How About I Keep My Mouth Shut?

There's a new guy at our meeting who talks too much.  We have a three minute timer - in an example of my own overriding self-love I'm proud to say the timer has never gone off when I've shared because I think three minutes is a long time to share - and he always blows past the chime and then he continues to talk - often saying "I acknowledge the timer" as if this makes it okay; "I acknowledge that armed robbery is against the law" doesn't keep you outta jail - usually blowing through the one minute reminder timer as well.  Bugs the shit out of me.  Doesn't seem to bug the shit out of the other members but it sure gets my goat - I'd rather hear ten people talk for two minutes than to hear four people talk for five minutes.  As I say to myself: "You are not as interesting to other people as you are to yourself."  The most popular form of writing for aspiring authors is the memoir.  You may think you're fascinating but no one else does.

Anyway, there are a few of us long-timers who feel a responsibility to police the meeting from time to time.  I think we do it reluctantly and with as much understanding and kindness as we can hork up.  I was wondering if I should approach one of the long-timers and say: "Should I tell Sean maybe he could be a little more aware of how long he's talking, or should you?"  As I was pondering having this conversation this guy shared and he blew through the three minute timer and then he blew through the one minute reminder and then he talked for another solid minute.  He's a prime example of someone who tells you how to build a watch when you ask him for the time.

Maybe I keep my mouth shut?  Maybe I keep my fucking, self-righteous mouth shut?  How about I do that?  How about I remember that whenever I think I need to police someone else's behavior I usually manage to keep my mouth shut and it works out great?  How about finding someone who needs a pat on the back and some loving-kindness and try to lift their spirits instead of dropping some little critical, off-hand remark to someone who has a critically injured son?  Maybe I can practice not talking?  I can remember that much of the time silence is better than anything that comes out of my mouth?

Here's another thing - this dude lives near me and he doesn't have a car and I've left my house early  to pick him up and drive him to the meeting.  He never shuts up for one second the entire drive.  He brings a backpack the size of a Buick each day.    I have not offered him a ride since I got back from vacation.  How about I text him today and offer him a ride tomorrow?  And ignore the fact that I have to wait a couple of minutes for him to leave the house and get into my car?