> In every meeting I attended,phones rang repeatedly, they were answered (!!) & sometimes long conversations ensued.< Not only at Conferences but also in the Theatre. Kevin Spacey has (rightly) been very outspoken on this subject and the great (in every sense) Richard Griffiths stopped a performance of the History Boys to remonstrate with a persistent offener at the National Theatre. All the recent theatre performances I've been to recently have a very clear warning prior to curtain-up but even that can be ignored. And don't talk to me about sweet papers! Perhaps if Conference Speakers were to just come to a halt and not restart until peace and quiet be fully restored? Or sit down themselves and do the crossword or peel a banana.....? Anyway, Well said Miriam! Such ill-mannered aniti-social behaviour is totally inexcusable and it is up to all of us to put our heads above the parapet and stop excusing it Angela (aka Angry of Camden Town)