Feeding Egos?

No, I don't think you react so differently. Occasionally (thankfully) I run into people like this at work and outside, and do pretty much the same thing. Sometimes I will call the person on their drama, if I know them a while, and am in the mood for confrontation, but usually its just a whole lot easier to avoid them.

You know, I might be one of these people LOL. I'm a nervous talker and I'm constantly trying to steer the conversation back to the other person. So I'm constantly worried that people think I'm rude so I end up talking more out of nervousness, /snort.

In my husband's shop the military wives were...well...young. It's a different type of LOOK AT ME with them. They apparently think any attention is good attention, even really bad attention. It takes everything not to pull these girls aside and bitch slap them into reality but what can you do. I just smile and nod. I'd rather let them talk then do any talking myself. The less they know about Mike and I, the better.

LOL I think thats military wives in general. Not all, but quite a few of them do seem to feel the need to wear their husband's rank as well.

Nervous talker to me at least come across differently. Its more about a fear of silence with them than than it is about looking good hehe.

being a military brat, i've seen this. hell, i know i've even done it. (and when i find myself playing one-up thses days, i shut up. i know why i do it. it's self-defense.) one of the reasons people do this is that they are insecure and the military lifestyle does very little to help with that type of personality.

if it's someone new, pulling this, i would probably walk away at that function - then see about meeting them after they've settled in a bit more, see if they've gotten their feet under them. if they're still obnoxious and you refusing to play their game doesn't work, let it go. they aren't mature enough yet to cope. they may feel more comfortable on their own "turf" and you may find that they are a good person to hang with. either way, you've given them an honest chance - which will make you feel better about ditching them if need be!!!

now if it's someone who's been part of this crowd for awhile and they just get on your nerves no matter what - be polite, keep it short, and move onto the next conversation. i've been to enough dependents events to know, if nothing else, the kids will do something that just has to be checked on 5 minutes ago, giving you a non-confrontational reason to get the hell out of there!!!

Sometimes I feel bad for them and let them have an audience for a bit because even though they're over inflating themselves, they usually are feeling crummy. Sometimes they say things just inane enough that it makes for a good story later on when you're telling your SO about your day.

Avoidance is usually plan B. ;)