For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 24, 2015

So THERE MOM….

I had the same stipulation with adults when growing up. Up until the time the adult advised me that I could call them something else(most times it was their name—i.e. Sam or Betty).

Because obviously the way you did things decades ago is the only right and proper way to do them. Times change. Adapt or be comfortable being considered out of touch.

Welcome to the modern era. What’s it like living 100 years ago?

I like that “old fashioned” respect for elders custom, too. It took me years to eventually call old neighbors of my parents’ generation by their first names as an adult. As a compromise for kids, I rather like the southern custom of calling familiar adults by “Miss Sue” or “Mr. Mike” sort of thing. Preschools seem to do that. Curiously, I’m watching a Danish series “Rita”, and it seems that all of the teachers are called by their first names. I was quite surprised.

That is odd, because the kids were seen referring to Mrs. Baird and Mrs. Enjo as just that, so it is strange that they would then call other elders as “Annie” or “Connie”. Maybe it is a cultural thing, but doubtful, as I have found Canadians generally boastful that they are better mannered than Americans.

As a child in the 60’s / 70’s, I always said Miss, Mrs. Mr, BUT when we visited my uncles in Pennsylvania it was a different story. If I said to my neighbor “Good morning Mrs. Vin” I’d get this "who’s this Mrs. Vin person? My name is Francie. 99% of the folks there WANTED us to call them by their first name.

I couldn’t tell you the first names of my best friends’ parents…even when I was in high school. Never KNEW them.

It depends on the adult. I did the “Mr.” and “Mrs.” thing as a kid in the 60’s and 70’s, too, but there were grownups who preferred being called by their first name. I still appreciate my parents’ friends because they were all in the latter group and it meant a lot even though I knew I was never their peer. I always tell kids they can call me by my first name and I suspect Connie is like that too. Respect isn’t the issue…just not hung up on formality when it isn’t needed.

you have to learn to get the whole story to keep feet out of mouth!

That Elizabeth would refer to adults by their first name, as in the third panel, is disrespectful.-———————————————-Yes, being polite is a good (and these days, novel) idea. Adults from outside the family will tell kids what they want to be called if they don’t approve of what the child says, but Mr. and Mrs. are always the safe thing to start with.As a kid, I had a lot of aunts and uncles who weren’t actually related to us, but were just such close friends as to be family.

I don’t find first names particularly disrespectful. However, I consider the current practice of butting in on a two-person conversation and taking it over, to be be disrespectful on the part of both of the others – especially when the original conversation was time-sensitive business matters.

@IndyMan

Even after an adult told us to call them by their first name, my folks insisted that we still use the honorific. The only exception was one lady down the street whom everyone called “Miss Marge”. Funny thing, though. Her husband was “Mr. Stoner”.

We also insisted that our son use the honorific as a sign of respect, but if the adult asked him to use their first name (as his scoutmaster did), we allowed it.

I’m not sure why so many are jumping all over Mr. 3 Fighting Fish…I’m under 40 and was taught to address adults at Ms. or Mr. and I taught my children the same. My children’s friends address me as Ms. “first name” except for one who uses my last name.

I was raise to call adults Mr. or Mrs. (last name) except of a couple of close friends of my parents that told us to use their first names. I do like the Southern way of referring an adult by Ms. or Mr. (first name) if the child is a friend or close neighbor. Most my Sunday school kids address me that way or just by my first name. I prefer my first name in most situations and dislike the formal “Mrs.”

I agree that children should call adults by some title showing respect whether it is Mr./Miss followed by a first name or a last name. However, if that adult has told them to call them by their first name then I think that is okay and certainly not disrespectful. In fact, some might say it is disrespectful to not honor that adult’s wish as to how they want to be addressed. I find it interesting that @3 Fighting Fish jumped straight to the negative assumption that Annie had not already told Elizabeth that it was okay to call her “Annie”. That may not be the case, but why jump to the negative so quickly?

Anything else got us decked..So, you had an abusive parent too.Sorry about that..As far as What to call people, I’m probably Older than You and in my neighborhood, we called people whatever they Asked us to call them..My Grandfather set the tone for our family by insisting that Everyone call him “Tom”.That Included his Own Children..His words on the subject:

“My Friends call me Tom. If my Family aren’t my Friends, no one is.” .The only family members who called him anything else were the Cousins from North Carolina whose mother was a self styled “Southern Lady”.She taught them to call him “Grandpa” and seemed to think That was “Bending the Rules”..None of them ever seemed to realize that Tom Wasn’t Deaf. Tom was Ignoring Them..

At that age, I would have said Mrs. Nichols. My sister’s kids would have said Miss Anne.

comicsssfanRoommate? That would only make sense if you were an ensign and he were a higher rank, and then you couldn’t be roommates.