Are you bothered when someone much younger than you uses your first name instead

1. 69

   Dexter Yarbroughposted 14 years ago

   Are you bothered when someone much younger than you uses your first name instead of Mr., or Ms...?
   
   Are you bothered when someone much younger than you or someone that does not know you uses your first name instead of Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss along with your last name? For example, a 17 year old in the hospitality or service industry refers to a 50 year old man as, "Thank you, John. Please come again" instead of "We appreciate your business, Mr. Roberts."

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2. 72

   mindyjgirlposted 14 years ago

   well to me... the mr. and mrs. are to formal, but my staff are required to say it when offering service to clients. Actually the older folks like it. anyone past 65 does...But Baby Boomers don't. anyone under 65 doesn't. now try and guess their age and it gets tricky.

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3. 68

   LennyPposted 14 years ago

   No. I have not quite adjusted yet to the fact I am getting into the age group where I might be given those types of respect. It actually makes me a little uncomfortable. I really don't like them a cashier using my name at all because they don't know me well enough to be using my name.

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4. 63

   prettydarkhorseposted 14 years ago

   It depends actually in one's culture. If you are not a usual customer, then they should add Ms. or Mr before your surname - the usual. A simple word  "Thank you" is enough or just smile and say, "if you have any problems again, then don't hesitate to approach or call us".

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5. 77

   cathylynn99posted 14 years ago

   i call them by their first name. they can call me by mine. in the social service agency where i work, everyone from the CEO on down goes by their first name. the exception is the doctors. PhD's and MD's get called dr. so-and-so. it's a sign of the times.

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6. 60

   6hotfingers3posted 14 years ago

   Times have changed but when I am doing business with someone I do not know, I expect them to use my formal name such as Ms, Mrs,or Mr before my first or last name. It is a show of respect toward me.  I guess the bottom line is I am a bit uncomfortable with the casualness of a total stranger referring to me by my first name.

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7. 0

   Old Empresarioposted 14 years ago

   No; the first name is the standard method of address for everyone in our informal culture. Calling people "sir", "ma'am", or "Mr..." is hard on the ears and comes across as stuffy, forced, or condescending. One exception might be in dealing with public officials, who are often referred to formally unless they offer their first name. This has less to do with personal respect and more to do with respecting their desire to appear to be impartial and unfamiliar to specific people to whom they administer. Official correspondence or invitations to anyone should be formal.

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8. 60

   lostdogrwdposted 14 years ago

   respect should be shown at all time to all people and young people lost that. when a young person call me by my name I just don't say anything to them and any one else I tell them how rule it is or treat them the same. its about respect and you will never get it if you don't give it. then you will be some young fool wondering why nothing never going your way, not knowing that respect will take you a very long way

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9. 82

   Ranziposted 14 years ago

   Respect is about how you treat another person and not how and by what title and formality you call them. Formalities are like status and hierarchy and have little to do with respect.

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10. 59

    freecampingaussieposted 14 years ago

    I prefer to be called by my name than Mrs unless they are phoning me from some where and asking if they can talk to Mrs Jackson but I wouldn't ask people to call me that .
    I am only 45 but I am sure I won't suddenly prefer the other way.
    We had to call people Mr & Mrs but the problem is some females want to be called MZ ?  and thats why names are easier these days
    It is diferent tho when its kids , they need to learn respect for older people.

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11. 84

    wychicposted 14 years ago

    I don't mind too much yet, but then I'm still in my mid-20s (and have a baby face, so people don't even know if they're younger than me ) and my last name is very difficult for a lot of people to pronounce correctly. That said, I do always try to use a formal address when I'm talking to people older than me, but that has been going by the wayside a bit -- mostly on accident -- because my husband is in his 50s and most of the people I see who are significantly older than me are people with whom he is good friends and that he refers to by their first names.
    
    Maybe I'm a little old-fashioned, especially since I only graduated high school in 2004, but nothing bothered me more than to hear my fellow students calling teachers by their first names. When my husband was working at the hospital here, the one thing I never could get used to was hearing "Jeremy" or "Sarah" instead of "Dr._____" even the mother of one of my best friends is a doctor, and I have never been able to call her by anything other than her formal title. Another person whose four kids have all been counted among my friends for years, though I am now pretty good friends with her as well, is still Mrs._____ in my mind. We were also raised with "Ma'am" and "Sir" and so are my kids, so I guess we'll just keep coming across as stuffy for generations to come .

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12. 72

    nifty@50posted 14 years ago

    I would feel  comfortable with either, but given a choice, would prefer my first name. Now just using someone's last name without Mr. would be incorrect.

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13. 58

    zzronposted 14 years ago

    
    
    Of course not, a person's name is what they are supposed to be called. Mr. or Mrs. or Sir or Mam are nice and showes respect but not to use those words do not show disrespect. I'v heard some guys say, "Don't call me Sir, that's my father". It is nice to hear but not necessary.

