"Mr., Mrs., Sir, Madam" -- my opinion on the sociologic change of verbal respect

[86 911]

so·ci·ol·o·gy ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ss-l-j, -sh-)
n.
1) The study of human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society.
2) Analysis of a social institution or societal segment as a self-contained entity or in relation to society as a whole.
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Now back on topic:

I have been examining many of the different perspectives people here have on this board and it has come to my attention that we (except for Nigerian Representatives) hardly, if ever, use "madam, mr., sir, mrs., miss", and so on to address someone. Is this form of addressing becoming extinct in our society (especially with the internet and how we use it today)? I have noticed on the internet mostly, we harldy ever address people by one of these headings and followed by their surnames. Even some of the teachers at my school you can call by their first name or just their surname (without the "proper" heading of mr. or mrs.) and they are fine with it. Another thing I've noticed is that twice (out of 2 times) that I've addressed someone here by saying "Mr. Doe" they prefer me calling them by their first name or screen-name.
Also, for example a hundred years ago everyone used Mr. Mrs. Sir Madam to address someone, unlike now a lot of people feel this is obsolete unless you are talking to a complete stranger.
Lets even look at it another way: Work. A hundred years ago you had to present yourself properly (very very properly) whereas now at some work places you can show up dressed casually.
My thesis: Society has undergone so many sociologic changes over the years and is now much "loosely" interpreted than any of the previous years of civilized mankind.
So, anyone see what I'm grasping at? Agree/Disagree?

[Mrs. K]

Please address me by my board name.....Mrs. K

[86 911]

Okay Mrs. K

Now into one of my deep thinking modes on your screen-name:

We call you Mrs. K because primarily it is your screen-name. Now if you were named "Jane Doe" and presented your name this way, we would probably just call you "Jane" whereas a hundred years ago we would address you as "Madam Doe" or "Mrs. Doe"
See where I'm coming from? Thank you Mrs. K for your response and letting me use your name as an example.

[M.D. Holloway]

In the North East they still go by Mr and Mrs, here in Texas you hear a lot more Sir and Ma'am. I was in a co-workers office today, she was about 30 and I said "yes Ma'am" to her. She looked at me and said with a smle "oh my God please don't call me that"!

In the Mid West, I notice that the kids call the adults by their first names while here in Texas it is normally Mr. Mike or Mr Dave.

Mrs K. goes by that cuz she wants to be forbidd'n fruit!

[ronin]

hmm, special K with prunes...

I'm with Matt. familiarity breeds contempt

[Mrs. K]

Ok, well my first name is Lisa....so you can call me Mrs. Lisa K if that works

But I will admit that when people call me Ma'am it does make me feel old....but then again I am...so I better get used to it...but I still don't have to grow up...do I?

[URY914]

What burns me up is when we go out to dinner with my wife and daughter and the 20-30 yr old watress comes up and says "Hi guys, how are you?" Guys? Is guys the general term for people now? Also everyone seems to be calling everyone else "Buddy" these days. I do it and I don't like it.

Those, Sir are my comments.

Thank you.

BTW, I don't like it when people call me "Mr. Paul" because when I was a kid there was a hair solon and the name on the sign was "Mr. Paul's" . Always reminds me of how gay that sounds.

[Dantilla]

I don't like being called "Mr. Paul" either.

Probably because my name is not Paul, I guess....

[Flatbutt1]

Originally posted by Mrs. K
but I still don't have to grow up...do I?

My Dear Mrs K, One is young only once, but one may be immature forever. That is how i do it.

And yes general society has become much less formal. I do believe the internet had something to do with it. I only have a problem with it when people choose the wrong time or place for such. When my daughter first introduced me to her beau he called me Tom. I informed him that he hadn't yet earned that right. When he offered up a sincere apology addressing me as Sir. I said " Cool , call me Tom".

[gassy]

"Beeotch" works for me...man or woman.

[lowyder993s]

When my daughter first introduced me to her beau he called me Tom. I informed him that he hadn't yet earned that right. When he offered up a sincere apology addressing me as Sir. I said " Cool , call me Tom".

Ballbuster...good for you!

[M.D. Holloway]

An 80-year-old man went to his doctor for his quarterly check-up. The doctor asked him how he was feeling and the 80-year-old said "Things are great and I've never felt better. I now have a 20 year-old bride who is pregnant with my child. So what do you think about that?"
The doctor considered his question for a minute and then began.
"I have an older friend, much like you, who is an avid hunter and never misses a season.
One day when he was setting off hunting, he was in a bit of a hurry and accidentally picked up his walking cane instead of his gun.
As he neared a lake he came across a very large male beaver sitting at the water's edge. He realised he'd left his gun at home and so couldn't shoot the magnificent creature but out of habit he raised his cane, aimed it at the animal as if it were his favourite hunting rifle and went 'bang,bang'.
Miraculously, two shots rang out and the beaver fell over dead.
Now, what do you think of that?" asked the doctor.
The 80-year-old said, "If you ask me, I'd say somebody else pumped a couple of rounds into that beaver."

The doctor replied, "My point exactly".

[Mrs. K]

Originally posted by Flatbutt1
My Dear Mrs K, One is young only once, but one may be immature forever. That is how i do it.

Very cool! I think it ultimately keeps us young!

[Joeaksa]

You should see the way it works in Europe, especially Germany. It takes years before some is allowed to say "du" and not "sie" for the word you. "Du" is the one used with someone you are very familiar with and I know of people who have worked together for 20 years who still say "sie" instead of the more personal word.

Its just way formal and a different world over there.

Joe A

[Rot 911]

This thread would be much more interesting if we had pictures of Ms. Camel Toe.

[86 911]

Oh no, not another camel toe thread!!!