This is exactly what it says in Pirkei Avos about 3 people sitting together and no divrei Torah between them is as if they ate from”zivchei maysim”, dead karbanos. It is interesting that the more awareness there is about Shmiors Halashon, the Yetzer Horah is there to show he is even stronger, nebach!
If you personally know at least one of these “mean guys”, you should confront him in a nice way.