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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / April 2004Mom [OT]
I find it most annoying when little brats in American TV series refer to "My Mom" or say something sick-making like "I love my Mom". What I am curious about is the word 'Mom'. Is that what children actually say? for that matter do they say that yucky word in England nowadays? If anyone wonders what my problem is then I learnt 'Mum' and 'Mummy' and never heard this word 'Mom' until a few years ago.  SignatureDavid Stevenson Storypage: http://blakjak.com/sty_menu.htm Liverpool, England, UK <cat2@blakjak.com> Emails welcome Nanki Poo: SI Bp+W B 10 Y L+ W++ C+ I T+ A- E H++ V- F Q P B+ PA+ PL+ SC Minke: SI W+Cp B 1 Y++ L-- W- C+ Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time actually.) "Mother" is generally held for referral use only OR when aggravated by said parent. Karen > I find it most annoying when little brats in American TV series refer > to "My Mom" or say something sick-making like "I love my Mom". [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > If anyone wonders what my problem is then I learnt 'Mum' and 'Mummy' > and never heard this word 'Mom' until a few years ago. >Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" (though my >siblings and I held on to that one for a long time actually.) "Mother" is >generally held for referral use only OR when aggravated by said parent. > >Karen And Mommy. My brother and I called our mother Mommy when I was little (which is an increasingly long time ago ;)), and all the children I knew growing up said Mommy. My mother called her mother Mommy when she was little. I know English people say "Mum" or "Mummy," but I never found it irritating. It's what they do. So what? Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) > >Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" (though my > >siblings and I held on to that one for a long time actually.) "Mother" is [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > she was little. I know English people say "Mum" or "Mummy," but I > never found it irritating. It's what they do. So what? Oh, some things are just like that. I dislike "Ma'am". And I know a lot of women who do and yet people use it all the time. I swear, it makes me feel ancient! Karen > > >Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" (though my > > >siblings and I held on to that one for a long time actually.) "Mother" is [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Karen Greetings... It's not to make you feel ancient, it's to show respect. As a proper GRITS (Girl Raised In The South), I will use ma'am to women I ~know~ are younger than me when they're in charge and I'm asking them to do something for me (IE: at the DMV getting my licence renewed, in a store asking for help). Remember, it's not always what happens to you. It's how you choose to react. lal "LAL" <lalouque@bogus.sysmatrix.net> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: >It's not to make you feel ancient, it's to show respect. As a proper GRITS >(Girl Raised In The South), I will use ma'am to women I ~know~ are younger >than me when they're in charge and I'm asking them to do something for me >(IE: at the DMV getting my licence renewed, in a store asking for help). >Remember, it's not always what happens to you. It's how you choose to >react. When I was working in tech support [and I suspect this'll happen on my new job too], I'd very frequently have Southern-sounding callers who sounded old enough to have children or even grandchildren my age calling me Ma'am. :-) Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL >>> Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" >>> (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Karen You're not the only one, Karen! "Yes ma'am" in the U.S. is considered polite but it makes me feel like someone's grandmother. Granted, I'm almost old enough to *be* someone's grandmother, but point in fact, I'm not. Still, I suppose it's intended to be polite. Jill >>>> Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" >>>> (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > >Jill Another regional difference. It's pretty standard in the south, almost non-existent in the north. So it can be a jolt to a northern woman to be "ma'amed" when it's nowhere in her experience. Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) >>>>> Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" >>>>> (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Theresa True enough, Theresa... I never run into this when I go up North :) I guess this is what is left from the "old South" (pre-Civil War days)... M'ornin Mz Scarlett ma'am ROFL Jill >>>>>> Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" >>>>>> (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >this is what is left from the "old South" (pre-Civil War days)... M'ornin Mz >Scarlett ma'am ROFL Well, it really says something about the difference between north and south. Up here, we have what I call the "Whaddayacrazy?" reflex. So when we hear people talk like that, we simply don't believe it. We think we just stepped into a movie or something, or the other person has maybe lost his mind, or is pulling our leg. ;) Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) >>> Another regional difference. It's pretty standard in the south, >>> almost non-existent in the north. So it can be a jolt to a northern [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Theresa It's pretty funny if you weren't born and raised down here; I often feel like I'm stepping into a movie myself. I can only imagine someone in the Northern U.S. running into someone from the South who does that "ma'am" thing ;-) I do appreciate it, however, when I have my hands full and am trying to exit a store with several bags and a big jug of Tidy Cats kitty litter. "Go ahead, ma'am" Thank you! LOL Jill > I do appreciate it, however, when I have my hands full and am trying > to exit a store with several bags and a big jug of Tidy Cats kitty > litter. "Go ahead, ma'am" Thank you! LOL I read this and thought, "Oh how nice, another cat person!" Forgot where I was for a minute. :) Joyce >>>>>> Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" >>>>>> (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > Jill Well, I guess it is better than "Hey, Lady!" ;) Karen >>>>>>> Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" >>>>>>> (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Karen No, beats the hell out of "Hey mama, come on over here" LOL I run into some real Southern redneck yokels at the store down the street! ;-) Jill It ticks me right off when somebody calls me maam. It's like a old lady title or something and I'm way too young for that! (29). Why does a lousy title like that even need to be used? Saying "thank you" as opposed to "thank you maam" sounds perfectly polite and respectful to