"... As I was saying ...."

The other day I answered a question on the professional online network LinkedIn regarding cell phone interruptions during presentations. I said, as in an earlier posting on this blog, that the host should deal with the subject "up front" and, if an interruption does occur, the speaker should ignore it.

The more I think of it the more strongly I feel that it is the host's responsibility to head off anything that might compete with the speaker, such as noisy cell phones, HVAC systems and exit doors.

By the way, as an attendee, if you must keep your cell available for a critical call, at least switch it to vibrate. Then you can send unimportant calls into voicemail or take the important one. But, for heaven's sake, hold your conversation until you can exit.

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Only don't be like the poor guy who was attending a top level meeting. Just as his boss was emphasizing a serious point the phone began vibrating, sending our man into a fit of the giggles.

Moral: don't carry your cell too close to a rib.