I think it's more a function of them not understanding what our team does, and I think it's better for my boss to 'splain what we 'don't' do than it is for me.

I know exactly why people need my last name socially. There are like 5 or 6 of us. It can get confusing, or lead to nicknames or signifiers that can sometimes be angry-making.

I generally don't mind when someone uses my first name, since odds are they'd pronounce my last name wrong anyway.

I particularly feel this with regard to first names. I hate it when people I don't know use my first name.

Yeah, I feel kind of uncomfortable if someone I'm not familiar with addresses me by name in a familiar manner.

Someone told me once that the supermarket clerks reading your name off the card is a lazy way to check for identity theft. (If you respond to the name on the card, you probably didn't steal it.)

But if they're not going to pronounce the name correctly, it doesn't seem like a terribly effective method.

Yeah, I feel kind of uncomfortable if someone I'm not familiar with addresses me by name in a familiar manner.

So if it's someone you just met, what should they call you when addressing you?

So if it's someone you just met, what should they call you when addressing you?

Somewhere, Miss Manners has felt a pang.

Traditionally, they should call you ma'am/sir if it's a passing interaction, otherwise they'd have been introduced to you and be calling you Mrs./Miss/Ms./Mr./Sir/Lady etc. Whomever.

My work situation has enforced my laziness re: names, because I've never really had a job where I had to work directly with other people, it's been isolated computer production with intermittent feedback meetings, or support things where I'm talking to people on a phone and I've got their name in front of me on the screen. And it's taken me years to get comfortable saying "OK, SoandSo, how can I help you today?" and "Thanks for calling, SoandSo."

Traditionally, they should call you ma'am/sir if it's a passing interaction, otherwise they'd have been introduced to you and be calling you Mrs./Miss/Ms./Mr./Sir/Lady etc. Whomever.

Really? Socially?

So, it seems I have a job interview tomorrow morning at 11. They called me this afternoon. I am more nervous than I thought I would be. I suppose mostly because I really want to work there but I don't want to work 40 hours a week in their office. Im trying to decide if I should bring a writing sample. They didn't ask for one but I think Im a good writer. But I would have to redacted all client info which would take a while. I'm nervous.

A passing interaction would be in a business-like situation. In a social situation, someone would have introduced you, otherwise someone is being very gauche for addressing you without a proper introduction.

Keep in mine that my social manners information is highly influenced by late 19th-early 20th century etiquette manuals. For modern interactions, I'm as lost as everyone else.