Conversation.

The art of conversation can be a tricky thing.

Namely, I'm talking about two pitfalls, both of which were brought up to me a month or so ago by a drunken screaming friend.

One, the person who isn't really listening, but merely waiting for a chance to say something. Usually this is something designed to make them look smart, dashing, witty, or possibly to divert the focus away from the current subject onto something more centered around them. Or possibly it's related to what you were discussing, but only in the mind of the person now bringing up the seeming non sequitur.

Two. The bastard who listens to what you're saying, and then throws in their two cents for the conversation, usually in an effort to one-up the speaker. This is Competitive Conversation, and you usually find this amongst men...or people talking about their cats.

Example, "I once killed a mountain lion." Retort, "I once killed two, in the snow, with nothing but my cock."

This is so bloody common, that if you're joining in a conversation and not trying to one-up the others, you may very well be assumed to be trying to anyways.

Much like "Not playing the game" IS your game.

Stupid Societal Blundering.

This has happened to me several times. And if i'm competing, it certainly isn't intentional.

I'm just more interesting than you.

HA!