Age difference - 06/30/05 05:36 PM
I've often had this thought, and tonight I thought I'd share it with you and ask for your views:
Do you find weird the fact that there are often big age differences between us, and yet we speak to each other in a quite informal way? Even when we hardly even know the person we're addressing?
I'm 17. In RL, if I met someone more than 10 years older than me I'd never met before, I'd put 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' before addressing them, I'd use plural forms (I know this doesn't happen in English, but you may be familiar with it from French).
On the other hand, if someone more than 10 years older than me posted on these boards for the first time, I'd just say something like 'Welcome, Mary/John/whatever! Have fun!' No formalities at all.
I'm not really feeling bad about it; it seems to be the norm around here. But, when you think about it, it is strange.
Any thoughts?
See ya,
AnnaBtG.
P.S.: I'll probably see your posts on Monday, but keep them coming, by all means!
Do you find weird the fact that there are often big age differences between us, and yet we speak to each other in a quite informal way? Even when we hardly even know the person we're addressing?
I'm 17. In RL, if I met someone more than 10 years older than me I'd never met before, I'd put 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' before addressing them, I'd use plural forms (I know this doesn't happen in English, but you may be familiar with it from French).
On the other hand, if someone more than 10 years older than me posted on these boards for the first time, I'd just say something like 'Welcome, Mary/John/whatever! Have fun!' No formalities at all.
I'm not really feeling bad about it; it seems to be the norm around here. But, when you think about it, it is strange.
Any thoughts?
See ya,
AnnaBtG.
P.S.: I'll probably see your posts on Monday, but keep them coming, by all means!