You're so vain

I ran into UberMan's ex-best friend (The Iranian) yesterday. We talked about the nature of his friendship with UberMan and other people we knew in common.

He sat back, his legs crossed, arms flexed behind his head. "They were all like kids," he said. " I've been through so much in life. My level of understanding about life is beyond their comprehension."

We had done our internship at the same institution, albeit different years (he's ahead of me), which is why we had so many friends in common. Those who knew him, spoke of him with reverence. He had lived in several different countries, spoke an assortment of foreign languages, and could talk with intelligence about anything, according to these people: the same people he was now calling intellectually inferior.

"It's like trying to explain what an orgasm is to a seven year old," he pontificated. "Think about it. There is no way you can fully explain this experience to a child and have them understand you... because they haven't experienced it! That was the way I felt with UberMan and (our other friends). Still though, they were the closest friends I had at the time... and shaped my life."

Inside I was rolling my eyes.

I haven't been impressed. The more somebody advertises their greatness to me, the further they'll have to go to actually impress me. "Show, don't tell" is the motto for writing well. It's also a genuine way to live life.

I too have lived in a few different countries and at one point could speak five different languages. I've been through many unusual and rare experiences, some at a tender young age. The Iranian doesn't know that about me, since he talks a great deal more than he listens. Not only is he not a good listener, he's pompous, quick to dismiss others, and automatically thinks he's better than everyone else. I'm not impressed.

Do you know anyone like this?