me. I was at a restaurant with a group of my friends once and the waiter -- likely in his late teens -- kept calling us maam. We started calling him sir every time he addressed us as maam, then we'd laugh cus he didn't seem to know how to react to that. After the main course one of my friends said to him "you know... most women, us included, prefer not to be addressed as maam cus it makes us feel old". If you really have to call us something, how about using our names." We did a roundtable of introductions and he called us by our first names for the rest of the evening.... he had no trouble remembering them either. We ended up giving him a big tip of course for respecting our preference not to be maamed. > >>>>>>> Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" > >>>>>>> (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > > Jill >It ticks me right off when somebody calls me maam. It's like a old lady >title or something and I'm way too young for that! (29). Why does a lousy [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >remembering them either. We ended up giving him a big tip of course for >respecting our preference not to be maamed. I have a habit of sometimes calling women "sir". I also call groups of women "guys", like "Hi guys", and "I'm going out with the guys". I sometimes get some funny looks. Do you suppose that's okay? :) Takayuki <Takayuki9z@yahoo.com> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: >I have a habit of sometimes calling women "sir". I also call groups >of women "guys", like "Hi guys", and "I'm going out with the guys". I >sometimes get some funny looks. Do you suppose that's okay? :) I wouldn't enjoy being called "sir". Would you enjoy being called "ma'am" or some other feminine form of address? Same thing, IMO. If you know the person's gender, addressing him/her by a title used for the other gender borders on insult, I think [by saying that person is in your opinion more a member of the opposite gender to his/her own]. Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL >Takayuki <Takayuki9z@yahoo.com> had some very interesting things to >say about Re: Mom [OT]: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >is in your opinion more a member of the opposite gender to his/her >own]. For some reason, if my father was saying yes to a male gas station attendant, it always sounded like "Yes'm". The rest of our family used to fuss at him about that. He always insisted that he was saying "Yes sir", but it didn't sound like that. For some reason, gas station attendants were the only ones he said this to. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > >It ticks me right off when somebody calls me maam. It's like a old lady > >title or something and I'm way too young for that! (29). Why does a lousy [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > of women "guys", like "Hi guys", and "I'm going out with the guys". I > sometimes get some funny looks. Do you suppose that's okay? :) Hey, you'd fit right in in Thailand! They always call women "sir". I guess they don't know about "ma'am" or else they can't pronounce it. I like it, it has a kind of Star Trek quality to it. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album >>> It ticks me right off when somebody calls me maam. It's like a old >>> lady title or something and I'm way too young for that! (29). Why [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > I guess they don't know about "ma'am" or else they can't pronounce > it. I like it, it has a kind of Star Trek quality to it. That's funny.... they call them 'sir' as a term of respect but because they don't really respect women, ma'am is hardly part of the language. Jill > >>> It ticks me right off when somebody calls me maam. It's like a old > >>> lady title or something and I'm way too young for that! (29). Why [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > That's funny.... they call them 'sir' as a term of respect but because they > don't really respect women, ma'am is hardly part of the language. Oh, I know nothing about the Thai language. I'm talking about when they are speaking English. They call me sir at the gas station and corner store, etc. The maids always call the "woman of the house" Madame. My maid never does that but lots of others do. My friend in Bangkok's maid even calls my friends' husband master. Master and Madame, LOL! -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > I have a habit of sometimes calling women "sir". I also call groups > of women "guys", like "Hi guys", and "I'm going out with the guys". I > sometimes get some funny looks. Do you suppose that's okay? :) Sir is strictly for men. However, anywhere I've been, "you guys" is gender neutral, so I suppose "Hi, guys" would be, too. I think if the group is only women, "Hi, ladies," would be a better greeting. It's probably a good idea to stay away from "Hi, girls," especially if you are a guy. I know it sounds strange that people who object to being called "ma'm" because it makes them feel old would also object to being called girls. That comes from the older, traditional view of women as dependent or somewhat less than men, hence "girls" is often taken to be a demeaning form of address. Annie > > I have a habit of sometimes calling women "sir". I also call groups > > of women "guys", like "Hi guys", and "I'm going out with the guys". I [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > less than men, hence "girls" is often taken to be a demeaning form of > address. My friends and I always call each other chickie or girlie. Mind you, I'd probably be offended if some stranger called me that! -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > My friends and I always call each other chickie or girlie. Mind you, I'd > probably be offended if some stranger called me that! [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Check out pictures of Vino at: > http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album This is strange but different forms of address from different people affect me in different ways. I'll snarl if a masculine peer calls me "honey or baby or darling" but if it's an elderly southern man where sweetheart or some other form of endearment was common towards younger women it doesn't irk me quite as bad. I'm positive towards whatever etiquette was prevailant during each generation. I guess I'm just not going to expect or even suggest someone forty years my senior change their lifestyle views to fit today's norm. But woe be the 18 year old fool that calls me "babe". *hmm* Although, I wouldn't be adverse to my daughter's bringing home a young man years down the road only for him to exclaim "Wow! Your mom is still a babe!" *grin* Grace Yeah, Gracie, in about 30 years I wanna see you post again you don't want any 18-year-old fools calling you "babe"......