No, Not Social At All

I attended a House Oversight subcommitee hearing yesterday afternoon. As usual, I brought along my laptop, as taking notes and checking email are more easily accomplished using a full keyboard rather than pen and paper and my tiny iPhone screen.

However, as I plugged in my computer in preparation for opening statements to begin, a committee staffer rushed over and informed me that laptops aren't allowed in the hearing room.

Aside from the fact that I'd never heard that rule before when covering this committee (and particularly not for press), the subject of the hearing left me even more confused over the "no laptop" policy. The topic?

Social media and the use of Web 2.0 in federal agencies.

Plus, I'd like to note that everything I can do on my computer I also can do with a smart phone, even if it's a bit more difficult.