Yes. It is, perhaps, a failing of humanity, but we relate best to people as individuals, and to people who have a story. It's easier to 'feel' the reality of a fictional person we get to know than a real person who is a nameless statistic to us. This is, I believe, why a lot of aid agencies write their pleas for money using one or two sample charity recipients to stand in for large groups of charity recipients -- people are more likely to feel sympathy and empathy for a single person in trouble than for a huge group in trouble.