I don't know protocol for state dinners, but it wouldn't surprise me at all
if protocol dictated that the most important person should be seated last,
not first.
What difference does it make? Well, let's say that Dawn had said the above
sentence, unconsciously putting the President first due to his importance,
and the sentence were heard by someone who "knows" that protocol works as I
suggested above. (Incidentally, this case works even when the listener
"knows something" that ain't so.) The listener responds, "What a breach of
protocol!" Dawn is puzzled.
Is this too far out?
