@ShipOfTheseus I presume boys go from Master to Mr when they reach 18 or so. Back in the days when the Bystander used to do "formal" naming, it seemed to be late teens/whenever they looked old enough to actually get away with it. It looked old fashioned even in the early 00s though, not surprised they dropped it.
I gather my comment wasn't too popular (incidentally at @Beamur, having read your little dig, I'd beg to differ as to which of us is the REAL bitch here, sweetie) and I'd like to apologise - although I hope some of had a good giggle at me, we all need one in these times- I knew putting it on here would be a kamikaze move. After I posted, I looked back as to why I think that though as I was curious and I simply don't think I've ever seen the term used without a negative connotation IRL. I also rarely see it amongst my friends- they are Dr, Miss or Mrs, mostly. They just are. Ms just seems so ugly and grating as a sound to me, too. Like a chainsaw. I couldn't bear it at the start of my name.
The sort of teachers I had who chose to be "Ms" rather than "Miss" or "Mrs" and who obviously weren't "Dr" didn't endear it to me (including one VERY bitter divorcee) - and my own mother is rather down on it- she married late and is very much a Mrs- which didn't help the perception. As someone else mentioned upthread, Jilly Cooper may also have something to answer for- I read her at an impressionable age! When I worked front of house, it was also usually the Ms Brigade who seemed to be the least pleasant about their titles being incorrectly recorded (not by me- Inputting their info wasn't my job) which also may have coloured my views a
little.
I also move in circles where I suppose "Ms" would probably get you a bit of a side eye, too, for being uppity. I appreciate that perhaps that's really, really old fashioned and I must look ridiculous but in real life I don't really care what anyone calls themselves. FWIW I go to great trouble to try and put correct titles on cards and letter addresses - Ms, Mrs, Dr, Arch Demon, whatever. The older ladies on my Christmas card list all prefer Miss, too- and are much keener on being addressed as Miss whoever than just "Jane" or "Anna", too so that was probably habit forming. I don't care what title people actually use or their marital staus.
If I got hitched I would change my name though. Almost every woman I know who has been married recently has, so it's not that uncommon, and I like the feeling of unity it gives. I have no problem being Mrs His Initial His Name either, but I can see why many don't. For me it's an identity in itself, but not everyone feels that way at all. Your identify should be what you want.
Anyway, I've made enough of a prat of myself on here this morning, crack on!