Woe unto you if the speech-maker is one of those people that are fond of repeating themselves and are unconscious of time.
I have realised that these are also the people that either ignore non-verbal cues signifying boredom or restlessness, or choose to ignore them.
I come from an extended family that is fond of making speeches. Every occasion, whatever the occasion is, is viewed as an opportunity to make a speech such that a casual gathering quickly becomes official, or in worse cases, like a political rally.
Being a person of a few words, someone who abhors belabouring the point, and being someone who prefers things to move along in haste so that we can move on to the next task at hand, I find the speech making highly tedious. But since I am part of the family, I always feel obligated to play along, to give a speech of my own when my turn comes, although I have to point out that I am usually at pains to make it as brief as possible.
