Gee, you would have been distracted at a Jewish Passover Meal [like Jesus hosted], in the First Century.  The seating wasn't straight across, but the people saw each other.  Jesus wasn't seated [reclining, by the way] by himself in the center.  His followers were able to dip into the same bowl as he did.  This was set up as a MEAL, which is HOW the Eucharist was celebrated in the early church.  


Those churches/cathedrals that have altar rails--- are set up to be like stages for performing.  The altar rails is nothing more than a remnant of the orchestra pit.  Altar rails, should all be DE-railed!