Re: CHAT: "Mister" (WAS: Re: New Lang: Igassik)

Marcus Smith wrote:
> But whenever telemarketers or bank
> tellers talk to him, they use "Benjamin".
I have NEVER in my life been called by my first name by a telemarketer
or bank teller.  It's always "sir" and "Mr. Taylor", or at most "(Mr.)
Nicholas Taylor".  Of course, I'm in the south, where there's still a
greater tendency to use "sir" and "Mr.".  Interesting north-south
difference.  In the South, it's relatively common to use "sir" and
"ma'am", but I've noticed that Northerners sometimes get angry if you
call them "sir" or "ma'am".  My grandfather, for instance, doesn't like
to be called "sir" ("I'm not in the military!" he once said when my
cousin said "yes, sir" - quite sincerely, no sarcasm - during an
argument; of course, she's not exactly his favorite grandchild to begin
with ...), yet, I will sometimes say "yes, ma'am" to my mother,
especially when she tells me to do something.

Also, Mr./Miss + First name is not uncommon for young children referring
to people older than them.  My brother is "Mr. Adam" among the young
children at church, many of whom he's baby-sat or taught in VBS.  :-)

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God gave teeth; God will give bread - Lithuanian proverb
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