Answer to submitter. « You » placed a person on a lower social step

I am particularly turning to Henrik Scheutzbut also to all young people who may feel uncertain about how to appeal to the elderly. I want to tell you what it was like at that time when the title sickness grazed in Sweden.

As a child in the 1940s, it was not so difficult. All adults were attracted to « Aunt » or « Uncle ». But when you grew up and could not say so anymore and besides, the social meaning in the word « you » realized it became more difficult.

Using « you » meant placing the one you spoke on a lower social step. I will never forget when I worked at NK around 1960.

Extreme courtesy applied. Claiming customers was a whole science. The gentlemen were not so difficult: it was possible to say « my lord » (but not « the gentleman » that sounded like something from a film father). With the ladies it was worse: « My lady » was laughable and « lady » vulgar. Thus, it was about varying the rewrites. Example: « What is it allowed to be? », « Was it good so? »

Once, I happened to put in a « you » in pure desperation when I was running out of rewrites to an extra difficult customer. She called the manager and demanded that « the rude girl » be dismissed. With a lot of trouble, my boss managed to appease her. It was enough with a submissive apology from me.

All Swedish customers said « you » to me, alternately with « Miss » or « Little Miss ». It was nice when the American tourists came ashore from their cruise ships. They were always friendly and, best of all, there was a natural speech pronoun: « You ». A word I came to love.

I am grateful For the fine democratic du reform that broke through in the 1970s and made life a little easier. Today I am 87 years old and pleased to be a duad by virtually everyone in both Sweden and other Nordic countries. If any young person seems uncertain about what to say to any elderly, just a friendly « Say, of course! » I understand that they want to be polite, but don’t really know how.

But Henrik Scheutzwhich does not take into account how other people want to be treated but lets their ideologically conditioned (?) Consulting go ahead, I would rather not have to meet.

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