(snicker). : > My friends and I always call each other chickie or girlie. Mind you, : I'd [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] : : Grace "GraceCat" <gracecat@bellsouth.net> wrote in message > This is strange but different forms of address from different people > affect me in different ways. I'll snarl if a masculine peer calls me [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Grace My girlfriend and I were at a bar Friday night and we stepped outside to have a cigarette. This lounge-lizardy guy comes up to us and says to Raisa (my girlfriend) "Hi baby! I know your name now!". I looked at him and said "What? Baby???????". Raisa just about died. The guy left. Stacey :) > "GraceCat" <gracecat@bellsouth.net> wrote in message >> This is strange but different forms of address from different people [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Stacey :) Anyone else here remember the computer game, "Larry the Lounge Lizard"? LOL Jill > Anyone else here remember the computer game, "Larry the Lounge > Lizard"? LOL Yes!! Joyce >My girlfriend and I were at a bar Friday night and we stepped outside to >have a cigarette. This lounge-lizardy guy comes up to us and says to Raisa >(my girlfriend) "Hi baby! I know your name now!". I looked at him and said >"What? Baby???????". Raisa just about died. The guy left. > >Stacey :) A number of years ago (though I was in my 30s at the time), a friend and I were at a bar. The band was on a break, and the singer addressed us, saying "How are you girls tonight?" We snorted, and with an air of superiority pointed out in no uncertain terms that we were NOT girls, but women. The band got onstage after their break and started playing again. The song? "Pretty Woman". We just about lost it laughing. Ginger-lyn >>My girlfriend and I were at a bar Friday night and we stepped outside to >>have a cigarette. This lounge-lizardy guy comes up to us and says to Raisa [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >We just about lost it laughing. When I was in my twenties, I was very firm about having to be referred to as a "woman." When I turned forty, "girl" started sounded pretty good again. ;) >Ginger-lyn Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) > >It ticks me right off when somebody calls me maam. It's like a old lady > >title or something and I'm way too young for that! (29). Why does a lousy [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > of women "guys", like "Hi guys", and "I'm going out with the guys". I > sometimes get some funny looks. Do you suppose that's okay? :) I"m with you, Tak. I use "guys" as a gender neutral group noun for people I am friends with. And I must admit, I got an aweful shock the first time I was referred to as "Mrs". Inearly gave them a mouthful, and realised just in time that I was indeed a Mrs this time. It sounds so *old*. "Ma'am" is pretty standard in the service industry here, particular places that make an effort to give you good service, I don't tend to notice it in that context. Although outside of the service sector, it does sound very old fashioned to me. Yowie > And I must admit, I got an aweful shock the first time I was referred to as > "Mrs". Inearly gave them a mouthful, and realised just in time that I was > indeed a Mrs this time. It sounds so *old*. I got married when I was only 23 (yikes, I can't believe I did that! Oh well, it turned out ok ;-) so people started calling me Mrs. when I was really young. It took me a year to stop giggling whenever it happened. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > > And I must admit, I got an aweful shock the first time I was referred to > as [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Check out pictures of Vino at: > http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album I was married at 20, and it lasted almost 30 years. It would be almost 48 now, but he died 18 years ago. Sometimes even young marriages work out. He was 26, but he wasn't a lot more grown-up than I was. When I look back now I can't believe what kids we were. Joy > > > And I must admit, I got an aweful shock the first time I was > referred to [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > out. He was 26, but he wasn't a lot more grown-up than I was. When I > look back now I can't believe what kids we were. Yeah, but people used to get married a lot younger. My mom got married at 23 as well and that was pretty normal for 1964. However, I got married in 1996 and 23 was definitely considered way young. Then again, Dennis and I moved in together after only knowing each other for 4.5 months. Sometimes you just know when you've found "the one" :-) But if I ever had a daughter, I would definitely not recommend for her to do what I did! -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > > And I must admit, I got an aweful shock the first time I was referred to > as [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > well, it turned out ok ;-) so people started calling me Mrs. when I was > really young. It took me a year to stop giggling whenever it happened. 23 years old is *young* to get married?? When I got married (23 years ago) it was practically elderly! I was 22 and 1/2 years old and folks in town told my mother that I was obviously "on the shelf" (despite having been engaged since we were 19) SignatureJette "Work for Peace and remain Fiercely Loving" - Jim Byrnes jette@blueyonder.co.uk http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ > > > And I must admit, I got an aweful shock the first time I was referred to > > as [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > "on the shelf" (despite having been engaged since we were > 19) Sure, if you got married 23 years ago. I got married 8 years ago (I'm 31 now) and it was considered quite young to get married. The average age in 2000 for a woman to get married was 26, that's what I heard on some TV show. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album "Yowie" <yowie9644.DIESPAMDIE@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:40675c54$0$31906 > I"m with you, Tak. I use "guys" as a gender neutral group noun for people I > am friends with. I do that too. Yesterday I spoke briefly at a 50th anniversary party for some friends, and I finished by saying, "Happy Anniversary, you guys." > And I must admit, I got an aweful shock the first time I was referred to as > "Mrs". Inearly gave them a mouthful, and realised just in time that I was > indeed a Mrs this time. It sounds so *old*. This reminds me of my wedding reception. We had a receiving line, and at least half the people coming through the line addressed me as Mrs. Gaylord. I was in a bit of a daze, and wondered why so many people were talking about my mother-in-law. Joy "Takayuki" <Takayuki9z@yahoo.com> wrote > I have a habit of sometimes calling women "sir". I also call groups > of women "guys", like "Hi guys", and "I'm going out with the guys". I sometimes get some funny looks. Do you suppose that's okay? :) I've never addressed a woman a sir, except