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Originally Posted by macallan25
I agree. I was taught to never call an adult by the first name, even with a Mr. or Mrs., unless they gave you permission to do so.
Yes/No Ma'am or Sir is a must in terms of being respectful. (i'm actually quite astonished at whoever said they thought using those words in response to a question or when spoken to is considered rude or bitchy....that is ridiculous.) Also, if you didn't understand or hear something, "excuse me" is perferctly fine unless you plan on using it with a bad tone of voice.
Firm handshakes are always a must, standing when you are seated and people enter the room, men or women. You should shake hands with the man and greet the woman.
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I agree with all of this, at least in that it reflects what I was taught, how I teach my children and what is considered good manners in these parts. I recognize that what is appropriate can vary from place to place, but we live where we live and the things you describe are what is expected for good manners here. (It is, of course, acceptable for a man to shake a lady's hand
if she offers it to him, not the other way around.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by centaur532
Hmm...in England I always addressed my parents' friends by their first names. It's only over here that I realized people get a stick up their ass about addressing people 'in the proper manner' and switched over to calling people Mrs. and Mr.
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You say "stick," I say "respect." Nothing urks me more than a salesman I have just laid eyes on for the first time calling me by my first name -- it comes across as trying to establish a false familiarity.
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Using 'sweetie', 'honey' and 'dear' comes off as extremely condescending in the north.
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Oh, it all depends on who says it. If she (it must be a "she") is old enough to be your grandmother (maybe your mother) and says it to just about everyone, it's fine.
And you left off my favorite -- "shug."
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