I think you mean Title Firstname, but it's not just teachers, it's adults with whom we are familiar and friendly.

Actually, I was misremembering slightly, and it was a bit of a semi-non-sequitor. What I was trying to remember was this

Students in Louisiana's grade schools will have to address teachers and other officials as "sir" and "ma'am" when they return to class after the summer break. A bill signed this month by Gov. Mike Foster mandates this show of respect

LeN: It was definitely him pulling the trigger. He goes over the story from his POV and you see the same gun, same stroll over to the car, but in his version he never pulls the trigger. He even tells her, "I never pulled the trigger." But it's clear as day on the tape. I really hope it's a plot point, and not just a genuine screwup. But you'd think there'd have been some tip to it, like Veronica running the tape and watching the gun go off with his V.O. going "I never..." Maybe they're saving that for a later episode.

Dude. Here I am, all bitching about my beepme, and I haven't even vibed for Laura's MIL, nor have I lamented the loss of Fay for a while. I suck.

In fact, I'm pretty sure that it was Louisiana state law that school kids in public schools address their teachers either by Title Lastname or Ma'am or Sir.

I remember that! I'd already left, but what a bunch of hooey. Honestly, if you want the kids to treat the teachers with respect, don't legislate how they speak to them; start with showing them a little respect yourselves (by which I mean the lege which always seems to be at odds with the union, rather than, you know, listening to the people who interact with the children on a daily basis).

Wolfram, but my question:

was it really HIM who pulled the trigger? That video could have been doctored any number of ways (e.g. he could have been inserted in the videotape, that man may not really be him, or...he could be the Manchurian Candidate, etc.

These people are confusing the forced use of terms of respect with respect itself. You can't create the stuff out of thin air, folks. Sorry.

It's the same deal as all the proposed laws to outlaw burning the flag in protest - the people behind them just don't get it that restricting freedom of speech is a much deeper attack on this country's values than destroying a few pieces of cloth, and that you can't MAKE people respect and like symbols or institutions.

(Mind you, I think such protests are usually misguided in that they burn the symbol of the ideals of this country rather than effigies of the corrupt politicians and institutions that actually do the things they're angry about.)

You can't create the stuff out of thin air, folks. Sorry.

It wouldn't be out of thin air though. Ma'am, Sir, and Miss are pretty deeply ingrained in the culture. They're just (rediculously, I agree) legally mandating manners.

I remember teachers thinking me horribly rude before I caught on.

Teacher asked me some question.

"yes"

"yes WHAT?"

"um... yes... Mrs. Williams?"

"Yes MA'AM!"

That was a rough year. She and the principal thought I was horribly brought up because my Mother didn't paddle me and wouldn't let them either.

You can legally mandate certain manners. For example, almost everyone pulls right over for ambulances here in LA, because they will get a ticket if they don't. I was shocked when I moved here from NYC to see how quick motorists were to respond to emergency vehicles.

Deciding WHICH manners to legislate and enforce--there's the rub.

That was a rough year. She and the principal thought I was horribly brought up because my Mother didn't paddle me and wouldn't let them either.

You should write to them and assure them you've since made up the shortfall voluntarily.