They should make male celebrities and media executives talk about women’s equality and representation.

I say this as someone who is a bitch... “BFA”?

Based on the only vaguely remembered general rules I learned when I was a permissions assistant like ten years ago I’m fairly certain it would be protected. Instagram’s T&C would indemnify Instagram itself against claims of plagiarism if they used the image in their promotions, but would have no bearing on third…

Thanks for the article. I look forward to reading it. I guess I’m not surprised that there are people who deny events that actually happened and where photographic evidence exists. It isn’t the first time.

I live in postsoviet country where crimes were just as terrifying, will never be acknowledged and we learned to go “meh” with it. And it would totally weird my country out if someone in the US built a monument to those sufferings. Hence the surprise. Really, I meant no disrespect and apologize if it sounded…

I want to move back towards using them more. I am not friends with every person I meet on the street or have some kind of professional relationship with. I do not want you pretending to be my friend, which is what using a personal name means to a lot of people. Not using titles doesn’t mean you respect everyone…

Also, adults and children are not equals. That doesn’t mean you disrespect children, but people who have earned respect via age and experience get the respect of being referred to differently from a child who just learned not to shit itself.

I never heard of this practice until I moved to the Deep South. I actually prefer being called Miss Stranger to Mrs Bird. I agree with a lot of what beets said in the original comment, but from working with lots of kids as a librarian, honorifics can serve as a shorthand for “Guys, this is a person you need to pay…

To me, a way you respect someone is by calling them what they want to be called. So, you know, ask? Or, if you’re a parent, ask on behalf of your child? Is it so hard to say “what would you prefer Little Caylynn call you?”

Wouldn’t you think that referring to everyone simply by the first name would denote an equal respect of power for the people interacting?

I’m also a white New Englander raised by hippies

Is it just something you aren’t used to, or is there something specific about it that you don’t like? I’m just curious, because it was total normal when I was growing up. The only people I hear doing it in the city where I live now are black people, but there was no race associated with it in rural areas.

Yes. This. Also, historically, for centuries no one called any black people by any honorifics at all. Racist whites called our grandparents “boy” or “gal” no matter how old they were or how educated or how respected within our own community. So it’s a big deal to call someone “Mr. or Ms. So-and-s0,” and I was ALWAYS…

I actually don’t think you get it at all, at least in your ability to empathize with people who have different cultural beliefs around this.

Yep, that all makes sense. (Though as far as your point about not coming across many genderqueer/androgynous people ... you can never really know how many people might actually like to present their gender differently if they felt like it was an option, and disposing with honorifics or having gender-neutral ones is…

I think it’s more about familiarity. I’m not your pal, kiddo.

I’m curious why that one trait would make you write them off completely?

I accept it from my son’s friends, but it makes me cringe. I didn’t grow up that way. I realize that they don’t mean any disrespect. It is hard to get used to. I’d rather they call me “hey you.”

Neat.

As funny as big girl’s blouse sounds, I could do without emasculating insults. The idea that there’s an inverse relationship between femininity and awesomeness is something we don’t need in our lives.