Does this coincidence happen regularly to anyone else?

[RocksByThePool]

The coincidence I have noticed is when a word is spoken at the same time as I happen to be reading the word, or a similar word with the word within in it.

For example, a presenter on television might say the word "everything" as I am reading "every dog was hot" on a text message. Or, I overhear someone say the word 'pedigree" as I read it in a book.

It is now happening regularly enough I have noticed more, and it is not quite freaking me out, but I now want to know. Is this a thing?! Does anyone else have this or similar happen frequently?

Yes it does seem to.

I’ve had a few times where I was discussing something fairly niche and then I’ve read the same thing in a novel immediately after. That was weird. Not happened recently though.

Happens to me a lot.

Yes and there is actually a name for this , I will see if I can find it. There is also a name for when actions happen as you read them as unfortunately in Summer 1978 (and which I still remember with clarity) I read the word 'birdshit' and I was fouled on by a seagull whilst reading and waiting to be called in to a job promotion interview.

Yes. All the time

There is a name for this...

We're wired to notice coincidences rather than all the things that are not coincidences.

Thank you for all the replies. It was/is happening regularly enough it was every other day or so, but does depend on what I am doing. Also, sometimes the unusual or specialist etc word it occurred with. It was the frequency, more than the idea of coincidences, which is not in itself a thing I would find noteworthy.

And Shakybake, oh no! Awful timing! I had not heard about the action one - thank you for sharing and sorry it happened!

Interesting that there might be a name for it - human tendency to spot patterns etc does make sense. Thank you again, and good to know.

All the time. Very odd

I have this and also a similar thing.

I'll randomly think of a film, TV show or a scene from an old film- then later that day, the next day or that week I'll see something about that film on tv or in a magazine. In the vast majority of cases, there is no way I could have seen an advert for the show. I'll also think about a friend or relative and that day they'll call or email. I've had this since childhood and have no idea if co-incidence or something else?

Yes!! And really random bizarre things. I know we only notice the ‘coincidence’ but it happens with such odd phrases / references that it jars. I randomly thought of a phrase the other day and actually stopped and thought it was odd that it was on my mind, then it appeared in the book I was reading a couple of days later!

There's an old saying that if you hear a new word then you'll hear it again within the day.

I think it's actually just that you become aware of it. Like thinking about someone and then spotting them or that sort of thing.

Edited to add: You don't remember the times that it doesn't happen, because it isn't remarkable.

Is it called confirmation bias? That rings a bell.

Just googled and wonder if you might be talking about this:

The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon (Frequency Illusion): This happens when you buy a new car or learn a new word, and suddenly you see it everywhere. It is not actually happening more often; your brain has just started filtering it into your conscious awareness.

Yeah, my friend call it reticular activation but this is what she means

Yes it happens to me loads.

My son came in today goodnight when my Audio book was on-
he asked me if I was going to sleep and the character in my book said “im
going to sleep now”!!

When I was little I turned the TV off when my dad was watching it. He sort of shouted at me to turn it back on (you know, with the actual
on off button as we had to do back in the 80s). I said “okay okay! Sorrrreeeey” in a sort of sarcastic voice and the character on the TV said as it went on
“sometimes sorry just isn’t good enough!” And we all laughed.

Yes! It happens to me all the time! Happened just today, actually. I can't even remember the exact word now which I said, but it was a really random one like "flighty" and two seconds later, the woman on tv said the same word.

I always grab my partner's arm and get really excited, lol.

I wonder if you got your job promotion @ShakyBake ?
I recall being in my grandma's back garden when I was young and a bird plopped a good one on my head. My grandma took me in to wash it off and she told me that this was a good luck sign!

Often happens to me and it’s usually random words.

Yes all the time. Or I'll be writing something and they say the same word on tv. Dh has commented it happens to me a lot ( the saying the word then it's repeated on tv thing)

I have this with films! I’ll think about or talk to someone about a film I liked and haven’t seen for a while, and then I’ll be flicking thru the guide on tv and it will be on in the next day or so… been happening for years.

Sadly not and I have always believed it was the bird's fault, it really put me out of the zone. It also hurt, I've never been birdpoo'd on before and remember it really hitting me with force and I just couldn't concentrate when they called in to the room