The fact that the narrator spends so much time thinking about such a small action, specifically the action of ignoring him, showing that the narrator lives largely inside his own head. In that sense, he is an intellectual, but by the same token, he is not a man of action in the least. The fact that this was all caused by the narrator being offended at being ignored shows that the narrator has a high opinion of himself, and also dearly wishes to be well-regarded by others. It is perhaps a fundamental human desire to be seen and have their existence reaffirmed by others. However, the narrator takes it to extremes, showing both a unstable temperament and a lack of human contact.