Mr. or Miss [First Name]

It is unfortunate.

 

I hate it when people shorten my first name, but I find a lot of older men will call me "Jim" even if everyone else calls me "James." I'm usually too polite to tell them I hate that name.

 

I know someone who refuses to call people by their shorter name, even if it's crystal clear that the person goes by that shorter name. Jim is always James. Josh is always Joshua.

Very tilting.

 

If it bothers you, speak up. I don't answer to anything except my name. A seventh-grade teacher liked to use a nickname (which, for the record, is actually longer than my real name) and I frequently would turn and look out the window because he obviously wasn't speaking to me.

 

My first name is Deborah, I introduce myself as Deborah and sign every email as Deborah. I can't tell you how many people immediately call me Deb or <shudder> Debbie. I find that really rude, especially in business correspondence.

Deb is for my friends and family. Debbie is for those who wish to die a painful death.

 

I don't care what you call me. Just don't call me late for dinner.

 

It's generally older men who do it, and I don't deal with most of them enough to worry about it. If I have to deal with them often, I'll usually say something the second or third time.