# Staying at the top of the ladder of abstraction is mystifying [[Understanding a thing has to do with intuiting the affordances of a thing]] and most of us can’t intuit affordances without going up and down [[The ladder of abstraction]]. Therefore, if a person or conversation or piece of literature is abstract it’s mystifying to people who don’t already have the relevant context - [[Demystification involves a lot of context]]. That context usually comes from having gone up and down the ladder of abstraction before. *This needs a new note* There are maybe some people who can intuit affordances from only abstractions in a new domain. The assumption that if you are smart or wise enough you should be able to understand a thing only from abstractions is what makes mystification a power move. If you ask for clarification you are admitting that you are the fool. [Web URL for this note](http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/Staying+at+the+top+of+the+ladder+of+abstraction+is+mystifying) [Comment on this note](http://via.hypothes.is/http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/Staying+at+the+top+of+the+ladder+of+abstraction+is+mystifying)