Question about usage of names and social convention

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Sarah Hurst wrote:

> Yes, first name is what I mean, and "Mr/Mrs" would be more polite,
> but the problem is that you can't make an assumption about "Mrs",
> "Ms" or "Miss", and I've also been addressed by the wrong last name
> at Safeway based on using a shared store card, which produced a name
> on the receipt. I think it's better for salespeople not to use names
> in brief transactions, or to ask "what would you like to be called?"
> if they need to deal with you on an ongoing basis.

Or else you could just get over it.

As offenses go, this one is really very minor, especially since the 
people are /trying/ to be friendly and courteous. It's not as if they 
called you by someone else's name /intentionally/, or by some racial or 
ethnic epithet.

When I talk to adult females of unknown marital status, I just call them 
"Ms Xxxxxxx," and no one has ever given the slightest hint of offense (I 
admit I haven't been to the UK, where things might be different). A few 
will correct me to "Mrs" or "Miss," I thank them, and that's the end of it.

In a few fast-food restaurants that I frequent, the order taker will 
occasionally take one look at me and start punching buttons; the first 
thing out of their mouth is the amount due (they have my order 
memorized). I find /that/ offensive -- as if I were not a person 
meriting a greeting, just an order. But I don't lie awake at night 
fretting over it.

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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