Why not call Margaret, Margaret?

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rob1973

19-12-2010

Originally Posted by jenco:
“I cannot bear all this mock formality some folk insist on. It's pure British pomposity at times. We're in 2010 for goodness sake - not the 19th century.

I always address folk by their first name unless they have a title (other than Mr/Mrs) which I am clearly expected to use. When I worked in the US in the 80s everyone addressed one another no matter who they were.

I thought Margaret's response to Stuart and her manner was quite obnoxious and even if she had felt he's been overly familiar her response and tone was of equal rudeness. And as for that awful man who refused to shake hands - if that happened in a real life interview I'd simply walk out. That was just the height of rudeness.”

This!! We're not in Victorian britain anymore. I didn't grow up calling my dad Sir! I've been to 5 job interviews this year and not once called anyone Mr xXXx...having said that I never got 3 and am still waitng to hear about the other 2! Maybe that's where I've been going wrong. I've not been tugging on my fore-lock and walking out of the interview backwards and slightly bowing like the subservient I am!

As for LA and the interviewers not calling him Lord, on a prog last year he said that if you'd always called him Al you could continue to do so, but new aquaintances had to address him as Sir (as he was then), because he'd earned it.

Bobby-Dazzler

19-12-2010

It's all about respect really, isn't it? As post 60 years of age I would feel very uncomfortable if someone noticeably younger than myself addressed me by my first name.

The Germans possibly have it right. Unless things have changed in the past few years, if you are 16+ you deserve the right to be addressed as Frau or Herr. This also applies if you are at school; even your teachers must address you properly. In the workplace you address your colleagues in a similar fashion; never on first name terms. No matter what the circumstances, a younger person does NOT take the initiative. Of course the German language still has a familiar and polite 2nd person (du/Sie) We've lost this in the English language, (thou/you). As a German you wait for an older person to say, "Du kannst mich dutzen" meaning you can address me using the familiar form AND you can call me by my first name. It is offensive to break these rules.

Virgil Tracy

19-12-2010

Originally Posted by Bobby-Dazzler:
“It's all about respect really, isn't it? As post 60 years of age I would feel very uncomfortable if someone noticeably younger than myself addressed me by my first name.

The Germans possibly have it right. Unless things have changed in the past few years, if you are 16+ you deserve the right to be addressed as Frau or Herr. This also applies if you are at school; even your teachers must address you properly. In the workplace you address your colleagues in a similar fashion; never on first name terms. No matter what the circumstances, a younger person does NOT take the initiative. Of course the German language still has a familiar and polite 2nd person (du/Sie) We've lost this in the English language, (thou/you). As a German you wait for an older person to say, "Du kannst mich dutzen" meaning you can address me using the familiar form AND you can call me by my first name. It is offensive to break these rules.”

she's only 59 you know .

Bobby-Dazzler

19-12-2010

Originally Posted by Virgil Tracy:
“she's only 59 you know .”

She might be but I'm not.

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