Have you ever just been completely wrong about someone?

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams: p. 113- 216 (end)

Oh my goodness, was I wrong or what, it turns out that the "lame-O" president is actually a big part of the story. In the beginning of the book it explained how and why he almost powerless, but that has changed considering Zaphod has high-jacked the "Heart of Gold" spaceship. Maybe it is just me but people get a little mad when you start stealing very expensive ships. President or not, that is a big no no. The reason he actually comes back into the story is to save Arthur and Ford, because they were thrown off the Vogon ship. Once aboard the story takes a little turn, (oh that Douglas Adams) the funny thing during the introductions of the two groups, two cousins are reunited and two acquaintances meet for the second time. It seems that if your president you can go to other planets and attends specific functions, maybe even a party or two. Arthur and Zaphod Beeblebrox actually met at a party, but Zaphod wasn't using his real name (Go figure). Back on the ship it seems that no one takes the last Earthling serious and they definitely don't value his opinions. They would take the mice side over his. But something can be said about Zaphod behavior, he is definitely out there. He, himself, has admitted to doing things with out knowledge about any of them. He claims that without any knowledge of anything he was a perfect candidate for the Presidency, also that he passed all the mental screening procedures with flying colors. This way, supposedly, he could never think about doing something stealing the "Heart of Gold," boy were they wrong. All he wanted to do was steal the ship to find the plant of Magrathea, that way he would be rewarded with all the riches of the universe. Since there is no thought behind his thought, maybe he is subconsciously trying to achieve a goal from a friend.

If faced with such a predicament of being odd man out, what do you do? Would you try to become the guy who makes a fool of himself or the guy who tries to prove himself to everyone?