First Names

I still call many of the adults which I grew up around by Mr So-and-So or Mrs So-and-So.

In the workplace I suppose when one is a peer it is okay to call someone by their first name. Usually I would pick 18, but with the push back of adolescence into college we should assume that legality=maturity. It depends on my relationship with the individual I suppose.

I never felt permission to call my elder by their first name until they gave me permission to do so. Yes, I am weird...on so many levels.

 

I call peers by their first names. Adults I have known since childhood are still Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.

 

What Miss. Ann said!

 

A child should be able to call an adult by the first name when the child is no longer a child.

I voted "other" my answer is 21.

An exception is the common Southern (maybe elsewhere too-see above) custom of adding Mr., Miss, or Mrs. ("Miz") before the first name for friends of the family and such. That is considered respectful. Likewise "Aunt Betty" or "Uncle Joe" is generally fine.

Once the pattern is established it is customary to continue it for life. In other words Mr. Joseph is still "Mr. Joseph" even if I am 50 and he is 60. On the other hand, at our age, there is no offence if I do call him "Joseph" from time to time.

It is best (in my opinion) not to tell children to call you (an adult) by the first name.

Northern and other foreign folk seem to go by different rules. I try not to judge. :smilewinkgrin:

A.F.

 

When you become a peer of others who are older, then you can call them by their first name. For example, people in the same profession usually address each other by their first name regardless of age.

 

At my job, we all call each other by the first name, including our Crew Leader.

 

I'm the same.

 

My son calls everyone Sir or Ma'am until they give him permission otherwise.

 

None of the answers work for me. I allow anyone of any age to call me by my first name except for my daughters and grandkids, and I expect my nieces and nephews to add Uncle to my first name or just call me Uncle as some do.

 

It is a respect thing, not an age thing.

 

I'm 34 and I can NOT stand for a child or person of any age for that matter to call me miss, Mrs., ma'am, etc. My name is Jennifer or Jen, (or Jenny or hey you or...) that's what you may call me. As for my own kids, I'll have them call other adults by whatever that adult prefers. But, personally, I think it's a bit selfish for any adult to feel as if they "deserve" some special title or respect. The only being who "deserves" it is God. You and I deserve nothing.

 

Even as a pastor, I often refer to older respected members as Mr. or Mrs.; they will usually correct me, but I still have difficulty. I guess that I am old school. I have tried to start simply calling them brother or sister, but I still find myself respectfully calling them Mr. and Mrs..

 

First of all, let me say that I'm rather proud of the fact that my children know not to call adults by their first name and even know to say "yes/no sir" and "yes/no ma'am" and that I'm always amazed at the number of adults (usually liberal adults with no children of their own) who mock this.

Second, let me say that I'm old enough to remember a time when even adults didn't call one another by their first name unless they were familiar with one another.

I would say that around college, when you're starting to become an adult yourself, it's OK for young people to call adults by their first name if the adult invites them to do so.

I'm forty-five years old and I still call many adults, including those I don't know "Mr. and Mrs".

And, for the record, my dad is eighty years old and still calls ladies (even young ladies) "Miss" and "Ma'am".

You never outgrow good manners.