![[they look kind of like that other guy who is a lawyer, but remember, they're not the same person!]](https://www.polyinpictures.com/wp-content/uploads/218.-Caption.png "[they look kind of like that other guy who is a lawyer, but remember, they're not the same person!]")
218. Caption
I’m faceblind. Not as much as some people, but enough to make it stressful to walk around in my own town. “Do I know that guy who just smiled at me? Their body is the same shape as the guy who lives over the road from me, but that guy doesn’t smile much, so maybe it’s not them…?” My neighbour over the road from me doesn’t like me much, and a lot of it is to do with autistic communication things, but some of it is because I don’t recognise them when I see them in places other than outside of their house.
The idea of captions for faceblind people and people who struggle to keep track of characters came up when Andréa was watching The 4400 on my recommendation, so I took the relevant image that actually inspired her confusion – Jordan Collier came back from the dead at the end of season 2, and because he looked so different in the hair-on-the-head department she was like “am I meant to know who this is?”
Thank you to my Patreon contributors, including Lyrania and Alex – you’re the best! 🙂
Some years ago, near the end of the Doctor Who episode “Family of Blood”, we are shown a possible future that involves The Doctor growing old as a human – except I didn’t realise that at the time. I didn’t realise who the character was supposed to be, but I had it explained to me. I felt it was an awful choice of actor for an elderly David Tennant. Then I saw some behind-the-scenes footage, and it was David Tennant, in prosthetics.
I usually recognise people who’ve been artificially aged with prosthetics, but also, they usually look terrible!
There was this period when Hulu was demoing a thing on certain new shows where you could hover over a character’s face at any point during the episode and it would tell you their name and the actor’s name and it was The Best Thing Ever and then I think Hulu just got bored with it and stopped. So frustrating.
Whoa! That sounds awesome! 😀 They should do that some more!
Woah, YESS.
i can never tell characters in movies apart unless they really, really have distinguished features…. and then i don’t get plots, because i don’t know who did or said what before.
it is easier for me in real life, though, i think…
There was a programme on Radio 4 about faceblindness – or prosopagnosia (fancy term) -this week. I think they said it can be worse with Hollywood shows because a high proportion of actors have symmetrical faces or some such. I found it an interesting listen anyway, and I completely agree these would be excellent subtitles to have. Here’s the link on iplayer if you’re interested: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07hj65h
Interesting! 🙂
>I think they said it can be worse with Hollywood shows because a high proportion of actors have symmetrical faces or some such.
I’ve always held that it’s because Hollywood stuff uses really standard-beautiful people, so their faces and body types and voices are all way less diverse than most TV and the general population and stuff. It’d be interesting if symmetry was a factor too.
Yes!! I need captions for what people are saying, as well, but I often can’t follow the plots of tv shows because of face blindness. I just can’t watch some shows because of that. If two conventionally-attractive people have the same hairstyle & color, basic body shape, and change clothes ever, it’s impossible to tell them apart.
However, I am decent at telling people’s voices apart…that’s how I can recognize people I know. Doesn’t help when you’re expected to recognize an actor in a scene where they don’t have any lines, though…
(Also I discovered this comic a few hours ago, and have read up to this point. It’s really good!)
I do a lot of distinguishing people by voice too! Also, welcome, I’m glad you’re enjoying the comic!
This might actually be why I don’t ever watch live action shows alone or prefer shows where characters are clearly delineated by their outfits (most superheroes, for example). I like a lot of animes and other cartoons, but when I don’t have someone who can tell actors apart with me I tend to watch documentaries or youtube videos if I want live action video entertainment.
I have the same problem with recognizing actual humans when they are out of context or change their clothes or hair. I can’t actually picture a person’s face in my mind either. However, I can usually recognize someone I know well from a great distance or without my glasses if they move. People move very distinctly.
I also often think two people look alike, even identical and get told on no uncertain terms that they look *nothing* alike.
Basically, I agree this kind of caption would be really helpful.
I think we share a lot of experiences! When I think two people look alike it’s often because they *move their faces* in the same way, rather than having similar-looking faces!
* re reading and re commenting Poly in Pictures *
Since the first time i saw this comic, i remember this one whenever i’m in a big meeting of many people, and just wish for them to have captions.
I often end up just smiling at everyone i meet in the hallway. Either they will think i recognize them, or they will think i’m interested in positive interactions. Win-Win.
I am the same! I treat everyone like they are vague acquaintances and it seems to turn out well! 😛