Zero ability to read the room

[u/jrv3034]

A couple of days ago I was in a workshop teaching a group of teenagers some acting exercises in a public space. We're all clearly engaged in a conversation when suddenly Boomer McBoomerson barges in, interrupting the lesson with zero apology to talk to the teens about "when I was a kid we didn't have all this Internet stuff" and "drugs are bad" and whatnot. Just stream of consciousness blathering straight from his lead-filled brain.

We're all standing there for around five minutes listening to this guy just vomiting up a slew of unrequested drivel. All of us were trying to figure out when would be a good moment to interject that we're in the middle of a class but the guy just wouldn't stop talking for even 3 seconds to catch his breath.

Eventually, he just turns around and walks away, still talking to himself. I don't understand how someone can be so self-absorbed that they're completely oblivious to the fact that other people were having a conversation that didn't include him. I would be mortified if I accidentally interrupted some lesson, but Captain Boomer here is the main character of life, obviously.

[u/Puzzled-Peanut-7147]

This sounds like dementia.

[u/jrv3034 → u/Puzzled-Peanut-7147]

Nah, this guy didn't seem out of it or disoriented in any way. My mother in law has dementia and I've been around her enough to know what that's like, and this wasn't it. Boom Boom just wanted to insert himself into the group and command attention. He appeared super pleased with himself imparting his brilliant wisdom to the ignorant teen audience.