Stay calm, David. Stay calm. I repeat that so often to myself that it’s become an almost daily mantra. What is it with people’s presumption that they can just call me, Dave? I am introduced to them as David or D…never as fcking, Dave. And yet they almost invariably call me, Dave. And every time I snarl to myself and try my best to be polite and ask them to never ever call me that again. They feel awkward, and they usually apologize, and never ever do it again.
But the thing is, the thing that really bothers me is that they just do it automatically without thinking. They see or hear my name, David, and just assume that I’m a “Dave” and should be referred to as, Dave. Well ladies and gentleman, I’m not a fcking, Dave. Ask anyone that knows me and they’ll tell you, I’m sooooo not a Dave. Do you think King David would’ve had the kinda career he had if he was called, King Dave? I think not.
When I’m introduced to someone called Richard, for instance, I don’t call him Rick, Richie, Rich or even Dick (even if he is one)…because I’ve been informed that his name is Richard, and until Richard tells me to call him something else, I’m going to be unerringly polite and call him by the name his parents gave him! It’s only good manners, right?
So, please do me and everyone else a favor – don’t assume that it’s okay to abbreviate someones name…it isn’t…it just shows your lack of consideration for someone elses feelings you Dick, oh sorry…you, Richard!
About D. Duplessis
I agree with you. I try and pay attention to what people introduce themselves as and then follow suit when I address them. When I first met my husband, he introduced himself as Tony. Years later he wanted me to start calling him Anthony. I said ‘no way, you started with Tony and that’s what you get’. So….David, have a nice weekend.
Thanks! I had a terrific weekend!
I’m SO with you. The thing with me, though, is that people assume I mispronounced my name (it’s like Michelle but with a hard CH). I’m horrible with name,s but I at least make it a point to try and say it how the other person says it. Frankly, after a lifetime of having people correct me on how to say my own name, I think it’s only the human thing to do to make sure such a thing does not happen to others.
And if people still insist on getting ti wrong, there are always rampant knifings to be be had.
So it’s pronounced like, “Mikhail” as in, Mikhail Gorbachev, right? I could certainly see why that would annoy you if people were calling you Michael all the time! Pronunciation was never my strong suit either, but I do try…which is more than can be said for people who try to say my last name!
Dear God, thanks for referring me to this post before I went and got all Davey on you (I haven’t yet, have I??). And I sure to know know what you mean:
I was called “Lorrie” as a child…too girly for the adult me, so reverted back to my full name. Then what does my family go and do? “Lor.” That’s what my family now insists on calling me. I was born with this poetic, French, named-after-the-city-where-Joan-of Arc-was-born name, briefly went with the cutesy nickname (during which time I was convinced my full name sounded “old ladyish”), finally embraced the beauty of my moniker and then they want to refer to me as LOR.
Blunt, unmusical and as un-ME as Dave/Davey is to you.
Although “lore” means “wisdom.” Ack, I still don’t care. Stop calling me Lor, for fks sake.
Thank you for giving me the courage to say that, David.
You’ve got a terrific moniker for sure! I cannot imagine calling you “Lor” that doesn’t fit my perception of you at all. Somehow it’s just not classy enough for ya.