Sometimes, someone does something…in character…and this single act can change my view of them. It’s as if this one thing is the last piece in the puzzle, and once this happens I figure someone out completely. It’s sad that people can be so complicated, and then suddenly so one-dimensional. I’m not some sort of social genius by any means, but it surprises me how many times I end up feeling as if I know someone through and through. It’s almost like being able to understand the mind of a child.

I think part of the reason is because of how many different people I’ve been. I see parts of myself in these people, as so many types of personalities I’ve had before. Once this happens, a sort of connection in my mind is made, and it’s almost as if I understand everything about them; their motives, their logic, their actions. Generally this means that I dislike the person, since I dislike so many of my past ideas and mindsets.

I always wonder what it takes for someone to change so drastically to me. With what single moment do I begin to understand someone? I know that not everyone can be figured out, only those who are related to what I used to be (which is only a tiny fraction of the people I meet). And yet, fairly often, someone I know will end up being predictable, boring, and frustrating.

These are the people I usually feel most comfortable around, since I know how to talk to them, their humour, what they want to hear, even how they want other people to act. They’re also the people I generally want to hang around the least. They remind me of how ignorant a person I used to be, and offer no interesting conversation (because I usually already know everything they have say).

There are many more people I can’t figure out, both ones I like and dislike. I don’t profess to be smart enough to understand anyone, and I certainly don’t think that being able to do this makes me a more intelligent person. It’s just odd to suddenly come to such understandings sometimes. I instantly lose respect for the person, and wish I hadn’t gotten to this point.

In these cases it’s probably better to be ignorant.