Friend of mine used to say that each of us can only understand others as an extensions of, ourselves. He said it was "them as me"... Joe as me, Margaret as me, etc.
As an optimist, I think we do see each other a little--but still through a heavily colored lens.
@tyghebright I am in agreement with your friend in that everyone's reality is 100% about them as the center which is why most people are so quick to center themselves in everyone's world because it's the only way they can recognize themselves. It stands to reason that anyone outside of that reality HAS to be an extension of them because it's all most people understand. It takes a very specific kind of person to recognize the world outside of their own reality and "see" others as individuals.