OT: While we're on the subject of Sarah

Because we're making a little progress, but we still have a very long way to go. I haven't noticed them talking about the style of the men's suits or the colors of their ties either.

It isn't - you will please note I called her Palin for just the reasons you are obliquely pointing out ~ I did call Hillary by her first name but then, I also call her husband Bill, less confusing with two of them !

If pushed I will allow my own name to have Ms put in front of it, but not if I can avoid it, I never used Mrs.

These are smallish things in their way but I keep trying to tell other women here, they are indications and should not be ignored. It's like the damn fashion people saying pencil skirts and stilletto heels are in, and it ain't just because women will look good in them !

It's pure sexism!!

I try to always refer to have as Governor Palin. It is hard to remember with all the media nonsense, but she IS a well-respected Governor, and deserves her title. She isn't a pin-up chick . (Even DH said. "she's not cute") At 69...he has to be believed, or short sighted.

Gill

I tell my students they can call me Elizabeth, they can call me Professor, they can call me Dr., but please don't call me Mrs. Most of them opt to call me by my last name without any honorific and that's just fine with me.

Elizabeth

It sounds like the system used when I was at grammar school 1955-59; boys were always referred to by their surname (even amongst themselves) whereas girls were always referred to by their Christian names.

Why does the press focus on their clothing, Hillarys pant suits and the cost of Sarahs ( like you would want a possible vp dressing at Target. LOL! ruby

The press focuses on their clothing because they're women and, it would appear, the presumption is that because they're women, there's nothing more important/interesting about them than their appearance. It's sexism, plain and simple.

"Jangchub" wrote

If I child is old enough to be able to say "Mrs" it is old enough to be able to say "Ms." I will use Ms. until there is an honorific for men that indicates their marital status. ("Mist" for single men???)

Dawne

"Jangchub" >>

I agree with you entirely. Once a young person has become an adult, they should be speaking to you adult to adult. Most of my kid's friends gradually shifted to calling me Dawne sometime between about 15 and 18, and it seemed very appropriate. I had to watch myself in turn to avoid calling them by childhood nicknames.

Dawne

"Trish Brown" <

In his teens on a Python kick, my DS decided he was Nigel Smith-Smythe-Smith, and his sister became Poppy Smith-Smythe-Smith. Both then addressed me as Mumsie for some months. I still sign cards and letters to them as Mumsie.

Dawne

Old? OLD? I'm at least 20 years older than you and I'm not old, just older!

Joyce >

ROTFL!!!! ;->

I wonder if any of you marrieds have NEVER been told by your MIL how to address her? It makes for an uncomfortable situation, and as the years go by, the 'bride' loses her courage to broach the subject. It never gets to a "Hey you" situation, but it is definitely strained. The groom, by the way, was never told how to address HIS MIL either.

My two cents - it's nice to hear a child address an adult as Mrs. or Mr.

As for doctor's waiting rooms, I never liked the first name call out, but understand the reason why. My bigger beef is waitstaff in restos and "You guys". Unless the group is a bunch of under 30 males, I am turned off by the term. Someday I'm going to politely say that the tip will be bigger if I don't hear another 'you guys' during the rest of the visit.

One more soapbox yell and I'll quit: can a young person pronounce "yes" anymore? Even some of the tv anchor gals are saying "Yeah" and it sounds like hell.

Back into my lair, now.

Family kids became Weezer ( Louise) and sister Sylvia became Sassy. My neighbors, name unknown, are Bikini and Romper for obvious reasons

- neither should be wearing one, either. Meow

Kid goes to kindergarten - teacher calls off the roll - "Tyrone Silver" - no answer - again - no answer. Finally notices one little boy who wasn't answering - "Name's Butch". Kid never knew his legal name.

It was assumed in my day I would address Davids mother as mother. While he found it easy to address my mother as mother, I never could. I spent years avoiding using any sentence that would make me have to say Mother in relation to my MIL.

With that in mind as my kids married I told the inlaw to be, just call me Sheena, I am not your mother. Worked for them and me.

You like forgot to like mention like, that's another one that drives me lol

A childhood friend was called Elizabeth. When she was about 6 she announced that she did not like her name, it was horrible. From that day to this she is known to family & friends as "Horrible"...

The above was always my mother's philosophy, so when DH's mother thought I should call her Mom, I said "I had a mother and she's dead, so you'll excuse me if I don't do that." I called her Jane.

Elizabeth (Jane was, of course, her name)

When DS emailed to tell me he and Aya were going to get married, I wrote her a long e-letter welcoming her to our family. I have never forgotten how the late DH's family totally ignored my existence, none of the 9 siblings came to our marriage. Why? Because I was from England, and no-one has ever married outside the county, or Illinois at the very worst. They knew it couldn't last. It was 20 years when he died.

I decided that Aya should be part of us, and I told her she may call me whatever she wished. She wrote back, and said she would call me "Mrs. Gill for now." That was fine; I studied on the airplane, and when they met me in Tokyo, I greeted her with "Hello, my daughter" in Japanese. Two days later she asked if she could call me Mom! It was a teary time LOL

"you guys" just burns us both up. Each time we hear it, the tip is slowly reduced. The worst is when the waitperson pulls up a chair, sits down at the table to tell you the specials ggggrrrrrrrr!

Gill

I'm with you. My MIL wanted me to call her mom but I never could and avoided calling her anything at all.

Lucille

With that in mind as my kids married I told the inlaw to be, just call