in jest, maybe. I always refer to a group of people as guys when saying "Hi guys", but I'll says "I'm going out with the girls" if I am, indeed, doing just that. :) Stacey > I have a habit of sometimes calling women "sir". I also call groups > of women "guys", like "Hi guys", and "I'm going out with the guys". I > sometimes get some funny looks. Do you suppose that's okay? :) At my high school, we had a coach who addressed everyone - male, female, singular, or plural - as "men". A bunch of girls would be walking down the hall and he'd say "Good morning, men!" We'd all just say "hey, Coach" and keep going. We all thought he was err, eccentric. Perhaps that's what your "guys" are thinking about you? :-P ------ Krista > It ticks me right off when somebody calls me maam. It's like a old lady > title or something and I'm way too young for that! (29). Why does a lousy [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > remembering them either. We ended up giving him a big tip of course for > respecting our preference not to be maamed. It can tick me right off if someone who doesn't know me and is younger and/or is trying to solicit business *doesn't* call me ma'am. To me, it is simply polite, and I think of it in just the same way as I expect in a business setting to be called "Ms. McCrea" instead of "honey" or something similar. It's not particularly an age issue; though I *like* being an adult, I've been "ma'am'ed" since I was a teenager and have never seen anything wrong with it. ------ Krista Southern to the bone. :-) I call every female above high-school age "Ma'am" just to be polite. Here in California I still get these shocked responses when I address a group of people as "Y'all." <snip> > True enough, Theresa... I never run into this when I go up North :) I guess > this is what is left from the "old South" (pre-Civil War days)... M'ornin Mz > Scarlett ma'am ROFL > > Jill > I call every female above high-school age "Ma'am" just to be polite. > Here in California I still get these shocked responses when I address a > group of people as "Y'all." Did you invite them to go on a snipe hunt again? Pam S. wondering Yep. Even offered them the honor of holding the sack. :-) >> I call every female above high-school age "Ma'am" just to be polite. >> Here in California I still get these shocked responses when I address [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Pam S. wondering > Yep. Even offered them the honor of holding the sack. :-) Figures. Dave, you're amazing. It's one of the things we all love about you. I'll let you take Rob on a snipe hunt if we ever get down your way. I'll stay back with Patty. Pam S. grinning evilly >>Another regional difference. It's pretty standard in the south, >>almost non-existent in the north. So it can be a jolt to a northern [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Jill Funny, I call my students "Sir," Ma'am," or their names. They seem to appreciate the courtesy. No, I don't think of it as being subservient to my students, just showing them some of the manners I expect in return. Pam S. >>> Another regional difference. It's pretty standard in the south, >>> almost non-existent in the north. So it can be a jolt to a northern [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Pam S. I happened to have the television on one night last week and they were showing an episode of the Bernie Mack show. His young neice was attending a wacky school where the teachers expected to be called by their first names. He went in as a parent helper and insisted everyone call him Mr. Mack out of respect. After a few days of his being there, the teachers called a meeting to ask him to leave. One of them said, "My students are all calling me Mr. [whatever]!" Oh my. The horror of it all :) Jill "Kreisleriana" <kreisleriana2@yahoo.com> wrote> <SNIP> > Another regional difference. It's pretty standard in the south, almost non-existent in the north. So it can be a jolt to a northern woman to be "ma'amed" when it's nowhere in her experience. > Theresa What I've found in the South is when small children are encouraged to call elders by "Miss or Mr" then their first names. When I nannied, the father encouraged this (though he wasn't Southern, just a PITA) so the kids called me "Miss Stacey" which seemed way to formal for kids I saw every day, as well as their parents were our good friends. IMHO, It's a nice custom for casual acquaintances, but not for everyday use. Stacey :) When I moved to Louisiana back in the 60's for a few years, I was horrified by this custom. I was called Mr.Dave, and the honorific was expected and used toward all white people in positions of authority. Blacks, however, were always called by their first name only, if known. Until about age 70 they were referred to as Girl or Boy. After that they were Aunt and Uncle. I caused quite a row by using the honorific with the first name just as if they were white. I also said Ma'am and Sir to my elders. I still do. Blacks had to put up with lack of respect for so many years I always speak to them politely. > "Kreisleriana" <kreisleriana2@yahoo.com> wrote> > <SNIP> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Stacey :) > When I moved to Louisiana back in the 60's for a few years, I was > horrified by this custom. I was called Mr.Dave, and the honorific was [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > so > many years I always speak to them politely. I've lived in the Southern U.S. for over 30 years. I agree that blacks have had to put up with a lot and I always address them politely. However, I have been subjected to reverse racial descrimination as well. Case in point: I went to lunch one day with co-worker Clarissa, who is a fair-skinned black woman. We went shopping at Target and then went to their little snack bar to grab a burger and some fries. The black woman behind the counter took Clarissa's order and then pointedly ignored me. Clarissa looked and me and I shrugged. Clarissa then spoke up and said, "Excuse me! Are you going to take my SISTER's order?" The black woman behind the counter just about fell over herself trying to apologize. Sister? Yes, we could have been; who knows? Another case in point: there is a family owned market down the street from me which runs a 'deli'; Southern breakfasts and lunches. I often stop in to pick up one or the other. This older black woman, Ms. Pinkee :) didn't like me the moment she saw me. I had asked for a couple of pieces of chicken and some dressing; she said gruffly, "You know that's three 'meats'." Yeah, so? She was just rude to me. A week later I made some red beans & rice with chaurice sausage and I took a container over there. Gave it to her and said, "You're so busy cooking, bet you don't get time to eat a good lunch." She loved it and treated me like a friend after that! She used to set aside fried catfish and hush-puppies for me to pick up on Friday after work. I hated it when she quit. All it takes is treating people like... people. Sometimes you can get around the barriers and stereotypes :) Jill >> "Kreisleriana" <kreisleriana2@yahoo.com> wrote> >> <SNIP> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> >> Stacey :) >> When I moved to Louisiana back in the 60's for a few years, I was >> horrified by this custom. I was called Mr.Dave, and the honorific was [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >counter just about fell over herself trying to apologize. Sister? Yes, we >could have been; who knows? The only thing I will disagree about is the idea of "reverse" discrimination. There isn't any such a thing. If someone is discriminating on the basis of race, then race discrimination is what it is. Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley) All I can say is, this post made me hungry. :) Joyce > Case in point: I went to lunch one day with co-worker Clarissa, who is a > fair-skinned black woman. We went shopping at Target and then went to their [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > counter just about fell over herself trying to apologize. Sister? Yes, we > could have been; who knows? > Another case in point: there is a family owned market down the street from > me which runs a 'deli'; Southern breakfasts and lunches. I often stop in to > pick up one or the other. This older black woman, Ms. Pinkee :) didn't like > me the moment she saw me. I had asked for a couple of pieces of chicken and > some dressing; she said gruffly, "You know that's three 'meats'." Yeah, so? > She was just rude to me. > A week later I made some red beans & rice with chaurice sausage and I took a > container over there. Gave it to her and said, "You're so busy cooking, bet > you don't get time to eat a good lunch." She loved it and treated me like a > friend after that! She used to set aside fried catfish and hush-puppies for > me to pick up on Friday after work. I hated it when she quit. > > When I moved to Louisiana back in the 60's for a few years, I was > > horrified by this custom. I was called Mr.Dave, and the honorific was [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Jill My feeling is that people are entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect unless they give you a reason to do otherwise, so my "default setting" is to be courteous and respectful to people when I meet them, no matter what the setting. In my mind, their age, physical appearance or the job they're doing is irrelevant to their right to be treated with courtesy. OTOH, on occasion people's actions demonstrate that they don't deserve to be treated with the normal degree of courtesy, no matter what their age, appearance, or position and I adjust my interactions accordingly. Thankfully, that doesn't happen a lot. Napoleon@myeweb.com (Napoleon) had some very interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: >My feeling is that people are entitled to be treated with courtesy and >respect unless they give you a reason to do otherwise, so my "default [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >no matter what their age, appearance, or position and I adjust my >interactions accordingly. Thankfully, that doesn't happen a lot. You sound like me. :-) Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL > "Kreisleriana" <kreisleriana2@yahoo.com> wrote> > <SNIP> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > well as their parents were our good friends. IMHO, It's a nice custom for > casual acquaintances, but not for everyday use. That's how they do it in Thailand. They call everyone Mr.(first name). Probably because their last names are sooooo long and complicated. The doc that did Dennis' back surgery was Dr. Dhanit Dheandhanoo. We are glad to be able to call him Dr. Dhanit :-) -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > > "Kreisleriana" <kreisleriana2@yahoo.com> wrote> > > <SNIP> [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > -- > Britta My uncle was a doctor in California with an unpronounceable Ukrainian last name. I can't remember anymore how to spell it but it sounded like wash-a-lisha. Everyone called him Dr. Michael. Finally after a few years of this, the family changed their last name to Michaels. Jo > > > "Kreisleriana" <kreisleriana2@yahoo.com> wrote> > > > <SNIP> [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > wash-a-lisha. Everyone called him Dr. Michael. Finally after a few years > of this, the family changed their last name to Michaels. Wouldn't that make him Michael Michales? LOL! -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > > > > "Kreisleriana" <kreisleriana2@yahoo.com> wrote> > > > > <SNIP> [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > Wouldn't that make him Michael Michales? LOL! > -- Sure did! His kids who were just starting school really appreciated the change too. As did my Aunt who never felt she fit into the ethnic thing anyway. Jo > My uncle was a doctor in California with an unpronounceable Ukrainian last > name. I can't remember anymore how to spell it but it sounded like > wash-a-lisha. Everyone called him Dr. Michael. Finally after a few years > of this, the family changed their last name to Michaels. The first oncologist that Rob saw after his surgery is originally from Sri Lanka (once Ceylon). His last name is about 20 letters long and starts Marc. He told us to call him Dr Mark. Pam S. who was impressed with how good he is. > >>> Yup. We call our "Mums" "Mom" or sometimes when younger "Mama" > >>> (though my siblings and I held on to that one for a long time [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > When I was a kid, here in the US, I always called my mother Mom. My children called me Mom, Mommy, Mum, Mummy, but never Ma. Don't know why, but Ma, drove me nuts! Charleen >> Oh, some things are just like that. I dislike "Ma'am". And I know a >> lot of women who do and yet people use it all the time. I swear, it [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >Jill Well, like others have said, I think it's pretty much a regional/cultural thing. California's a pretty big state, and there are, at least in my opinion, definite differences depending where you are. I grew up in the Central Valley surrounded by Okies who had come out during the Depression. BTW, Okie is one of those labels that can be either an insult or perfectly alright depending on the situation. Authority figures were always Sir or Ma'am; all adults, Mr, Mrs, or Miss (don't think we had even heard of Ms back then). Kids in my circle who didn't use the proper address were apt to be spanked, and not just by Mom and Dad. I'll never forget that Miss Smith, my 5th grade teacher (also taught two brothers and one sister), kept a wood paddle, though I don't think she ever used it. Parents in my circle were normally called Mom and Dad, or Mommy and Daddy. The exception being when you were upset with them - then they became Mother and Father. Ma and Pa were out, at least in our house, too much like Ma and Pa Kettle. Grandparents were Grandma/pa, or Nana and Popie. Even today when I visit, I use Mr and Mrs when referring to the adults of my childhood. I still use Sir and Ma'am for authority figures, no doubt influenced by 20 years as a soldier. