Sometimes I think that many of the guys I see at these car events are REALLY in need of a friend.
It happens at least twice at every show. It doesn't matter if I have my car there or if I am just a spectator. I'll see some guy looking my way and out of social kindnes, I'll acknowledge him and say hello. It seems hello is MISinterpreted as...TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING. Most of the time if it is an older guy I'll listen out of respect. Many times I have found that they actually have interesting things to say. I have no problem with those guys. Its the dudes that offer UNsolicited advice on how you should have restored the car. Its the guys that are CLOSE TALKERS with bad breath. Its the guys that think bathing more than once a week is "too fancy for them".
95% of the guys I see are good people. You share a 10 second interchange and go your separate ways. I have learned a few things about my cars and others that I would have never learned otherwise. When the wife joins me at shows, she peels away when someone comes up an blabs on and on while I am stuck with them. I hate to be rude to someone that is unaware that they are annoying. I'll bet that for many of the car guys, the shows are their only social outlet. Such was the case with a guy that was in our car club that looked like a creepy child molester. He wasn't, but being short, bald, greasy and creepy looking made people wary.