Being called Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss

I'm generally happy with first names, though normally business introductions will start more formally before moving to first names, however when someone repeatedly calls me Mr or Dr it's usually because they're trying to smarm.

I've been called master a couple of times by an older black guy that worked as a chauffeur for the parent company at the time in Houston, but I think he used that title for most people he collected from the airport.
 
Box Brownie said:
On the whole I am content to be referred to by my first name but there are circumstances where this will differ.

The only time I have felt very uncomfortable at a 'title' was on a holiday in post apartheid South Africa an older black man called me Master....... I would have expected Mister or Sir (on the basis of simply respect of talking to somone unknown to them) I felt it was tragic he still had the mind set to feel the need to call someone who is white Master :( surely in any other country in similar situation it would have been Mister or Sir???
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Would have been more tragic if your surname was Bates ;)
 
Worse case happened to me when wanting to by a brand new Volvo 245 many years ago. After looking around the showroom the salesman approached and asked which vehicle I was interested in I told him the 245 and he said quote " When you have the cash SUNNY then come back and buy one" unquote

I had the money in cash due to an inheritance and told him in a loud voice what I though of his sales technique. The boss came down the stairs to see what the row was about and I told him he should sack the salesman as he had just lost a £7, 000+ car sale. I walked out then and went to another dealership and bought one.
 
I get a bit phased when people call me by name and I have no idea who they are.

It's worse when they call me something else :D for example I was once on a train and the inspector called me by my on line name on another forum. Most unsettling.

Actually people knowing my name might be an advantage as I get older. I'm forgetting more things so one day in the not too distant I may be quite thankful for the reminder.
 
woof woof said:
I get a bit phased when people call me by name and I have no idea who they are.
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I'm often mystified by some people knowing my name, yes I have seen them before in passing but never spoken to them.
Slightly off at a tangent, I attended a meeting at my eldest sons school, many years ago when he was around 5. We were sat in groups with teachers and asked to introduce ourselves just so they knew who they were talking to. When I gave my name, the teacher said, "Oh you're ........'s Dad". I never did find out what she meant by that, or what had been said about me.
 
I've never understood it personally. If someone knows who I am then use my first name by all means. I hated having to speak to senior management in my former work place by Mr. [insert surname]
One thing I hate even more is having to call my big boss these days 'Minister' as I work in Government. So a reporter who has never met you before can call you by your first name but despite meeting you hundreds of times still have to refer to you as minister even if it's only us two in a room...Get over yourselves. You're only in a job because people voted for you. Maybe this is why my boss tells me I'm not really a civil servant. :D
 
fabs said:
Walked into a car showroom the other day to sign a registration form and, when the salesman (whom I've met once before) spotted me, he said "hello Marc". Now, I quite like that because, as they say, if I get called Mr Falber, I thin either I've done something wrong or my father just walked into the room!

Bu† it got me thinking, is anyone still offended if someone, like a salesman, calls them by their 1st name these days? I know it wasn't the done thing years ago.
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I won't be offended. I prefer no titles at all. It's out of date. Why be so old fashion and so formal like in the days of Victorian era and get addressed as Mr Smith, Miss Jones?

I bet in the days of when the human race was cave people, Ice Age, Stone Age, and have not yet build up a nice grammar and dictionary, all they do is grunt, I can't image them calling you by titles.

Caveman Huh: "Ugg! Ugg! Grr! Arrr! Mr Ahh!"
Caveman Ahh: "Grrr! Arrgh! Mr Huh, Ugg! Ugg!"

If I was famous enough to be offered the Knighthood, I would rather turn it down so that I won't be called Sir, which for me is yet another title.
 
I interviewed someone last week who insisted on calling me Rich. I really did not like that. Not good to use such familiarity to someone you don't know who is interviewing you.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
I interviewed someone last week who insisted on calling me Rich.
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Did he / she get the job ?
But I agree, that's not a good idea.
Show a little respect, do a little creeping if the mood calls for it, if you want the job that is.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
I interviewed someone last week who insisted on calling me Rich. I really did not like that. Not good to use such familiarity to someone you don't know who is interviewing you.
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I'd call you plenty of things.... None would be rich :D[emoji14]
On a serious note though I totally agree, very bad on an interview
 
I supposed I'm slightly old fashioned, if someone cold calls me, I'd rather them show me a little respect and to initially call me Mr. Cliffe rather than Andrew, or god forbid Andy. I was always thought that addressing someone by their title was a sign of respect. Once the formalities are over and done with, then Andrew is fine.

I was also taught that these are titles you convey onto others and not yourself, so when people call saying their name is Mr. Smith, it annoys me. They should announce themselves as Ken Smith, but as above, I should call them Mr Smith, until invited to call them Ken.
 
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woof woof said:
I get a bit phased when people call me by name and I have no idea who they are.

It's worse when they call me something else :D for example I was once on a train and the inspector called me by my on line name on another forum. Most unsettling.

Actually people knowing my name might be an advantage as I get older. I'm forgetting more things so one day in the not too distant I may be quite thankful for the reminder.
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So when I throw the ball I'd just shout FETCH not Alan, fetch :-)
 
I always avoid the parrot sketch the cheese shop, the Spanish Inquisition and the Spam song. As they are/were done to death by non python fans. Die hard python fans have a broader selection to choose from.

You can call me Eric.

The Goons of the '50's had some interesting lines:
"Silence, scum"
"er that's 'Mr.' Scum to you"
 
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It really depends where you are, what you are doing or buying. I am frequently called 'Sir' but I'll often say please call me Nick.

If I'm talking to people in authority I'll ask them how would you like to be addressed.

Addressing men in letters is fairly straightforward but when women can't be bothered to include Mrs or Miss in their name I use the neural Ms. which is fair game.
 
ianp5a said:
I always avoid the parrot sketch the cheese shop, the Spanish Inquisition and the Spam song. As they are/were done to death by non python fans. Die hard python fans have a broader selection to choose from.
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Well, if you want an argument, you've come to the wrong room.
 
After all its only a name ....


Interviewer : Please state your full name.

Interviewee : Johnathan ****ing ****ing tw**ing Anthony tit nipples arse holes Smith.

Interviewer : forgive me for asking, but do you have Tourettes John?

Interviewee : No, but the bloody Vicar who Christened me did.
 
ianp5a said:
I always avoid the parrot sketch the cheese shop, the Spanish Inquisition and the Spam song. As they are/were done to death by non python fans. Die hard python fans have a broader selection to choose from.

You can call me Eric.

The Goons of the '50's had some interesting lines:
"Silence, scum"
"er that's 'Mr.' Scum to you"
Click to expand...

We pay by intelligence
We can't live on nothing...
 
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