We just had a clash. He has left the room to avoid a fight, when all that is really necessary to avoid that fight is for him to sit there and shut up, which he is apparently incapable of doing.

It started out so minor. We like to play at Pogo together, and there is a badge available in a game he has played often, but I am new to. He began teaching me how to play. I caught on quickly, but he continued to give me hints and tips I've stopped needing. After a short time, it started getting annoying. I tried all of the following:

*Telling him that when I am stuck, I will ask for help. (And then actually asking.)

*Explaining that I learn best by experimentation/trial and error, with minimal coaching.

*Pointing out that just because I do something different from the way he would do it, doesn't mean I'm wrong. (In fact, when I made a very good play, his response was a triumphant, "Yes! That's exactly how I would have done it!")

*Using an analogy, telling him that I will never learn to ride a bicycle on my own if he doesn't let go of the handlebars. (This prompted a puzzled, "You don't have a bicycle." )

*Telling him outright that he needs to let me make mistakes, so I can learn from them.

But he just cannot sit there in silence while I use a different strategy than he would use, or when I just plain goof up, in which case I would learn from it if he would allow me to do so. I've gotten to where I am consistently winning the game without his input, but he still has to run his mouth. I got frustrated and grumbled, "You just can't let me make mistakes, can you?" That's when he left the room. He didn't need to. He's welcome to sit here and watch me play, if he can stop with the over-coaching.

But he won't.

Can someone explain to me what's going on here?