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Re:Close your laptop by user49598 on Saturday June 30, 2012 @11:08AM (#4181793)
tldr: Close your laptop, it's rude. Unless your intention is to be rude, then it's cool.

OP seems super judgmental and a bit narcissistic.

Re:Close your laptop by batista on Saturday June 30, 2012 @11:37AM (#4181878)
"Super judgmental" for saying to close your laptop during a conference talk?

This is common, fucking, courtesy. I cannot even fathom how one would find that "narcissistic".

The part about "opening them" if the presentation is boring, though, is problematic. Who is to call that?

Re:Close your laptop by mikeash on Saturday June 30, 2012 @02:23PM (#4182391)
I don't care what my audience gets up to. If I'm less interesting than their browser, that's my problem, not theirs. If I'm half interesting but they need a distraction, then I'd much rather have them pay half attention while on their laptop than pay full attention and finish up my talk bored to tears.