I got invited to a local restaurant, to celebrate an ex-coworker’s birthday, last weekend. I didn’t know anyone else there, aside from my friend, and I was late, so I was relegated to the end of the table. What could have been an uncomfortable and awkward evening, turned into dinner theater – or at least some really good people watching, for one massively, psychoanalytic, nerdy girl.
Across from me sat an early 30-something couple, we’ll call Brian and Gwen. After about two hours I witnessed the following behavior:
Brian:
- Dominated the conversation and steered it back to him when it veered elsewhere
- Responded aggressively to anyone questioning his subject matter
- Seemed to sulk when he wasn’t the center of attention
- Didn’t seem to notice he was making others feel uncomfortable
- Seemed to be very sensitive and paranoid
- Bad mouthed others
- Was rude and mouthy to Gwen
- Seemed smug and angry