46-50, F
billybcgn25 · 70-79, M
It wss the culture in which I was raised. My 8th grade English teacher was Miss Ella Fanning. She had taught the children who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. 😉
To this day i am grateful she demanded we learn how to diagram sentences.
To this day i am grateful she demanded we learn how to diagram sentences.
Pinkstarburst · 51-55, F
Respectfulness
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Pinkstarburst · 51-55, F
@crownedwithlaurel97 Ma’am and sir we’re staples of my military upbringing, not just the south. What I love about the south is using Mr. and Ms. with first names. It’s a more casual respect.
pdockal · 56-60, M
bijouxbroussard · F
@Pinkstarburst One hard thing about the old South was that only some people were considered worthy of that respect in town. I remember once being with my grandmother when a young white man, trying to get her attention, called out, "hey, Auntie !" She looked at him over her glasses and said sweetly, "Ah ? And which of my sister’s children are you ?" To this day I hate being called "auntie" by anyone who isn’t my niece. And she calls me "Tante", traditional in Pop’s family.

SW-User
Respect, politeness. It really depends on how well I know the person. If they want me to call them by their first name, then I’ll respect that.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
If they are not in my inner circle of family and friends and have not told me to call me such. I am offended when, in a medical office, etc, when someone needs calls me by my first name. To me it is disrespectful
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
Respect.
I learned at school to call older people by their title and surname (although a younger female teacher might be Miss Sophie, etc).
I find calling a person you have never met before by their first name strange, impersonal and inauthentic. You need to make an effort to establish a relationship rather than just assume you can be on "first name terms" with everyone.
If you have a hospital stay, the nurses will usually ask how you would like to be called. That seems to me to be the best approach.
I learned at school to call older people by their title and surname (although a younger female teacher might be Miss Sophie, etc).
I find calling a person you have never met before by their first name strange, impersonal and inauthentic. You need to make an effort to establish a relationship rather than just assume you can be on "first name terms" with everyone.
If you have a hospital stay, the nurses will usually ask how you would like to be called. That seems to me to be the best approach.
ArtieKat · M
@SunshineGirl I love how the young in the Southern States call older people "Sir" and "Ma'am" - it reminds me of the courteousness in England when I was young.
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
As a child we were told every man you met was to be addressed as Sir.
Every 'young' woman was to be addressed as Miss. and every 'older' woman as Ma'am.
But then I had three generations of family around me so the elders were from the Edwardian era and had that respect given them
Every 'young' woman was to be addressed as Miss. and every 'older' woman as Ma'am.
But then I had three generations of family around me so the elders were from the Edwardian era and had that respect given them
if they’re older than me or in a higher position than i am it’s automatically going to be ms or mr then their last name. i’d rather be very formal and polite and them correct me with a more informal title than assume the informal and possibly get on their bad side
TAReturns · M
We’re taught that in kindergarten as respect. I can’t imagine any elementary school kid calling their teacher by their first name unless they wanted detention or worse.
SatyrService · M
It does have a purpose, one that has largely falling away and not to our best effect using the honorific title such as Mr. Ms. Mrs. is a way to keep social distance between people as a default, not everybody is going to be your friend right away. So why do that salesman thing of call me Bob! Inducing a false sense of familiarity, thus perhaps inspiring trust that should not be given.
By staying formal in one’s address you’ll also avoid personal or private subject matter, or even such things as religion and politics. It is a buffer, an Insulator. But like other tools only works when many people are using it.
By staying formal in one’s address you’ll also avoid personal or private subject matter, or even such things as religion and politics. It is a buffer, an Insulator. But like other tools only works when many people are using it.
WillaKissing · 56-60, M
Respectfulness and it is a tittle because I do not know them personally.
fanuc2013 · 51-55, F
It's just an old custom. Mrs. was once a title to be proud of, but the old customs are becoming less and less used and will probably cease to exist in the future just like many customs have.
HannahSky · F
I never called my friends parents by their first names growing up.
HannahSky · F
@crownedwithlaurel97 you didn't either?
@HannahSky nope. i still don’t
HannahSky · F
@crownedwithlaurel97 ikr I'm not sure if I know their first names anyway.
JPWhoo · 36-40, M
Furthermore, why is there a distinction in the prefixes between married and unmarried women but not between married and unmarried men? The great writer, Ambrose Bierce once observed this peculiarity and suggested that it be remedied by using the prefix, “mush” for unmarried men.
zonavar68 · 56-60, M
@Neoerectus Ms/Mrs/Miss for women but only Mr for men - that's wierd stereotyping right there.
bijouxbroussard · F
@JPWhoo There are married women who use "Ms."
I did.
I did.
Iwillwait · M
When I cannot remember their names, they all are "So & So."
Respect - especially when I don't know their first name... 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
meggie · F
If it's older people like my friends parents I call them Mr and Mrs. My grandmother raised me and although she called the lady next door June, when she referred to her she called her Mrs Carroll.
pdockal · 56-60, M
Respect

SW-User
I feel like I haven't called anyone that since I was in high school. I can't think of an adult I've been introduced to in recent years who hasn't introduced themselves with their first name.
zonavar68 · 56-60, M
I tell people off for it because I do not need or use or want any gender pronoun to identify me plus gender pronouns are not part of my official registered name in the BDM records.
If i want someone to feel important.. like a potential client.. i will not call them by there first name.
ArtieKat · M
It all depends on how they're introduced. I refuse to call anyone "Ms" to their face - I just wont use anything to address them in such a case
YoMomma ·
Respect.. because names are personal
Thevy29 · 41-45, M
When I don't know them too well.
pride49 · 31-35, M
Social etiquette is tiring
Donotfolowme · 51-55, F
I don't really use the title often. I rather call the elderly people using Sir/Madam
bijouxbroussard · F
If I don’t know them well, or if the relationship is professional rather than personal. It’s just the way I was raised, I suppose.
Kinda have to when addressing them at work
Zonuss · 46-50, M
Respect.
Queendragonfly · 31-35, F
It's just American nonsense like most things.
Lilnonames · F
Some times it's respect👍
Proper social ettiquite