> I think it's because meetings are indulgent Totally agree. If you fill your day with meetings, you can claim that you were working hard because you were busy

> I think it's because meetings are indulgent Totally agree. If you fill your day with meetings, you can claim that you were working hard because you were busy. I, and others I have worked with have fallen into this trap. In a culture of overwork and burnout-humblebragging, filling time with meetings is a way to increase status because, as you say; you're commanding attention of those around you, creating flurries of activity, and "working hard". I am unconvinced that it is because people feel lonely, but this may not be far off. In high stress environments, meetings can be a way to push the stress of whatever you're dealing with into a time box where you can offload it onto other people. This can be helpful in coping with stress.