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >Well, like others have said, I think it's pretty much a >regional/cultural thing. California's a pretty big state, and there >are, at least in my opinion, definite differences depending where you >are. I grew up in the Central Valley surrounded by Okies who had come >out during the Depression. BTW, Okie is one of those labels that can >be either an insult or perfectly alright depending on the situation. Where I grew up in the north-east of England, accents could vary from one village/small town to another. You caould tell which part of Northumberland someone came from by the way they pronounced some words and the strength of the accent. Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$ --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- > >Well, like others have said, I think it's pretty much a > >regional/cultural thing. California's a pretty big state, and there [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > someone came from by the way they pronounced some words and the strength of the > accent. Aye, same thing happens in Scotland - two small towns (villages) 8 miles apart have different accents (recogniseable to ourselves and each other, but probably not to a visiting american <g>) SignatureJette "Work for Peace and remain Fiercely Loving" - Jim Byrnes jette@blueyonder.co.uk http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ > Aye, same thing happens in Scotland - two small towns > (villages) 8 miles apart have different accents (recogniseable > to ourselves and each other, but probably not to a visiting > american <g>) And in Newfoundland, although strong local accents are becoming less strong, particularly among the younger generations. I remember, when I was in my teens, thinking that someone I just met had a somewhat strong accent. Then she spotted a friend from her very small remote home community, and started talking normally - for them - and I couldn't understand a word! Like a lot of people, including me, she changed her accent somewhat, depending on whether she was talking to an old buddy from home, a stranger, or in a formal setting like a classroom or office. Once I noticed this phenomenom, I saw it a lot among the people I knew. We talked one way among ourselves, often another way at home, and yet another way when sitting in class and talking to a professor who, usually, came from somewhere else. And it was automatic. I suppose we'd had it drilled into us that when we were in fairly formal settings, we should use proper English (no dialect words) and SLOW DOWN. All the local dialects and accents are noted for being spoken far faster than most versions of English. SignatureCheryl >Authority figures were always Sir or Ma'am; all adults, Mr, Mrs, or >Miss (don't think we had even heard of Ms back then). We were raised the same way. Maybe I'm just an old fogy, but it *really* ticks me off to be called by my first name by strangers, now that I'm entitled to the honorifics. This was especially noticeable in Florida. "But it's just being friendly." But you're not yet my friend. Telephone solicitors starting off on a first name basis: I ask "Do I know you?" (Stops them every time). Doctor/Dentist offices: receptionist calls out "Jeanne" and three Jean(ne)s stand up. "I don't know how to pronounce your last name." So mispronounce it; I can figure it out. Grrrr!!! Jeanne (the old fogy) > We were raised the same way. Maybe I'm just an old fogy, but it > *really* ticks me off to be called by my first name by strangers, now [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Jeanne (the old fogy) Here they don't do first names at doctor/dentist offices and I know, when I hear something that could be close to my last name around the time I had the appointment for, I get up and check if it was me they meant. I have a tricky last name too. Can't even count the times I've taught ppl how to type the ü (u with dots) on an ordinary keyboard, both at work and even in offices where names are required. SignatureChristine in Vantaa, Finland christal63 (at) yahoo (dot) com photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/christal63 > > We were raised the same way. Maybe I'm just an old fogy, but it > > *really* ticks me off to be called by my first name by strangers, now [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > taught ppl how to type the ? (u with dots) on an ordinary keyboard, both > at work and even in offices where names are required. I hear you on the umlaut in the last name. Before I got married, my last name was H?lzl. Nobody could pronounce it when we moved to Canada, people would call me Hazel or even Hoser :-( I was so glad when I got married to Dennis who has such a *nice*, *normal* last name, Wilson :-) -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album >>Here they don't do first names at doctor/dentist offices and I know, >>when I hear something that could be close to my last name around the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > would call me Hazel or even Hoser :-( I was so glad when I got married to > Dennis who has such a *nice*, *normal* last name, Wilson :-) Your maiden name sounds Austrian, Swiss or at least South-German. I remember you saying you're originally from Germany, but where exactly? Always when someone asks me for my name, it automatically comes attached with the spelling - "and your name is?" - "Krühn, K-R-german y-H-N" - "Say what??!!" :D But still, if Janne and me should happen to get married, I'd keep my name in the way that I'd probably do the hyphen-version, using his name on everyday basis and both in official situations. It's a rare name and I wouldn't want it to disappear. :) SignatureChristine in Vantaa, Finland christal63 (at) yahoo (dot) com photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/christal63 > Always when someone asks me for my name, it automatically comes attached > with the spelling - "and your name is?" - "Krühn, K-R-german y-H-N" - > "Say what??!!" :D I always have to spell out my name, too. Finns always think Kurtén starts with a C or a G, and of course, no-one ever realises there's an accent acute on the e. :o) Finnish always puts the emphasis on the first syllable of a word, so Finns seldom pronounce Marina correctly, either. If I say my name as it is supposed to be pronounced, MaRIna, they assume that it's spelled with two i:s. I wouldn't mind them pronouncing it incorreectly, except that the Finnish word marina means whining. ;o( SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki >>Always when someone asks me for my name, it automatically comes attached >>with the