Communal Tables: Yay or Nay?

Reactions to the Chicago Tribune's list of the 10 Worst Dining Trends continue, with the latest being a defense of the communal table trend: "Isn't it sort of like eating at a bar (only without having the bartender to talk to, of course)? You can interact with your neighbors or not, I would imagine. Or do you just not sit at them unless you want social discourse? Or to pick up cute guys or gals?" Discuss. [Baltimore Sun]