[Paul H.]

I’ve lived in TX most of my life and it was common to use Mr./Ms. as well as ‘ma’am’ or ‘sir’ for strangers, coworkers, friends’ parents, etc. But once I started working for the company I work for currently, I was surprised to find that coporate policy frowns on the use of either! I’m supposed to call all superiors- up to the CEO- by their first names. It’s supposed to make everyone seem approachable, presumably. In any case, it’s not a big deal to me…whereas it’s probably strange to uncomfortable for people in my parents generation. It’s worth mentioning also that there’s a general decline in spoken European languages in the use of formal pronouns (like the Spanish ‘Usted’, German ‘Sie’, Welsh ‘Chi’, etc.) in the younger generations. It’s a generational trend not limited to the US. I don’t feel it to be a problem, though. Each generation sets its values. If the older ones have a problem with it, they should look to themselves for not prioritizing it in their children instead of holding younger folks in contempt. It’s very possible to be polite without using honorifics.

User Detail :  

Name : Paul H., Gender : M, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 27, City : Austin, State : TX, Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, 

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