Smartphone Etiquette

The New York Times recently ran an article on smartphone etiquette in professional meetings. It’s a fairly interesting read with logical arguments for and against using smartphones in meetings, but I found the last paragraph the most intriguing. It seemed to add a new level to an oddly popular topic a while back:

Mr. Brotherton, the consultant, wrote in an e-mail message that it was customary now for professionals to lay BlackBerrys or iPhones on a conference table before a meeting — like gunfighters placing their Colt revolvers on the card tables in a saloon. “It’s a not-so-subtle way of signaling ‘I’m connected. I’m busy. I’m important. And if this meeting doesn’t hold my interest, I’ve got 10 other things I can do instead.’ ”