Being called Mr. Steve
 

Traveling the country for business, I've noticed a new trend I don't care for. When checking in to flights or hotels, I'm constantly referred to as "Mr. Steve" instead of by my sir name. Has anyone else notice this and why is it happening? Is it a generation thing or something else?

So, you want them to call you Sir Steve? :)

It’s very common in Asia. Less so, in other countries.

Not quite.
 

No. My lord would do nicely. Seriously though, This is happening here in the states by non-Asians.

I have a relatively difficult last name, and am often called Mr. GW (well, my real first name). I don't love it but at this point I've heard a million variations/modifications of my last name, so I just roll with it.

-J.

On cruise ships, specifically, Asian crew members usually address me as Mr. Firstname, occasionally as Sir Firstname. My surname is a difficult one and I don't know whether they address most passengers this way.

I notice Hispanic and Asian people call me Mr. Ian

The OP's location is listed as BOS. Very different cultures, in this regard, between the northeast and the south. In the south, it is very common for children to address adults as Mr./Mrs. firstname and this carries forward into adulthood. Mr./Mrs. lastname would sound very formal to southerners. I spent ten years in Texas, after my first 13 years in the northeast, and Mr./Mrs. firstname sounds completely normal and respectful to me.

I haven't noticed any changes in the U.S. I have noticed it when I work in India or Southeast Asia but it does not bother me.

This is becoming very common in the States, IME. I can't stand it. It makes me feel like I'm being addressed by a 5yo in the Sunday School class I teach. Call me either Cat or Mr. Bert, but not Mr. Cat. That just grates on me.

I too am a Steve. But, life is too short to be concerned by such things. Neighbors' kids call me Mr. Steve. I also get called Mr. Steve quite a bit outside of the US and by call center reps, etc. I was just on a flight where I was being addressed as Mr. mylastname; I asked that the purser and the FA address me as Steve. I simply don't need the formality as I spent years with formalities.

this is an odd thing to be upset about

[QUOTE=LarryJ;35084305]The OP's location is listed as BOS. Very different cultures, in this regard, between the northeast and the south. QUOTE]

Also between New England and southern California. I worked in education, and in California students called me by my first name. When I moved back to the Boston area, students' parents scolded them for not calling me Mr. Lastname.

In the mid-Atlantic, it's the norm where CDTraveler Jr. works. All his 3-7 yr old students address him as Mr. Firstname. It does help differentiate between teacher and students - he has a very common first name, and often has a student with the same first name in his classes.

Having done work in Asia and Africa I'm quite used to it but haven't encountered it in North America.

Agreed and also maybe not.