LNS in Alabamastan

I hear that all the time here in Port St. Lousy. Maybe these kids are transplanted Noo Yawkas.

It's like, they all, like, seem to like pick up any bad speech pattern that they like hear. Has the word like become acceptable with the kids? Or is it just a fad?

I'll be they didn't ! Beware the little person, they carry an enormous bite lol

The war started in 1939 and didn't end until 1945 - I didn't have to be old to remember many things clearly, though it was mostly my aunts and grandmother I watched, coping as women cope in a male-less society. I am sure that is partly what put Womens Lib on wheels.

I don't want the language to remain static, there would be no point, but why would I want to be called 'guy' - that says to me that I am being given an honour, being allowed to be called one of the guys. Stop and think about the words which have male and female designations, Chairman, workman, fisherman and then think about the female ones like housewife. We don't need more of that rubbish and neither do we need to be so anxious to take over a male designations.

I watch very little television for a start but have zero interest in the shows like that - to me it says that the actors have little ability to entertain if they have to resort to being foul-mouthed. I remember hearing a British comedian say that light years ago, that if he and his banana could not entertain families as a whole, then they were not much good at entertaining.

I have always used what I feel is the appropriate word in the appropriate place but I notice these days it doesn't cause shock and horror anymore !

My students use "guys" as a gender-neutral catch all. I prefer y'all.

Elizabeth

That's a pretty skewed reading of what Tia Mary actually said, Sheena. Just sayin',

Elizabeth

So employees are some how subservient to you? I HATE being called Ma'am.

Elizabeth

My husband once bought me a lapel pin that proudly stated "Us little guys fight back."

I use the term "guys" as a truly generic pronoun and you see or hear it as a male pronoun.

foul-mouthed....... It has nothing to do with an actors ability to entertain. It's the dialogue that is written because this is what is expected by kids today since because this is the way they speak -- as least in the USA. It's not at all unusual to hear TV actors liberally sprinkle their dialogue with "damn", "son of a bitch" etc.

LOL -- I'm afraid NOTHING brings shock & horror anymore. Well, except for when Americans go to Europe and see nudity in the magazines and on the telly. Can't do that here -- you can cut up living bodies, maim, maul & mutilate people, rape, beat and torture...... just don't show a naked breast!!!!! Odd, very odd to say the least. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Guess it is the way I was raised, and when I was working I was polite,respectful and courteous to my clients; they were employing me to perform my work. Also probably a generational issue....inasmuch as you are my DD's age LOL! In school we had to call the male teachers (masters) Sir, and the females ( mistresses) Madam.

To this day, if someone I don't know does something for me, such as hold a door open, I always say Thank you, sir or ma'am...I don't know his/her names, so this is a courtesy.

Gill

Here the tendency is to use "folks", "people", "everyone" or "everybody". In more formal settings "ladies & gentlemen" would be used or, if appropriate "my lords, ladies & gentlemen". No doubt Debrett has umpteen pages on this sort of thing

At school in the 1950s the boys were always addressed by their surname, girls were always addressed by their Christian name. It was usual for boys to address each other by their surname or a nickname, using Christian names was deemed to be rather "cissy". This was noticeable at a school reunion about 10 years ago, lots of males aged 50+ still using surnames or nicknames in casual chat; the reasons for many of the nicknames were lost in the mists of time or discreetly "forgotten"!

I think you can be courteous without being subservient. Performing a service doesn't mean that the person for whom I am performing it owns me.

I'll add the sir or ma'am if they're significantly older than I, other wise I simply say "thank you" with a megawatt smile.

Elizabeth

Ah, well, viva la difference! If we all had the same opinions life would be terribly monotonous.

Now, to really piss you off, I spent some time this afternoon planting tomatoes in big pots on the deck, and planting some new herbs in a shady bed. I sincerely trust we have seen the last killing frost. It is so nice to have dirt under the fingernails again!

Gill

I think you can be courteous without being subservient. Performing a service doesn't mean that the person for whom I am performing it owns me.

I'll add the sir or ma'am if they're significantly older than I, other wise I simply say "thank you" with a megawatt smile.

Elizabeth

I'm significantly older and to this day if someone says ma'am to me I'm taken aback and look around to see who they might be talking to.

I think the use of sir or madam may have to do with where you were educated. We called our teachers Miss, or Mrs. or Mister and I don't remember being taught to use Sir or Madam at all.

Lucille

'y'al' is gender neutral, but I still maintain 'guys' is very definitely masculine and I AM NOT A GUY ! Others may be confused about their gender, but not me !

Not really

"I'm really sorry that the language hasn't stayed static since the 40's but if it makes you feel more "whatever" to poke fun at my use of the term "guy" to address everyone, then go for it! "

Static says closed mind, not moving with the times since the 40s and she somewhere proclaimed 'her age group' used guys.

She just doesn't wish to be called Hon, dear, Gillian or Guy, I am sure she will take any neutral term, as would I. In fact, it rarely calls for any specific term in a restaurant particularly, it is superfluous.

Well it's like lasting like a long time !

lucretia borgia wrote:>

Is "Hon" an abbreviation of "Honey" or "Honourable"?