spelling - "and your name is?" - "Krühn, K-R-german y-H-N" - [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > with two i:s. I wouldn't mind them pronouncing it incorreectly, except that > the Finnish word marina means whining. ;o( And now that we got to the first name, I am very picky about mine. For as long as I can remember, I've always told ppl off for calling me Kristiina, especially spelling it with a K. I don't mind if they pronounce it wrong by emphasizing the CHRIStine, as long as it's spelled with a Ch and ends with an e. My buddy at work emails me every so often and she always adresses me with Krisse, and as her name is Kirsti, I reply to her with Chirsti... ;) (I can almost hear someone out there saying "oh, grow up!!" :D) SignatureChristine in Vantaa, Finland christal63 (at) yahoo (dot) com photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/christal63 CK <christal63@yahoo.com> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: >And now that we got to the first name, I am very picky about mine. For >as long as I can remember, I've always told ppl off for calling me [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >reply to her with Chirsti... ;) (I can almost hear someone out there >saying "oh, grow up!!" :D) I think that seems a friendly humorous way of making the point. At one job I held for six months, not ONE of *five* people I interacted with on a daily basis ever got the pronunciation of my first name right [no, that's not why I quit, but it gives you an idea of the general level of respect and courtesy around there]. Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL Well since you brought it up... *grin* Is it pronounced the same as "Jeanette" or "Shawnette" Grace > CK <christal63@yahoo.com> had some very interesting things to say > about Re: Mom [OT]: [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > "Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing > (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL "GraceCat" <gracecat@bellsouth.net> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: >Well since you brought it up... *grin* >Is it pronounced the same as "Jeanette" or "Shawnette" The latter is close enough [although I *hate* that spelling]. I *have* gotten renamed a few times, and am usually fairly flexible about it, answering to anything in the general neighborhood if said in a civil or better tone. I can deal with Shannon, Shauna, or Jeannette, but have no idea where anyone has been able to come up with Sharon, Cheryl, or Cindy. Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL So it's a feminine version of the Sean in Sean Connery. Cool :) And yes, I hate the spelling but couldn't think of any other ways other than well.. Sean ;) Grace > "GraceCat" <gracecat@bellsouth.net> had some very interesting things > to say about Re: Mom [OT]: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > "Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing > (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL > "GraceCat" <gracecat@bellsouth.net> had some very interesting things > to say about Re: Mom [OT]: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > have no idea where anyone has been able to come up with Sharon, > Cheryl, or Cindy. I know you once told me in chat that the pronounciation was fairly close to "Shawnette", but for life of me, when I"m reading the NG, my brain always prounounces it "Synnette"! Yowie "Yowie" <yowie9644.DIESPAMDIE@yahoo.com.au> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: >> >Well since you brought it up... *grin* >> >Is it pronounced the same as "Jeanette" or "Shawnette" [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >"Shawnette", but for life of me, when I"m reading the NG, my brain always >prounounces it "Synnette"! In your case, I'd probably just mentally translate, allowing for accent. :-) Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL > CK <christal63@yahoo.com> had some very interesting things to say > about Re: Mom [OT]: [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > "Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing > (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL Some people seem to be extremely dense when it comes to pronouncing or spelling other people's names. I'm sort of a watchdog in my Toastmasters club when it comes to that. Normally I don't go around correcting people's spelling or pronunciation, but when it comes to names I do. We had one man who used to visit the club. His name was Winfred, and he asked us to call him Win, which I did. However, several members regularly called him WinIfred, and I don't think they were doing it to tease. The just really didn't see the difference. We had a member named Sinara, and several people always called her Sonora. I've also corrected the woman who puts out the schedule when she kept spelling Loren's name as Lauren. I guess I'm particularly sensitive to that because all my life I've had people call me Joyce. I have a cousin named Joyce whom I disliked, so I really resented that when I was a child. They also wanted to put an "s" on the end of my last name. Joy > My buddy at work emails me every so often > and she always adresses me with Krisse, and as her name is Kirsti, I > reply to her with Chirsti... ;) (I can almost hear someone out there > saying "oh, grow up!!" :D) Well, jeez, you've spelled it correctly for her in your own emails. One would think she'd *notice* that her spelling is different, ie, WRONG. :) I've always noticed that if a person's name is spelled in an unusual way, there are some people who can never get the spelling of that person's name right, no matter how many times they might see it. When I see that someone's name is spelled differently, I make a note of it. I try to remember to get it right. How hard is that to do?? I'm not saying I've never made a mistake, but I don't think I'd keep making the same mistake over and over, after seeing the name spelled correctly over and over. Joyce Ages ago, when I was still living with my parents, we tried to make a list of versions of our last name on mail, both junk mail and ordinary mail, and it eventually made quite a long list. Unfortunately I don't have the list anymore, but some versions of our last name (Krühn) were: - Kruhn - Kruehn - Kreuhn - Kriin - Kryhn - Kryn - Kr hn - Krhn - Krön - Kröhn - Grön - Grun - etc. etc. I do know that some computer systems (it seems like most of them) cannot deal with the ü (the u with dots) as it isn't a letter in the normal Finnish alphabet. Some systems make the letter into some special character, leave it blank or just drop it out and make the name "Krhn". There is a local saying which roughly translated goes "a dear child has many names", well that would make our family very dear indeed! :D SignatureChristine in Vantaa, Finland christal63 (at) yahoo (dot) com photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/christal63 >Ages