Here's the little mind twist that TV plays - they aren't strangers on TV. These are people who are invited into homes day after day for years. Never a cross word, always smiling, always neat and well dressed, never making any demands on the viewer. Compare that to a real person who can be disagreeable, makes requests, and is interruptive as life demands. It's the same reason people like pets more than other people.

I've known many who think they have friends in TV land. Almost everyone who watches TV eventually thinks they actually get to know the characters portrayed.

People actually become protective over their TV friends, like they are Tamagatchi pets. Believing you is a betrayal of their relationship with their TV friend.

Here's the little mind twist that TV plays - they aren't strangers on TV. These are people who are invited into homes day after day for years. Never a cross word, always smiling, always neat and well dressed, never making any demands on the viewer. Compare that to a real person who can be disagreeable, makes requests, and is interruptive as life demands. It's the same reason people like pets more than other people.

I've known many who think they have friends in TV land. Almost everyone who watches TV eventually thinks they actually get to know the characters portrayed.

People actually become protective over their TV friends, like they are Tamagatchi pets.