage. It puts me off. Dexter is my fav series because he is never caught, like some of the killers of today's real world.

I think so. Things can be so much simpler when on TV.

On the one hand it's good that TV is easier to understand but on the other it can give a false
impression of what life is really like.I think TV affected my childhood in particular for that reason because I became disillusioned when real people didn't behave as predictably .
On TV (apart from 'reality' programmes) people take turns to talk instead of talking all at once,they talk clearly instead of mumbling,their facial expressions are easier to read because they are deliberately exaggerated to make them so.
I still prefer watching actors to 'real' people.Ironically,In Britain some of the behaviour on
'reality' programmes has gone to the other extreme and has become so animated and
unnatural that it's perverse.On the X Factor,even when contestants have merely got through the basic audition,they go crazy like Kate Winslet winning an Oscar

I agree with all that was said here...

And more : in real life it's hard for me to be affected by the emotions like sadness of others, it's like there pain don't really touch me, I feel that I must be but I'm not : I must have a "heart of stone". But in movies I'm often returned by what's happening to the characters, seem like tears are ready to flow...

tv is a glossier, slicker version of real life.

it's real life with the edges buffed off.

it's easier to understand for EVERYBODY, not just aspies.

I understand tv a lot. I love watching cartoons and reality shows. I sometimes try to watch interactions.