Etiquette

Much has been made to me about business cards. They are to be exchanged immediately upon meeting someone -- largely to help determine pecking order. You present a card facing the receiver. You accept it with both hands and are meant to look it over, appreciate it, comment on it.

So today at the aquarium I was given two business cards. I looked at each appreciatively, looked at each person as if correlating the face to the name, and then took out my card case, inserted the two cards and presented my card to each of them. They repeated the ritual, and then each placed the card in front of them on the coffee table for the remainder of the 30 minute conversation.

Clearly I do not understand the true concept of business card appreciation.