to think nobody introduces themselves anymore?

[OohMavis]

As in, "Oh hi, my name's Mavis, nice to meet you"

There are several parents at DS' school whom I've chatted to about a range of things varying from trivial to quite personal at times, and I have no idea what their names are. It's been nearly two years. I can't ask them now! This goes for neighbours, too. I only know the names of the ones who've sent Christmas cards.

They all know my name because I introduced myself, which is a habit I picked up from my old job I suppose, it's just polite isn't it?

I've noticed this here in the north. People just get on with chatting and expect you to insert yourself like jumping into a skipping rope while it's moving.
Sister lives in Surrey in a posh village. It's nice to go there and when I see her friends to be introduced properly.

If you know each other through your children (or probably dogs as well) it's usually fairly easy to say, "It's just occurred to me I know you're Ben's mum but I don't actually know your name." Any other context, I don't quite know what's the best thing to do.

My elderly neighbour called me by the wrong name for a long time (she just left off the last letter, think something like Jo instead of Joan) and I agonised about whether I should tell her, and if so how. In the end I just went for it, but said that it didn't really matter as the name I use isn't my official full name anyway.

I just spent a great deal of time introducing myself today to other parents at my DS's birthday party.

'Hi, I'm MollyRedskirts, DS's mum. Thank you for coming!'

And repeat.

I'm Tiggy by the way. Pleased to meet you all.

It's great when it happens. I'm not blessed with self-confidence so when I started work at new job twenty years ago it was refreshing when the Chief Pilot, a junior pilot and engineer all took the trouble to introduce themselves. It gave me the confidence to do the same with some newcomers a few years later.

I have a lawyer friend who is really skilled at doing this. It does ease things socially, especially at parties and weddings where you've got mixed groups of friends and a few people who don't know anyone much. I suspect some people just don't know it's something they ought to do, though.

at Tiggy

Phineyj I love seeing people do that. It's a real art but I think like most things, it's falling out of fashion. I went round and introduced myself to my new neighbours when I moved and they were really pleased (I think!) and popped back round with flowers/cake/plums from the garden later to say how relieved they were that I'd introduced myself. I think it worries a lot of people and causes a lot of unnecessary social anxiety. From my perspective I just think, well, that's that over and done with, now everyone can mingle happily.

< eyes Vienna1981's job with envy >

Etiquette! It’s a French word.