Don't call me "Dave"

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....ss-Cameron-title.html

The days of call me "Dave", call me "Gordon" seem shortly to be coming to a close.

I ask, Is all this informality a good thing?

One gets emails, business letters etc these days, which address one by one's first name and finish by the sender's first name.

There is also the present day approach of teachers calling school pupils by their first names, and of young children calling their elders by their first names, but then it doesn't just stop there, how many Daughter in Laws/Son in Laws, call their in-laws Mum or Dad?

Is this a good thing or would it be better to revert back to addressing people by their correct title?

[scotman]

I think a lot depends on the context. Government ministers do not get to choose the civil servants in their department and I think the formality could help maintain effective operation by showing respect for the office. I wouldn't fancy having to refer to someone I didn't like by their first name.

[Gromit]

Official correspondence should carry your title and full name.

Everyday social interaction does not require such a rigid form of address, and first names should be accepted. If you make it known that you would like to be addressed as Mr. then others should respect that.

Such titles do not denote authority or respect. That has to be earned these days, not automatically assumed.

[mollykins]

In my class it gets confusing, theres four boys with the same first name, and one of their lasts names is the same as someone elses first name. so an equivilent (names changed incase they're on here) would be,

Ben Brown (gets called Brown)
Ben Jones (gets called Jones)
Ben Smith (gets called Smith)
Ben Craig (gets called Ben)
Craig Hunter (gets called Craig)

[BertiWooster]

Trigger - Why do you call me Dave ?

Cos it's your name

My name is Rodney

Why do they call you Dave then ?

[sophie_1003]

Present day approach?? How long has it been since children got called by their last names by teachers, other than the case above where there are several children of the same name! What would the benefits be of addressing people by their 'correct title' rather than their first name which was, after all, given to them on the intention that it would be used?

[madmaggot]

When I worked an evening shift in our supermarket I was given a name badge with my christian name on it; I refused to wear it and they had to get one with Mrs ****.
My christian name is for the use of people close to me and those that I give permission to use it; I don't want complete strangers addressing me by my christian name.

[Quinlad]

I've no problem with people using my first name or me using theirs. I do have a problem with someone calling me sir, though. It makes my skin crawl a little bit.

Anything that dismantles the meaningless barriers we put up between us is probably a good thing. If people insist on being called by their surname obviously we should respect that, but more openly we communicate with other, the better. And erecting walls of formality stop us doing that.