Lord Prezzer!

[observer]

So would you call someone "sir"? Thought you were an emancipated serf Kyje?!

[asperity]

In my profession calling someone "sir" is politeness, not deference

[Lt Kije]

Obs to answer your question

 

If I was in a que, and a person in front of me dropped something I would say "Excuse me mate I think you have dropped something or excuse me Miss I think you have dropped something. "As to meeting someone with a knighthood it would depend where we were, At a formal dinner yes I probably use his title in the street I would not.

 

I find you get more out of people if you are polite,and it costs nothing

[Egbert]

Oh, you are one of these people who call complete strangers "mate"?

Do you work on a building site?

Common usage of the word "mate" either means you are a seaman (In which case it is prefaced by "Mr") or a member of the lower order.

[Bazj]

Common usage of the word "mate" either means you are a seaman (In which case it is prefaced by "Mr") or a member of the lower order.

 

definately the latter!

[Lt Kije]

Oh, you are one of these people who call complete strangers "mate

 

I suppose you speak 1950's BBC english

 

Common usage of the word "mate" either means you are a seaman (In which case it is prefaced by "Mr") or a member of the lower order

 

That might have been so in the 50's, and as you state its for the lower orders, is that how I should address you

[observer]

Some professions insist on the deferential "sir", to reinforce the chain of command - but we always spelt it "cur" in our minds! As for titles, Mr + surname or first name if yer in favour!

[Peter T]

Nowt wrong with 50's BBC English. At least you could understand what was being said, or should that be spoken.

[Egbert]

Yes, it definitely was so in the Fifties and as far as I am concerned it is still so today.

I am frequently addressed as "mate" by complete strangers who are, invariably, of the lower order. It annoys me because I am not their mate!

And as Peter T says, there was nothing wrong with Fifties BBC English. It was rather better than today's BBC English.

 

Being able to speak good English is one of the most valuable assets anyone can have, even today, and it is one of the things our education system consistently fails in.

[observer]

Possibly cos the teachers are struggling with Polish, Urdu etc at the primary schools!

[Peter T]

You might well laugh obs, but I find a large %age of foreigners speak better English than the natives.

Unfortunately the ones who play for the poo also pick up the scouse accent.

[observer]

Possibly cos the indigenous kids can't get any teacher attention, due to their teachers struggling with foreign tongues!

[Peter T]

Come on now, be fair.

This situation started long before the recent invasion from Europe. It goes back to the 60's when young people rebelled against the 'system' and pushed ALL the boundaries back as far as they could.

The kids of that era then grew up to be politicians and were unable to handle the problems that they helped to create, hence the mess that the country is in.

[Egbert]

That is true - but surely it was teenagers growing up to become parents (and teachers) that had more impact than teenagers growing up to become politicians? And it goes back to before the Sixties.

[observer]

don't dispute that one Pierre, but you were talking about ability to articulate, which seems to have taken a dive lately.

[observer]

Seems Lady Prezzer has got a job on the One Show - seems much gets more!

[Peter T]

That is true - but surely it was teenagers growing up to become parents (and teachers) that had more impact than teenagers growing up to become politicians? And it goes back to before the Sixties.

 

But it is the same politicians who grew up in the 60's, who make the decisions on education and society.

One of the worst decisions was changing the way in which they learnt to spell. We have been saying for years on this Forum, how standards have continually been dropping.

[Lt Kije]

seems much gets more!

 

That has always been the case