ago, when I was still living with my parents, we tried to make >a list of versions of our last name on mail, both junk mail and [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >has many names", well that would make our family very dear indeed! >:D The problem is that the Internet was designed using ASCII, which, as originally implemented, could only handle the 26 letters used by English. Various extensions to ASCII have been made since then, including Unicode, which (in theory) can handle any of the world's languages. Unfortunately, not all of the work-arounds are compatible with each other, and there are still a lot of programs that are ASCII-based. SignatureJohn F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria > Ages ago, when I was still living with my parents, we tried to make a > list of versions of our last name on mail, both junk mail and ordinary [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > There is a local saying which roughly translated goes "a dear child has > many names", well that would make our family very dear indeed! :D LOL! I could come up with a list like that for H?lzl too. But in Germany they change the umlaut into the letter without the dots followed by an e to mean the same thing. That's how they do it if the computer system can't handle umlauts. So H?lzl becomes Hoelzl. In Canada, they just left the dots off so it was Holzl (on drivers licences, tax forms, etc). -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album Geez, even the USA meaning of "a place where boats dock" beats "whining"......LOL. : > Always when someone asks me for my name, it automatically comes attached : > with the spelling - "and your name is?" - "Kr?hn, K-R-german y-H-N" - [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] : with two i:s. I wouldn't mind them pronouncing it incorreectly, except that : the Finnish word marina means whining. ;o( > > Always when someone asks me for my name, it automatically comes attached > > with the spelling - "and your name is?" - "Kr?hn, K-R-german y-H-N" - > > "Say what??!!" :D > > I always have to spell out my name, too. Finns always think Kurt?n starts > with a C or a G, and of course, no-one ever realises there's an accent acute > on the e. :o) Finnish always puts the emphasis on the first syllable of a [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi > Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki My first name is simple, but I always spell it. Otherwise, it's almost guaranteed I'll be called Joyce, which is *not* my name. ;-) Joy Anyone else get ticked off if their name is shortened beyond where they would care to shorten it? Example: My name is Catherine. I choose to be known as Cathi in common parlance (although family have always called me Katie). But I don't choose to be known as Cath.. *Particularly* with the Estuary English "pronunciation", which is a long "a", and a double "f" at the end :"Caaaaaff" It just sounds lazy and sloppy. I had one co-worker who would always remember half-way through using it, so it would come out as"*Caaaaff*-i" For heaven's sake - I'm a human being, not a greasy spoon diner as immortalised in EastEnders! SignatureCathi Cathi <Cathi@nospamplease.seasalter0.demon.co.uk> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: >Anyone else get ticked off if their name is shortened beyond where they >would care to shorten it? Very. Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL > Cathi <Cathi@nospamplease.seasalter0.demon.co.uk> had some very > interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: > > >Anyone else get ticked off if their name is shortened beyond where they > >would care to shorten it? I spent my younger life fighting with everyone, insisting my name is *Victoria* not any version of Vicky. But by the time I got to mid-highschool people insisted on shortening my name anyway. And some of the shortenings were *insane*. Which is the point where I decided that "Vicky" wasn't half as bad as some of the things people wanted to use. It was either that or some version of "Tori" which I really couldn't stand. Versions of Vicky include: Vicky Vicki Vickie Vikki Vikkie Vycci I collect them..... And then there's Yowie. Yowie Cathi <Cathi@nospamplease.seasalter0.demon.co.uk> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: >Anyone else get ticked off if their name is shortened beyond where they would care to shorten it? Ohn, yes! One of my co-workers is always calling me Patsy. The first time she did it, I told her that wasn't my name, and please do not call me that. A few days later, she did it again, and I said VERY strongly to her, that is NOT my name, do not call me that. I just wonder how many times I will have to remind her. Sigh. Patti (not Patsy or Patricia!) > Cathi <Cathi@nospamplease.seasalter0.demon.co.uk> had some very > interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Very. My name - as given to me by my parents - is perhaps a little difficult for the average Scot to pronounce - Georgette, with a soft French G It got mangled regularly at school, so for convenience when I left school I shortened it to Jette. That's JET. So why the h*ll does my HR department insist on calling me "Jetty"? Every other b*gger in the Agency can manage Jette pronounced Jet. "Oh but it looks French" quoth one "yes it IS French" I replied "which is why it is JET" "but shouldn't it have one of those thingies over the last E?" "Did I write one there? No? then it shouldn't have an accent - ok?" (and they STILL keep doing it)(sometimes in the same conversation less than a minute after being corrected on the pronounciation) SignatureJette "Work for Peace and remain Fiercely Loving" - Jim Byrnes jette@blueyonder.co.uk http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ > My name - as given to me by my parents - is perhaps a > little difficult for the average Scot to pronounce - [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > (and they STILL keep doing it)(sometimes in the same conversation > less than a minute after being corrected on the pronounciation) So you get called jetty? I just wonder if the person/people doing that think that they call you a "place to tie up your boat"..?? And if it was jeté, it would be a ballet move. Me, I don't know anything about ballet, haven't got the figure for it. I'm closer to Big Hilda Hippo in those old Richard Scarry books... :D But like I said earlier, they just don't care to listen proberly. :/ SignatureChristine in Vantaa, Finland christal63 (at) yahoo (dot) com photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/christal63 > > Cathi <Cathi@nospamplease.seasalter0.demon.co.uk> had some very > > interesting things to say about Re: Mom [OT]: [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > jette@blueyonder.co.uk > http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ That must be very frustrating! Joy |
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