Starbucks.

Drives me mad when they ask for my name to put on the cup... and then proceed to use it like I'm their new best friend.

I decline to give it now, and you wouldn't believe how offended the people behind the counter get.

It never ceases to amaze me.

I have a long, hyphenated last name, and the second part of it (my husband's fault) seems to be WAY too easy to mangle. I watch people struggle with it and it just pains me. I flew standby on a couple of connections during a recent itinerary and felt sorry for the gate staff each time they had to attempt it -- even though I, of course, think it shouldn't be that difficult. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

So count me among those who prefer to be addressed by my first name. Especially if you can't pronounce my last name. I just really hate to hear people butcher my full name. Of course, it's nice when they make an attempt and I get to say "Just Holly's fine, thanks!" http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Normally I grin and bear it in this situation, but one time my usual doctor's locum came into the room, and I would swear it was her first day out of medical school treating real patients, and boy was she impressed with herself ...

She says "Hi <insert first name>. I'm Dr. X!"

I pause, consider, then reply: "Hi Dr. X, I'm Dr. CanuckFlyer, but please, feel free to call me <insert first name>."

Boy did she turn white!

I don't pull rank very often, but in this case I couldn't resist. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

I actually prefer to be addressed by my first name, even by total strangers; titles just don't do it for me. My first name is how I identify myself, whereas my last name just serves a legal/cultural function for me. I'm pretty uncomfortable when someone whom I'm supposed to address by first name (such as a hotel clerk who wears a nametag with "David" or "Elaina" on it) refers to me as "Ms. Warmsnickers." Seems too deferential for my tastes, but I understand that the alternative seems too familiar to some people. I'm lucky that first names are the standard mode of address in my professional field!

First. I have yet to be addressed by my first name by any travel related company (hotels, FA's, car rentals, etc...)

That said I actually will give my FF# to a telephone agent saying the number XXX XXX XXX and the name is First Name - Last Name but just call me First Name.

At the age of 32 I don't feel that anyone needs to have to carry an "air" when speaking to me on the phone. To put them at ease with the first name thing I just tell them that I just happen to travel a little more than some other people but I'm not any more important so please just call me first name http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

I do understand that some of our "older and more distinguished FTer's" would like to be addressed with Mr/Mrs. For the record when dealing with my elders I make it a point to use Mr/Mrs until told something different. I was raised with manners too http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

My last name is also one of those that's often mangled. Hearing it butchered is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Usually when people ask how to pronounce it I say Sheri. Even if they can pronounce it, Ms. letiole is my grandmother; not me.

As for Safeway stores, they have a customer service rating system that pretty much requires them to address you by name or they get marked down if they're shopped. I do wonder if they really had "customer" service in mind when they came up with this though. I'd far rather they just said thank you, than thank you Ms. <nails on chalkboard>.

I enjoy using first names and being addressed that way.

Really richard? I never would have guessed! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

I do too, I just think the matter should be reciprocal. I would never dream of introducing myself using a title (Ms./Dr./Whatever) then refer to the party I'm addressing by their first name. I'm a first name kinda gal, but the doctor walking in all high & mighty just irritated me so I had a bit of fun. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by CanuckFlyer (edited 10-07-2003).]

Yes! And inevitably I don't get along with people very well when I ask them "what do your friends call you" and they answer "you can call me Dr. ______".

Some excellent points have been made in this thread. However, please allow me to clarify how I feel...

The times when someone addressing me by my first name annoys me are:

• When a person performing a service for me feels they have automatic license to call me by my first name even though we have never said a word to each other. I find that somewhat presumptuous and disrespectful on their part. However, I do not like to be called “Sir” (or other stuffy formalities — ugh!) or have somebody wait on me hand-and-foot. If someone addresses me by Mr. (Surname), I will virtually always have them refer to me by my first name.
• In the aforementioned situations concerning doctors (and this can even be extended to other professionals, such as judges, police officers and lawyers), I expect respect in return. To call me by my first name when I am expected to address them in return as “Doctor”, “Your Honor”, “Officer”, etc. is a sign of unprofessional disrespect on their part, in my opinion.

B747-437B, your post reminds me of when I traveled to Japan and have done business with the Japanese. At first, I did not particularly like them calling me “(my first name)-San” and bowing instead of shaking hands (I never expressed to them that I felt this way), but the more I understood them, their culture, and why they did what they did, the more it made sense to me. I ultimately greeted them the way they greeted me, plus tried my best to speak Japanese to them. In return, the Japanese were so appreciative and such gracious hosts that I had a much better stay in Japan than I had ever dreamed.

Ultimately, it is all based on respect. All I ask for is the opportunity to be asked to be addressed by my first name, and I will almost always grant that. In fact, I would much prefer to do business on a first-name basis than on stuffy formalities. As others have said, I prefer to decide whether someone should start calling me by my first name rather than have the other person make that decision for me. To not grant me that one second of opportunity to state how I feel signifies a lack of respect towards me, even though it usually is not on purpose.

I suppose I may be sensitive to that after:

• Being cut-off on the highway on my way to the airport by the moron who does not use the signal system that was included in the price of the vehicle.
• Having someone who has the window seat next to me stand in the aisle grunting “that’s my seat”, expecting me to stand and make room for them to pass through while they stand in my way, leaving me nowhere to go, with not even an “excuse me”, “please” or “thank you.”
• The same idiot barks orders at the flight attendant as if he/she were his/her slave, coughs and yawns without covering his/her mouth, and uses his/her index finger to bore a tunnel up his/her nose.
• Having the desk clerk at a hotel check in the staff from a flight before me even though I was there first waiting to check in.

I am simply listing these common examples (at least, common to me) of a lack of respect that seems to be prevalent while traveling.

My apologies if it appears I am paying this issue more attention than it deserves. This is not meant to be a rant or a rave. Some of the posts in this thread reminded me of some common minor experiences that, if respect to others were observed properly by others, would make the travel experience a little more pleasant.

For the record, I always treat everyone I encounter with the respect I feel I would deserve in return. Respect begets respect.

[This message has been edited by Canarsie (edited 10-07-2003).]

My last name is somewhat difficult to pronounce, but I have never noticed any airline employee who did not at least make an effort.

Of course, my very good friends at the airlines call me by my first name.

I do notice that MSN customer service agents always inquire if it would be acceptable to call me by my first name.

I think it's disgusting. We weren't raised in the same farm.

It's Mr. Droneklax to you until authorized otherwise.

I can believe it, that is, how those behind you in line get hacked off about refusing to give your name.

I just give the name of one of my favorite book characters, e.g., Hermonie from Harry Potter or Kira from [i]We The Living[/b], etc. etc. etc. It's an espcially fun game to play since I give different names to the same baristas over and over and over again. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

I was rather pleasantly surprised on a flight when the purser referred to me as "Mats." I actually felt more comfortable. Then again, I'm really short and I'm not even 30, so I barely count as a "Mister."

As far as healthcare goes, it's odd. I used to hate it that doctors are always referred to by their surnames but nurses by their first names. As a nurse, even my hospital ID has my first name (MD's have the reverse.) I have nine years of schooling under my belt, but only an "MD" earns surname status.

This used to bug me, but now I kind of like it. I introduce myself with my first and last name. If the patient is my age or younger, I use his or her first name. If the patient is older, I use "Mr." or "Mrs." unless told otherwise.

I think the same should apply when travelling. A 16 year-old hotel or airline employee should call me "Mr." but anyone older than me should call me "Mats."

essxjay wrote:
I sometimes do this too. It's great fun. My husband once was playing with a telephone solicitor. He gave his name as Bates, Norman. The solicitor never got it.