Today I overheard a conversation between a guy and a girl in the lecture hall while we were waiting for the lecturer. Normally I would ignore it but this conversation made me think of TRP.

Imagine a lecture hall that looks something like this: http://thinkinc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Lecture-Hall.jpg

Everyone is seated close to each other and it was rather full so many people overheard the conversation. He was a row lower to hers approximately 3-4 chairs away, so many people overheard the conversation.

Her: Hey, why didn't you finish the assignment?

(We often work in project groups for certain assignments and have to deliver it as a group product, so it's safe to assume that he had a part to do that she claims he didn't do and therefore she couldn't include it in the final product)

Him: I did. I sent you it last night.

Her: What time did you send it?

Him: Around 11 PM.

Her: Do you really think I'm going to check it at 11 PM?

(Some people next to her laugh and he is visibly uneasy about the situation - The Shit Test has been served)

Him: I told you I was going to send you it later in the night because I had work.

Her: You should have sent it sooner. Now we don't have it finished because of you.

Him: Yesterday I told you I was going to send it later though.

Her: So? That doesn't mean it's ok.

(Here is where he REALLY starts to fuck it up)

Him: What should I do now?

Her: Nothing. You should have sent it sooner.

Him: Ok, but I really did tell you that I was going to send it later at night.

Her: I don't care. It's not on time.

Him: How? I don't understand. Maybe you didn't hear me when I said I would send it later?

Her: You can fix it yourself later. It's not my problem.

Him: I'm sorry I didn't send it sooner, but I swear I did finish it.

Her: Whatever. I'm not going to check it at 11 PM.

At this point more people start laughing and he goes quiet. I really couldn't stand what I had just heard.

She was repeatedly disrespectful and he didn't disengage. Instead he continued to justify himself which only made the situation worse and gave her more space to shit all over him and embarrass him in front of all those people. He had already told her that he was going to send it later so if she didn't like this then she could and should have expressed this sooner, but he doesn't need to argue this. He was doing fine by telling her he did finish it but sent it later, as he told her before, but there was absolutely no need to repeat himself again. Either she understands or she doesn't and if she doesn't then that's not his problem. He most definitely should not have attempted to justify himself in any possible way. The icing on the cake is the apology on his part for HER fuck up.... you can't be serious?

Feel free to add to my perspective on it. I'm interested in hearing at which point you guys think he should have disengaged exactly, what he should have said instead or what he shouldn't have responded to.