Wired's Mr. Know-It-All channeled a little Emily Post in his latest column and answered a reader's question about the propriety of playing Bejeweled while on a conference call.

The answer is two-sided and terrific. On the one hand Bejeweled creator, PopCap Games, says why not, it's no worse than doodling.

But Peter Handal, CEO of Dale Carnegie Training, got all red in the face and stuttery when he saw the game in action and says it would absolutely be rude.

Mr. reaches this conclusion:

Ultimately, you should split the difference. Play the game only if the meeting is really sucky, if you're not expected to speak or take notes, and if your boss is Bejeweled-out enough to go easy on you when you get busted.

Brian Crecente

Mr. Know-It-All [Wired]