Pet hate - being asked for a title

pigpen

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

I am not a number lol

but your account/reference/house/telephone is!

and yes you are.. a NI number, a house number, a postcode, an NHS number.. you ARE a number

Bennifred

I wonder how the tradition of school pupils calling male teachers "Sir" and female teachers "Miss" regardless of marital status fits into this discussion?

missbiggles1

Bennifred wrote: »

I wonder how the tradition of school pupils calling male teachers "Sir" and female teachers "Miss" regardless of marital status fits into this discussion?

Although exceptions existed, women generally had to leave teaching if they married, right up to the second world war.

theoretica

Bennifred wrote: »

I wonder how the tradition of school pupils calling male teachers "Sir" and female teachers "Miss" regardless of marital status fits into this discussion?

Local boys' school had a tradition where all teachers were 'sir' - I remember one of the female teachers saying this was fine in school, but a bit strange when she got on the bus on a weekend and was politely greeted with 'morning sir'.

I have found it interesting the times men have in my presence received a mistaken Mrs/Miss. So much for 'what's the fuss about?'

pollypenny

Bennifred wrote: »

I wonder how the tradition of school pupils calling male teachers "Sir" and female teachers "Miss" regardless of marital status fits into this discussion?

In my old grammar school we were not allowed to call teachers 'Miss', it had to be Miss/Mrs Davies etc.

In the early 80s a colleague and I collated the school magazine, putting our names with 'Ms' for both our titles.

A number of parents rang in to complain.

goodwithsaving

I can stand people using my first name by default unless I know them, far too informal. Miss [name] I much prefer.

I like being a Miss, and I like Mrs, but never want to change my name. In which case Ms. is the option but I'm not overly keen on that....

So no, title doesn't bother me. If a woman is married and receives mail as Mrs [husbands initial] [husbands surname], THAT bothers me. The woman's identity has been erased in those situations.

Far bigger things to get antsy about :-)

Noctu

It annoys me.

I'd also prefer to be asked for my title rather than just 'is it Miss or Mrs'. My title is Dr, so being asked simply for my title avoids me having to correct them from the Miss/Mrs thing, and looking uppity in the process. (Or the reply that their system can't handle Dr, and I would have to choose another title...)

Kim_kim

toffeentom wrote: »

Maybe it's a divorcee thing. I didn't mind when I was married - now I do

I'm divorced - I haven't changed my name or title.

Can't be bothered too :-)

Torry_Quine

I would much prefer to be asked as I prefer Mrs and will correct anyone who uses Ms, even Miss is preferable.

coolcait

missbiggles1 wrote: »

If they don't ask for your title that means that they have to use your first name which many of us dislike.

barbarawright wrote: »

And many of us dislike using a title and are perfectly happy with first names for everyone

Which illustrates the dilemma for the person who has just received a business phone call.

The caller has introduced herself as Barbara Biggles.

Does she dislike being called 'Barbara' during a business call - preferring to be addressed as 'missbiggles'?

Or does she dislike being addressed by a title during a business call - preferring to be called 'Barbara'?

The person who has received the call doesn't know the answer to those questions. But has the absolute certainty that choosing the wrong option will not end well!