'You are brainwashed, they have brainwashed you."

[Becks]

And I hate being called by name by people I don't know.

So do I, sometimes, so I have an alternate nametag that says Vanessa.

[counterjockey]

So do I, sometimes, so I have an alternate nametag that says Vanessa.

That's a pretty adventurous move, Stephen!

I keed, I'm keeding, I'm...sorry...

[LifeCarnie]

"Brainwashed you say? Sir, I took the red pill. You're the clueless one!"

Admit it, if you had known the truth you would have taken the blue pill.

[Alpha Strike]

And I hate being called by name by people I don't know.

I do as well - it smacks of some big corporation's way of pretending to be your friend, all the way bending you over the nearest counter and having their way with both you and your finances. I'm fine with "sir" or "Mr SoandSo" - not because I'm snobby or stuck-up but because it keeps things on a professional, business-related level. If I become a regular somewhere, then that's a bit different but otherwise the standard greetings are fine with me.

And to those folks who do NOT want to be called "sir" or "ma'am": getting angry or upset about a practice that's common everywhere at any business makes no sense. Wear a nametag or preface any conversation with "I prefer to be called X."

[TryNotToBeThatOne]

When I worked at that craft/fabric store, I often looked at people's names on the checks or credit cards to call them by name. Of course, thanks to my upbringing it was always, "here's your card, Ms. SoandSo," never: "have a nice day, Laura." *shudder* My grandmother would have risen from her grave to smack me, if I'd been that forward.

It was also kind of game, 'can I pronounce this name?' My favorite was the Slavic one with one vowel, if you count the 'y'.

[Becks]

That's a pretty adventurous move, Stephen!

I keed, I'm keeding, I'm...sorry...

I don't think I've ever been Stephen, but one day I DID wear Antonio's, Esau's and Clinton's nametags at different times during that day.

Don't be sorry. I giggled.