Here is an interesting query via the FSP’s blog:
If you were sitting in a conference session trying to listen to Professor Z present her latest research results and to Dr. Postdoc’s inspiring attempt to impress potential employers, and you saw a couple of entwined twentysomethings sitting in front of you, snuggling and sniffing each other’s hair and necks, would you:
A. Think it was cute, sigh at the romance, and say “Young love, how special!”?
B. Avert your gaze and focus on the talks?
C. Snort in disgust and be very grateful that these young people were not from your institution?
D. Poke them and/or ask them to go somewhere else? (alternatives: toss something at them or do something else unobtrusive but possibly effective, without disturbing the session)
E. Other.
I’d think it was beautiful and I’d say to myself, “God, I miss N.” Then I’d think how great it was to see people who are not uptight and permanently miserable in an academic setting. After that, I’d write a post on the encouraging trends in academia.
What would you do?
Clarissa's Blog 
“What would you do?”
Be happy that at least somebody wasn’t bored.
LikeLike
Hee hee hee. 🙂
LikeLike
I cannot really see why it would bother anyone.
LikeLike
Irrelevant, I’m sure, but the idea of impressing future employers became less and less amusing to me the more I followed Marechera’s antics in my studies. For instance, when he received his Guardian book award, he threw dinner plates at the heads of the presiding officials. This event was the highlight of his career. I think, after this his publishing career found a downward trajectory, although not entirely so.
LikeLike
Giggle and remind myself to bring my significant other to the next conference in case the talk gets too dull.
LikeLike
I’m glad to have so many happy, fulfilled people comment on my blog. 🙂
LikeLike
Whoops I’m sorry I meant to say “stone them to death”.
LikeLike
At a retreat, though, one of my colleagues had sex on the floor with an administrator. Their spouses weren’t present but other people who normally socialized with them and spouses were. Some thought it was “liberated” of them to do this but I didn’t.
LikeLike
I would do D. Just because young people need the occasional brush with adversity to help them maximize their potential. 🙂
LikeLike
I agree! I’m single right now but okay with it, so I wouldn’t be one of those “UGH GET A ROOM” people. In fact, I think there’s something wrong with people who have that big a problem with some mostly-innocent PDA.
LikeLike
I used to feel resentful against happy couples. And that was not a very happy moment in my life.
LikeLike