Re: [Fwd: Re: Mssrs. (was turning 18)]
Alan Brown (awb@NETCOMUK.CO.UK)
Thu, 29 Apr 1999 14:03:40 +0100
I think that you are right about it being a cultural thing, in Scouting in
Edinburgh, Scotland nobody uses the term Mr. Everyone is on a first name
terms from the youngest Beaver to the oldest leader. Some Cub and Beaver
leaders still have names from the Jungle Book but they are in a small
minority I think. A couple of Scouters have " Scouting names " like Tracker
but I can only think of a couple in the whole city.
I've been thinking about this and if I was choosing a name from the Jungle
Book I would want to known as Tabaqui - the Dish Licker.
I'm 42 and none of my family / friends have nephews and nieces that use the
term Uncle or Auntie, my parents generation used to use the term uncle or
auntie for friends of theirs who were not actually family members. A kind of
courtesy title really. All that has disappeared at least as far as I know.
I've been reading this debate about using Mr in American Scouting over the
last few days with interest. I be interested to know if the practice is
still used countries other than America. I find it a bit odd that when a
Scout turns 18 you would expect the younger Scouts, by let's say two or
three years, start calling them Mr Something. Anyone another European
country want to comment? Anyone in Canada or Australia have a similar
system?
There's another question. In America do you use names from the Jungle Book
for Cub Leaders?
Alan Brown
133rd Haymarket Scout Troop
Edinburgh - Scotland
> This must really be a cultural thing. In my Scouting environment, which as
both a child and adult has been closely linked to a parish environment, the
only acceptable way to address adults over about 21 years old was by Mr. or
Mrs. This is consistent with the environment our Scouts live in. They are
not allowed to address school teachers, CCE (Sunday school) teachers, parish
staff, Aunts, Uncles, parents, neighbors etc. by a first name alone. In our
environment this would be a sign of disrespect. From reading others posts I
must assume that in other environments calling adults by there first name is
acceptable and therefore does not denote disrespect.
> I'm curious if this might be a regional or urban/rural thing also. Most of
the kids I'm routinely around would be scolded by their parents if they
answered an adult with ya and na instead of yes sir, no sire, etc. But this
seems to be far more prevalent in the South than elsewhere.
>
> I guess when in Rome do as the Romans. I for one would feel awkward being
called by my first name by youth, including my nieces and nephews.
