I am a Senior Citizen! I do not like strangers calling me by my 1st name. Is there a way to change this?

Question

Since I am over 70 years of age, using my first name shows (to me) a lack of respect!

Answer 1

Simply tell people how you wish to be addressed. I don't like being called "young lady",or "mama", which is how a Vietnamese manicurist has addressed me. Next time I see her I intend to tell her that. "Young lady" is a term that some men deem appropriate to apply to any woman over say the age of 45, when we are no longer chronologically young. I find it demeaning and an insult in disguise. "Mama" is a word applied by Asians to older women. But since I am not her mama, I don't appreciate what is to some an endearment. In 2 1/2 months I'll be 69.

Answer 2

I'm not a senior citizen but I find it offensive, also. I was brought up to respect other people, especially senior citizens and to address people as Mr. or Mrs., or ma'am unless they told me otherwise. Sam's club is famous for this, it's their new thing to address all members by their first name. I have written to complain, it's much too familiar to have these strangers call me by my first. Unfortunately times have changed and there is not much you can do, just address the situation one on one when it occurs by telling people to please call you Mrs. "smith". Good luck, I hope you are blessed with patience.

Answer 3

I agree if there younger unless they say Sir or Mame. Look at how you introduce your self. Just start saying My name is Mr. and your last name instead of your 1st and last name. Strangers may not know if there only asking you something, or at a resturant. Everyone is differant and some people get offended. I think that you should just appericate Sir because people's 1st reaction is to say your 1st name unless introduced differantly or told by you something else.

Answer 4

Hmmmmm, I'm going to take a different approach and say that I like it when people call me by my first name. Being formal seems to put a distance between the person addressing me and me. I would rather not have that distance unless there was something risky or a danger involved. Otherwise, I prefer to be called by my first name.

Answer 5

So why do you have this as your screen name? YOU are the one tacitly giving us permission to use it, by using it yourself. If you want to be called something different, then just change your screen name.

This can be done on your profile page. Just go to "Edit my Info" => check the little circle that says "Use another nickname" and type the name you want to be known by in the box provided => Hit the blue PREVIEW box at the bottom of the page => then the blue OK box at the bottom of that page => and it will bring you back to your profile page, where your screen name will have changed to whatever else it is that you picked.

Answer 6

First of all, some people see it as a friendly gesture. They think it's like you're two friends and make you feel welcome. But how can you feel like a complete stranger is you're friend? Just correct them politely and refer to them as Mr. or Ms.

by the way, if they're strangers, how do they know your first name?

Answer 7

Introduce yourself as Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms. and give no first name...if they are strangers they won't know it...but really, using a first name is not lack of respect...it seems more friendly to me. I'm sure you have far more important things to be concerned with than someone using your first name

Answer 8

Sorry, but you're going to have to adjust your thinking. Either that or stop associating with younger people. No one uses titles these days - even in school, kids call their teachers by their first names, which I think is appalling. In our block, all the kids, from four year olds up, call all the adults by their first names. And I hate it, but that's what their parents teach them so that's what they do.

Answer 9

Wear a big tag that says, "I AM NOW A SENIOR SO CALL ME MR." that's all you can do other than say it every time you meet someone. I like first names, its ones effort to connect, I like nick names its another effort to kinder ship. So if your not an endearing person and your standoffish well then just call you MR.

Answer 10

First of all,Barbara C, I would change that handle you have there.It invites familiarity. Here in Italy, they would call you grandma! Life is too short,people do not merit respect just because they have arrived at a certain age,what they have done with their time,their life experiences and lessons learned is what generates respect.If it really bothers you,correct them but try to realize why this is so important to you.