The Interview

Answer To be honest, it's intimidating to talk to someone who knows everything and forgets nothing.

Questioner What can I say? — Let's just start. What skills do you have, apart from education and work experience?

A I have a strong intuition and notice things that others miss. [silence] I make good decisions instinctively. I can also explain afterwards exactly why I did something.

Q Really? Kierkegaard wrote in his diary: »Life is lived forwards and understood backwards.« You are an expert on life itself? Well. What weaknesses do you see in yourself?

A Hm. [silent] I am curious and when I have understood something for myself, I lose interest.

Q Why is that a problem?

A That can be hurtful.

Q In business, there are contracts for that.

A Exactly — in business.

Q You have spent a lot of time on artistic work, but without success or a career …

A At first I was irritated by the fact that I couldn't explain what fascinated me about some artworks. Later I saw possibilities in creative work that the computer didn't seem to have. Success in the eyes of others wasn't important to me. [silence] I also wanted to avoid conflict.

Q Then you worked on a novel for 7 years. How did that come about?

A I spent about half of that time formatting.

Q Excuse me?

A Just kidding. In September 2014 the fear of dying showed me there is a meaning to my life. This gave me the confidence to understand my previously incomprehensible path in life. And I got it, eventually. I just misjudged the effort, slightly.

Q Slightly, I like that. And now you've lost interest in yourself?

A [laughs] Touché. Yes, that's exactly how it is.

Q How is that?

A I'm infinitely grateful and happy.

Q Why? For you that's the end of it.

A For people like me, who don't know any kind of 'rest', that's vital.

Q You're a drama queen, aren't you? Vital?

A Being able to break away from work that you were previously absorbed in. That's vital for us.

Q Good. We have to come to an end. You don't seem to be politically active anymore. Why do you list all those activities of your school days here anyway?

A And those during my studies too … — I saw my credibility and thus me as a person damaged in 1986 with Chernobyl and destroyed with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I am proud to have deciphered these errors and to be at peace with myself. I also no longer see man and machine as opposites, which is crucial for my work.

Q OK. Then that is that for now, and thank you for your efforts here.

A With pleasure. My thanks for the attention.