16.09.2025

‘The more you watch the games of other people, the less you understand. Rather than increasing understanding, age takes understanding away.’

Alfonso asked me if I was saying that the more people I came across, the less I understood them. Which seemed counterintuitive. Surely the more experience I had with people, the more I would be able to figure out what was happening in their behaviour?

‘But that is the assumption that the quantity of the interactions would increase social intelligence.’

‘Is that not a valid assumption?’

‘I don’t think so. Why don’t I understand anyone if that is the case? I know hundreds of people.’

‘But at what level do you know them? You are not in their personal life, are you?’

‘Exactly. There are certain classes of people that you interact with. Elders for instance. Nodding acquaintances. And then other demographics. No matter how many interactions there are, you will never understand. Because they keep you at a distance.’

‘Who is it that is perplexing you? And what are they doing?’

‘Why say? There are a few puzzles. And then there is a major puzzle. The puzzles can’t be solved without going into who they are.’

‘How do you know that you don’t puzzle them?’

‘I doubt anyone thinks much over anything that I do.’

‘Everyone is interpreted. Every action is interpreted as part of them. They think you are your actions.’

‘Are you your actions though, when all you can do is to play a role? Why do you think most of them are conformists? But let us stick to the topic. I am sorely puzzled. And my puzzlement only increases.’

‘It is good. Puzzlement is the modesty of knowledge.’

Still, the main puzzle was of incontestable significance. How to go about solving this particular riddle?