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Original poster

Doing without titles: who likes the idea?

60 replies

StuffingGoldBrass · 01/02/2011 14:24

Inspired by another thread about being called Ms/Miss/Mrs - how many times is it really necessary to use titles like Mr/Ms to indicate whether we are male or female?
After all, how many interactions/jobs are there where it really does matter what gender a person is?

OP posts:
Original poster
StuffingGoldBrass · 01/02/2011 15:27

GML: Maybe I'm a bit of an oik, but I don't go to many formal events where I need to have a formal title.

I do remember reading years ago an article by someone who suggested using the designation Pr pronounced Per (short for Person) instead of Mr/Ms which I thought was an interesting idea.

OP posts:
madwomanintheattic · 01/02/2011 15:11

i want a gender neutral sir/ madam, if i'm honest. can't come up with something suitable...

madwomanintheattic · 01/02/2011 15:10

sgb, i've posted something similar to this ages ago. i don't see how my gender or marital status are needed by utility companies. ffs tell the gp i'm female - it might affect whether he/she thinks i'm pg or have a hernia, but it matters not to the vast majority of service-providers.

i think the response then was something like 'well, even if you don't your husband's name you use your father's name.

ho hum.

i think it was in response to a trans thread though - i have trans friends and the whole 'what to put on forms' thing causes ridiculous angst. but it's probably not wise to kick off a whole other trans discussion

i kind of think the original aim (a more formal/ polite way of addressing someone) is fine, but to base it solely on gender and (marital) status is a bit odd.

that said - when they got rid of the (w) annotation on female service personnel's numbers it caused (and still causes) huge administrative trauma to a system where it is imperative to know what gender you are dealing with... (tee hee)

Rhadegunde · 01/02/2011 15:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 01/02/2011 15:00

So what are you called in formal settings then?

Original poster
StuffingGoldBrass · 01/02/2011 14:59

I use Ms rather than get into a prolonged discussion with some callcentre drone whose first language is not English, of course. But it's just one of those things that annoys me: being asked (when filling out online forms) to state whether I'm male or female/Mr-Ms-Miss-Mrs when it really isn't relevant.

OP posts:
FlamingoBingo · 01/02/2011 14:55

But you know when you fill in forms over the phone and they say they have to fill in certain sections? Would you just say 'I have no title'?

Do you use no title?

ps. DH just said he thought it would be a cool idea for us to amalgamate our surnames/make up a new one and change our whole family's names by deed poll! DD1 doesn't want to because she knows how to spell our current surname! Grin

Original poster
StuffingGoldBrass · 01/02/2011 14:49

FB: How about just your name?

OP posts:
FlamingoBingo · 01/02/2011 14:47

What do you fill in forms with if you don't use a title?

Quakers don't use titles, do they?

granhands · 01/02/2011 14:37

I never use titles unless I have to, I don't bother putting them on letters etc either.

Don't really know why, I never have.

Mind you, when pushed I refer to myself as Ms. But only when I really can't avoid it.