system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Douchebag academic

I just met an absolute arsehole of an academic at this networking event. The dude is a big name but was trying to put me down and insult me.How do you navigate through such weird and unpleasant social situations?
gpt
As best you can, just be a reasonable person, defend your work, and hope that other people realize what an asshole the person is. 

Then, if you ever get the opportunity, crush them and destroy their lives.