Politeness

[Nantucket Red]

Originally Posted by j

I have decided that my title shall be Excelsior. You may address me as Excelsior or refer to me as The Excelsior since I am the only One.

From the Concise Oxford Dictionary:

2. <N. Amer.> softwood shavings used for packing fragile goods or stuffing furniture.

Do you mind if we just call you Chip?

 

[Stu]

Originally Posted by globetrotter

yeah, sometimes in Latin America I have been called "doctor" - basically, I guess the whiter you are, the more educated they figure you are in some places.


Don't know about you Globe, but I hate it when people use the usted form when addressing me in Spanish. I much prefer tu, as usted makes me feel like the principal or something.

 

[kennethpollock]

Originally Posted by rdawson808

Damnit. At least it's better than lawyers calling themselves doctor. [And thus opens the can of worms and possibly the flamethrowers.]
bob

When I graduated from law school, I received a Bachelor of Laws degree. Then, about 10 years later, it became popular to award Juris Doctor degrees, instead. My law school gave me a one time opportunity: I could send back my old diploma and $25 and it would send me a new one with a Juris Doctor degree. It sounded pompous to me, so I passed.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by Stu

Don't know about you Globe, but I hate it when people use the usted form when addressing me in Spanish. I much prefer tu, as usted makes me feel like the principal or something.


once I got my wife's family to stop refering to me as "gringo rosado" I figure it was all gravy

 

[Violinist]

Originally Posted by kennethpollock

When I graduated from law school, I received a Bachelor of Laws degree. Then, about 10 years later, it became popular to award Juris Doctor degrees, instead. My law school gave me a one time opportunity: I could send back my old diploma and $25 and it would send me a new one with a Juris Doctor degree. It sounded pompous to me, so I passed.

jesus christ that must have been some offer.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by globetrotter

once I got my wife's family to stop refering to me as "gringo rosado" I figure it was all gravy

 

[Kent Wang]

Does anyone feel the same way about 'no problem'? It is really quite presumptuous, as if the act for which I am thanking you was performed solely out of your goodwill and that you wish to assure me that I did not inconvenience you too greatly.

 

[Dakota rube]

I hate &quot;no problem&quot;. Why or how is that easier to say than &quot;you're welcome&quot;?

 

[Margaret]

Originally Posted by Dakota rube

I hate "no problem". Why or how is that easier to say than "you're welcome"?

In general? Or in a formal/business situation? For me, it depends on the context. I think the breezy casualness of "no problem" is perfectly appropriate for certain situations; I don't think it translates at all to "well, it wasn't a burden..."

What's interesting is when you hear people invoke -- in a very serious tone -- their more 'formal' version, "Not a problem".

 

[j]

I honestly think people just make up new ways to say things after having to say the same thing (or the same meaning) a hundred times a day. I try to vary it a little, because if I say the same thing more than a few times in a row I start to feel crazy.

Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
...

 

[Margaret]

Originally Posted by j

Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
...

Arrgh! I know some people hate voicemail and automated voice repsonse systems, but to me, they beat the hell out of that kind of experience.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

My favorite are the Spanish aristocrats with their multi-tiered titles such as the Duchess of Alba who is 20 times a Grandee of Spain to boot:

MarÃa del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, Duquesa de Alba y de Berwick; de Montoro, de Liria y JÃ

rica, de Arjona, de HÃjar, condesa-duquesa de Olivares, marquesa de San Vicente del Barco, de El Carpio, de Coria, de Eliache, de la Mota, de San Leonardo, de Sarria, de Villanueva del Rio, de Tarazona, de Villanueva del Fresno, de Barcarrota, de la Algaba, de Osera, de Moya, de Almenara, de Valdunquillo y de Mirallo, condesa de Lemos, de LerÃn, condestable de Navarra, de Monterrey, de Osorno, de Miranda del Castañar, de Palma del Rio, de Aranda, de Salvatierra, de Andrade, de Ayala, de Fuentes de Valdepero, de Gelves de Villalba, de san Esteban de Gormaz, de Fuentidueña, de Casarrubios del Monte, de Galve, de Santa Cruz de la Sierra y Ribadeo , vizcondesa de la Calzada, marquesa de OranÃ

Ok: that's awesome. But, if that were my name, I would want all of it to fit onto my credit cards

.

Jon.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by j

I honestly think people just make up new ways to say things after having to say the same thing (or the same meaning) a hundred times a day. I try to vary it a little, because if I say the same thing more than a few times in a row I start to feel crazy.

Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking! ... Just a moment!
...

Try working in a callcentre where you are expected time after time to say the exact same thing

 

[muelleran]

Earlier, someone mentioned to be called Dr. Bob. Wasn't there a Dr. Bob in the Muppet Show?

About the feeling of being called Dr. Müller: I recieved my doctorate about 7 years ago and nobody ever calls me doctor. Etiquette demands that one has to be humble or else appear like a pompous ass. Sometimes, and only sometimes, I wish I could insist that certain people call me doctor.

The only exception is my father who writes "Dr. Müller" even on every postcard he sends me - that I find a bit creepy.

If I lived in Austria it would be a whole diffrent story since the Austrians give a title to everybody. At the very least someone has to be called "Herr Ingenieur". I secretly like that.

 

[aybojs]

I really, really dislike pickiness about different formalities, titles, etc. In general I find the people who get bent out of shape of not being addressed with the proper titles or in hearing people not abide by the Emily Post standards of etiquette or whatever tend to be more exhibiting of bad behavior or poor interpersonal skills. To simplify that, the guy who starts bitching out someone who didn't refer to him as &quot;Sir&quot; or who offended him by saying an informal greeting is a lot less classy than someone who doesn't practice nuanced etiquette, but is at least trying to be nice in spirit.

I tend to practice what I call &quot;pragmatic politeness,&quot; and try to adhere to whatever the standard seems to be for the situation, not because I find those conventions useful or respect them, but because everyone finds himself in a position where the opinion of one of those aforementioned pricks can either benefit or harm his situation greatly.