Round Conference Tables

why is it called roundtable conference? why not ovaltable, square table, table or simply conference.?

the word round sounds that it leads no where!.....

Public Comments

1. Only round-table suggests that all participants share the same status and have an equal say.
2. it just gos round and round and comes back to where it started,
3. It goes back to the King Arthur Days - Knights of the Round Table.
4. It is traditional - King Arthur used a round table because it implied that no one was more important than each other
5. dont be so square. a square table tends to have a "head" sitter, who usually assumes authority a roundtable everyone is equal.
6. its about equality and King Arthur settin down the law when it comes down to this tables buiness. *stomping motion* thats just how it is guys. most seroulsy *stern expression* hehehe