Pet hate - being asked for a title

Peter333

Mojisola wrote: »

I think it's quite funny that you think that.

I think it's far more likely that there were plenty of comments -

"Missus? What this horrible new way of addressing a woman? What's wrong with Mistress? It's what we've been saying for generations!"

"Missus? That just sounds so strange. I'm never going to accept such an odd word!"

and so on.

It's such a shame that Ms has been around for so many years and yet people still treat it as if it's weird.

Calling a woman Missus isn't great (why not just call her by her flippin' name?!') But calling her mistress?! !!!!!!? :rotfl: That sounds absolutely awful!

Ms (pronounced Muzzzz) just sounds ludicrous to me!

moneyistooshorttomention

I am now wondering if I should just say "Its M (pronounced "emmm")" next time anyone asks.

Problem sorted - marital status not given, sex not given and no wondering if I've inadvertently picked a title with 'other' meanings.

Peter333

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I am now wondering if I should just say "Its M (pronounced "emmm")" next time anyone asks.

Problem sorted - marital status not given, sex not given and no wondering if I've inadvertently picked a title with 'other' meanings.

You can, but be prepared for a few funny looks. :rotfl:

Mojisola

Peter333 wrote: »

Calling a woman Missus isn't great (why not just call her by her flippin' name?!') But calling her mistress?! !!!!!!? :rotfl: That sounds absolutely awful!

Ms (pronounced Muzzzz) just sounds ludicrous to me!

Mistress was the polite and accepted form of address for an adult woman for many generations.

No doubt many of the people who found others starting to address 'Mistress Smith' as 'Missus (Mrs) Smith' also found it awful and ludicrous and yet it's now normal to use that term.

Things change. Ms is gaining acceptance and may well become the only way to address an adult woman in the future. It seems ludicrous to me that we need to know a woman's marital status in order to chose which title we should use.

Bobcrowther

Peter333 wrote: »

Oh good, another misogynistic male who thinks women should just sit down and look pretty and wait hand and foot on men and not speak unless they're spoken to, and never have an opinion of their own. Puts me in mind of this hilarious sketch from the Harry Enfield show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w

You've just proven my point far better than i had intended. :rotfl:

takman

Mojisola wrote: »

Things change. Ms is gaining acceptance and may well become the only way to address an adult woman in the future. It seems ludicrous to me that we need to know a woman's marital status in order to chose which title we should use.

But like I said earlier two woman who I know well both go by the title of Mrs and one has never been married!. So you can't assume someone's marital status by their title.

So I think a lot of people are over thinking it and trying to find a problem that isn't there.

Peter333

Mojisola wrote: »

Mistress was the polite and accepted form of address for an adult woman for many generations.

No doubt many of the people who found others starting to address 'Mistress Smith' as 'Missus (Mrs) Smith' also found it awful and ludicrous and yet it's now normal to use that term.

Things change. Ms is gaining acceptance and may well become the only way to address an adult woman in the future. It seems ludicrous to me that we need to know a woman's marital status in order to chose which title we should use.

Yeah but it still sounds awful now!

Bobcrowther wrote: »

You've just proven my point far better than i had intended. :rotfl:

That literally makes no sense. I have not 'proven' any point of yours. My post and the youtube clip I posted, were highlighting how horribly misogynistic your post was.

bearcat16

I've taken to calling all ladies I meet "miss" just because I like the american-ish way it sounds.

"Here's your coffee"
"Thank you miss!"

However, I do get why some women don't like the fact that their title instantly reveals their marital status.

And having a "Ms" option does little to help in my opinion, because that title is itself loaded with meaning. Rightly or wrongly, I always think "divorcee" when I hear it.

Cloudydaze

Mojisola wrote: »

It's such a shame that Ms has been around for so many years and yet people still treat it as if it's weird.

I agree. You would think that it would be the default option these days for women. I'm 40 yr oid & never married. I feel I have to choose between a title that says spinster or feminist!

For Ms to become more mainstream, it needs to be adopted by far more married women. However, I think too many women still like to be defined by their marital status for that to happen.

Mojisola

takman wrote: »

But like I said earlier two woman who I know well both go by the title of Mrs and one has never been married!. So you can't assume someone's marital status by their title.

It might well be that the choices women are making will be the death-knell of the unmarried/unmarried titles for females.

Among the younger generation in my family who have married, one has decided to use Mrs with her own surname, one uses Ms with her husband's surname and another uses Ms with her own surname.

Add in your example of the woman you know who is unmarried but uses Mrs and it all becomes very confusing.

Much easier to use Ms for all women and let the other titles die away.