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14. 69

    Rosie2010posted 14 years ago

    It depends on where you live and your culture.  Where I was born, we always give respect names to elders and it is disrespectful to call elders by their first names.  Now, I've lived in North America most of my life and here, first names are the usual preference.  I used to work in a nursing home and we give our residents the choice on how to address them.  Me?  I want to be called by my first name even if you are much younger than me.  But my kids' friends call me Mrs. __ and my kids call their friends' parents Mr. or Mrs. so-and-so.  It is the attitude that would bother me more than calling me by my first name.

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15. 59

    duffsmomposted 14 years ago

    I was raised in a pretty casual atmosphere so it wouldn't bother me.  But it would be a nice habit to get back to.

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16. 60

    GNelsonposted 14 years ago

    No, I answer to anything including my name.

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17. 44

    padmendraposted 14 years ago

    Normally proper  etiquette is required and it is welcomed also when we  give due salutation to someone elder than you. Whereas, the people who are working as an office peon, servant or maid in the house do not  bother  if they are called without Mr or Mrs by the Boss, landlord or owner of the house because of their low status.

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18. 72

    Vishaaaposted 14 years ago

    Well, Am not that old to bother about formal name and title. It will be really odd for me when somebody who is younger, calls me Ms.Visha. I hate it really. It makes me think that I'm growing old.

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19. 76

    Hunbbel Meerposted 14 years ago

    Yes I do annoyed a bit. I don't why exactly, but I do.
    May be the reason is, that I never do the same thing to my elders, and so I expect others to do the same as I do. May be ... But I don't know.

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20. 65

    youmegetposted 14 years ago

    Not at all. I would not bother, to some people title means a lot so to be on the safer side I address people by their title. 
    I don't think it should be a problem after all you were John before you became Mr...lol

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21. 60

    philirodjeposted 14 years ago

    To be honest, yes i am bothered when someone much younger call me by my first name. but if i am dealing with an organization and the man to address me is younger and calls me by my first name its OK. he is not the one talking. it is the management.

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22. 71

    dashingscorpioposted 14 years ago

    Very interesting question!
    Honestly it doesn't bother me.
    
    However I do believe kids calling adults by their (first name) has contributed to this generation of children and teens having a lack of (respect) for adults in general.
    
    After all the Mr. Miss, or Ms. served as a "buffer" to distinquish between how they talked to their peers/friends compared to adults. Today 3 year olds are introduced by their parents to their adult friends simply by their first name.
    When I was growing up that never would have been allowed!
    
    Today it's so normal to have kids address adults by their first names that when an adult "insists" on being called Mr. or Ms. they are looked at as being a-holes and b*tches!
    Times have changed!

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23. 67

    psycheskinnerposted 14 years ago

    As long as they use Dr. I am happy.  I worked hard for that damn piece of paper.

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24. 65

    ThunderKeysposted 14 years ago

    I feel very uncomfortable if I don't address a person older than myself with a respectful Mr. or Mrs  etc. I also feel uncomfortable to hear a younger person refer to an older person by the older person's first name spontaneously, without first securing the older person's invitation or permission to do so.
    
    Respect for our elders is one of the many values that is quickly disappearing into a self-destructive popular culture. 
    
    - Duddy.

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25. 84

    kallini2010posted 14 years ago

    I hate being called "mam".  I just want to throw it back.  What bothers  me mostly is context - if people are polite it does not matter how they call me, being forty I don't feel the need to be called Mrs.  On the other hand, I like being addressed "madame" - it is nice.
    
    What I hate, WITH PASSION, when you feel the familiarity in situations when it is absolutely unacceptable.  I was "dear" and "sweetie" by a person twenty years younger than me.  I did not want to explain - I thought - no point really, but I lose respect that very moment.
    
    Behaviour is more important, than words, it is easier to make a blunder with words, but you see the disposition.
    
    What, sometimes, we call people with wrong names and it feels awkward, but when you see a person makes an effort is one thing, but when the message really is "I could not care less" it is quite offensive.
    
    I try to do my best being nice to people, when I can.  Being ambushed by telemarketers - I am not always on my best behaviour.  That is sad, though.

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26. 78

    Theresa_Kennedyposted 14 years ago

    No. I'll be 45 this year and not ready to be ma'am or Ms. Kennedy. If someone was trying to establish repoire with me, I would prefer a more relaxed and informal greeting. But it never hurts to ask.

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27. 60

    ggendaposted 14 years ago

    I'm 30, and still not used to being referred to as "Mrs." Even when it comes to children, I am fine with first names!

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28. 60

    R M Bowersposted 14 years ago

    Mr. Bowers died many years ago, my father had that mind set you see, I stopped being a sir when I got out of the Marine Corps, so don't call me Mr. Bowers, or Sir, I am Mikkall

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29. 0

    Guantaposted 13 years ago

    I don't really appreciate anyone who is a lot younger than me addressing me by my first name nor do I care for the over friendly service person who has to act like we grew up together and add insult to injury by referrering to me by my first name.

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