The propensity that people have to self-validate and forcefully present themselves in a better light never ceases to amaze me. The poor ability to make a decision to expend themselves so much rather than seek to receive from others and consume for the eventual purpose of growing is appalling.

It is quite understandable to feel like the littlest in the room, or table, but it really should not intimidate one to the point of succumbing to the need for validation. Rather, it should arouse a desire to learn from those who know more and have advanced in their field of expertise or interest.

Everyone had an opinion of him, and it clearly was not a good one. They smelt and saw right through the facade they were putting up. He was not fooling anyone but himself. I need not know what he was rambling about all through the meeting, but I can tell that it was absolutely nonsensical, as you have clearly depicted.

He missed out on what he could have gained from that encounter: connection and enlightenment. As he endeared himself to no one, he could not tap into the awesome things they could offer. Such a pity.

I do not understand why I found the whole story funny. It probably is because of the way you have presented it. I found myself laughing for most of it, because I could relate to what that could have been like for you. There will always be an obnoxious git in a gathering of many individuals.

"No one is a total fool if he can be silent." Indeed, it is important to know when, how, where, and why one should speak. It helps to be in the right place at the right time; where you should ideally be. Misunderstanding the right timing to be silent can be disastrous, as our obnoxious git on the table of 12.