More on Rafat's Mixer

OK.  The acoustics were poor, the place was packed and the venue wasn’t ideal for both a mixer and on-stage interview.  It was a successful networking event; perhaps mixers and interviews don’t mix.  But I agree with Nicole. If someone who deserves your respect and attention gets up on stage, you give that person your respect and attention, or at least try to.  Rafat was the host, the sponsors were paying for the drinks and the food, and Gordon Crovitz is Gordon Crovitz.  They each deserved an attempt by the audience to pay attention.  I was thinking that if Mick Jagger or Beck got up on stage, people would have listened.  But at Web 2.0, Lou Reed had to quiet a similarly rude crowd.  Maybe I should lower my expectations as to what constitutes reasonable social behavior, but I'd rather not.