To think the hilarity just wasn’t necessary?

Then think deeply when they’re not there? Or is your thoughtfulness on some sort of time limit? Can it only happen at specific times? Does it need to take place during social gatherings?

People not removing themselves from social situations to reflect does not mean they don’t reflect. It doesn’t make them shallow. To claim that it does smacks of the same level of adolescent navel gazing earnestness as the OP. It’s not thoughtful, it’s silly. I’d laugh at you, as well.

It's not been explained why this is rude. As long as she excused herself, there could be nothing wrong in her etiquette. She didn't say she stomped off in a huff FFS. It was a family gathering, not a formal debate, so it's perfectly fine to bow out when you lose interest in the discussion.
Lots of people can't stand talking about Trump because it is often so divisive, and quite frankly, it's depressing to many people. Totally understandable.
If a subject is unpleasant or boring to you, there is nothing wrong in deciding not to contribute to the conversation.

We all know that if she decided to go check her phone, use the toilet, or any number of other reasons, people would not be calling it rude. You just admitted that wanting fresh air would magically render the exact same action proper. Etiquette is being used as a smokescreen to hide distaste for allegedly "weird" people behind.

I did understand it, I'm not an idiot. I think it's a pretentious thing to say to anyone!

It's been explained multiple times by multiple posters why it's not the done thing to just leave the room if you don't like the topic of conversation. At least say you needed some fresh air or something, but ideally don't do it.

I completely relate to the wish to carry on and further explore a topic of conversation in my head - I'd forgotten until this thread that my lovely dad described me as a deep thinker in his speech at my wedding, he was the same.

The point is that it's not polite to do that in company. This isn't a point of intellect, it's a point of social skills.

The most interesting, intelligent people I've known can converse in an appropriate way about just about anything, high brow or low. They don't leave the room because the conversation has turned to someone else's interests.

I’ve just had a little internal chuckle at that mental picture… a mum and her young daughter, sitting side by side on a park bench in complete silence, gazing into the distance and ignoring the world around them while they think about dungeons.

@DonnySue carry on being you. I’m a bit of a reflector and value taking time to do so. Unfortunately as a lot of responses show on this thread there is low/poor tolerance of it or of difference. I regularly need breaks in social situations. My family would never take the mick out of me for having an interest. Unfortunately you’ve just got lots of people on this thread who don’t understand having an interest and can’t stretch their brains far enough to understand it because they are too restricted by societal norms eg groups should stay together not one leave for a while and come back, or laugh at the weirdo. People who lack confidence can’t cope with an independent thinker. Boring pack behaviour and sounds like your sister, like many posters on this thread, are comfortable with a bit of low key bullying to have a laugh.

Carry on doing you and the next time they laugh at you like that just leave. Set the boundary for yourself and others that you won’t be treated like that. They’ll call you weird and tell you you’re overreacting but you won’t be in the same room as them so win win.

Seriously? You sound toxic. Let me guess, everyone’s always mean to you too?

I’ve just had a little internal chuckle at that mental picture… a mum and her young daughter, sitting side by side on a park bench in complete silence, gazing into the distance and ignoring the world around them while they think about dungeons.

@DonnySue
The saddest part here is that your own DD has picked a lane. She was the one who went back to the others to mock you and instigate the piss taking

Your family are toxic and you are the scapegoat - and your daughter has learned this dynamic and is now cheerleadering it

Seriously put a stop to this and draw up some boundaries before you end up with no self confidence whatsoever

I’ve just had a little internal chuckle at that mental picture… a mum and her young daughter, sitting side by side on a park bench in complete silence, gazing into the distance and ignoring the world around them while they think about dungeons.

Well no - it’s rude to just get up mid conversation because it’s moved on from the topic you like. They all sat there listening to OP twaddle on AND she tried to bring the conversation back to what she wanted even though it had clearly moved on. Rude, ignorant and boring.

Of course there is nothing wrong with sitting quietly and thinking/reflecting, @HeadNorth. But does it need announcing, as the OP did (even though it was just to her dd)?

I don’t condone the hilarity - unless everyone is laughing, that sort of thing tips over into bullying/unkindness, and clearly the OP was not laughing. But equally, she needs to understand that conversations will move from one topic to another and that, whilst she was enjoying the conversation about history, other people wanted to talk about something else. Letting the conversation move on, and joining in with the new topic, even if you aren’t particularly interested in it, when other people have joined in with your favourite topic, is good manners, in my opinion.

Really? Would you say the same of someone going outside for a vape, for example?

No. Of course you wouldn't.

I’ve just had a little internal chuckle at that mental picture… a mum and her young daughter, sitting side by side on a park bench in complete silence, gazing into the distance and ignoring the world around them while they think about dungeons.

No I ignored them and tried to return to the topic but it was impossible with sister carrying on the way she was.

just to add DD wasn’t laughing so she didn’t do it on purpose. I don’t think she got the joke either as we often reflect on things we see or talk about. Example York dungeons. After the tour we sat in the park for a bit to reflect on it. I really can’t understand what is so odd about it, I think it’s weirder to leave somewhere like that and completely forget about what you’ve just seen

@DonnySue
The saddest part here is that your own DD has picked a lane. She was the one who went back to the others to mock you and instigate the piss taking

Your family are toxic and you are the scapegoat - and your daughter has learned this dynamic and is now cheerleadering it

Seriously put a stop to this and draw up some boundaries before you end up with no self confidence whatsoever

People who think I’m weird …. Do you not find it fascinating that all those years ago your relatives … your actual blood relatives were going about their lives in medieval Britain? Do you not wonder what they did for a living? What they looked like? Where they lived?

@DonnySue
The saddest part here is that your own DD has picked a lane. She was the one who went back to the others to mock you and instigate the piss taking

Your family are toxic and you are the scapegoat - and your daughter has learned this dynamic and is now cheerleadering it

Seriously put a stop to this and draw up some boundaries before you end up with no self confidence whatsoever

You are really overthinking this.

Those of you reassuring OP that she’s the lovely clever one and her family are all pig-thick dullards who are only interested in useless trivia are not being as kind as you think you are. You could reassure the OP without resorting to insulting others.

Exactly this!! Decisions made a thousand years ago have some impact on your life today. In 300 years from now, there will be people walking around who don’t know you ever existed but your decisions now will have some impact on the lives they’re living. It’s fascinating