I learned in church today

[SoCalCoug]

One of the speakers today told us we should refer to each other as Brother/Sister/President/etc. instead of our first names. That's one I used to hear occasionally 30 years ago, but not so much lately.

If I refer to you as "Brother" or "Sister" last name, it generally means I have forgotten your first name.

You know, it's weird, my siblings and I don't always insist on our kids calling us "Aunt" or "Uncle" - we seem to be interchangeable about referring to each other just by first names to our kids, and our kids calling us by our first names, especially the older ones. At least in my family, I'm seeing a little movement away from formal titles.

I don't call anyone "Brother" or "Sister" unless they're way older than me, or I forgot their first names.

[Topper]

I don't call anyone "Brother" or "Sister" unless they're way older than me, or I forgot their first names.

It's really helpful when Alzheimers sets in.

[swampfrog]

I learned that Church was canceled due to snow & ice.

Proof

[byu71]

I am a big fan of the "brother or sister" designation. I would even like to see it used in general society. It saves having to remember people's first names.

[TripletDaddy]

I don't use brother and sister much at all. I'm not calling a kid "president" when I see him in the hallway. I do use the terms "bishop" or "president" when I see the bish or the stake president. I don't have a special exemption for the patriarch, although in fairness I have no idea who that is in our stake.

I'm terrible with names so I will often forgo any sort of greeting and simply talk directly to someone without using their name. And while I do know the names of my in laws, I have used this approach for 15 years. I don't call them mom and dad nor do I call them by their first names. I simply address them directly. Don't know why I do that, though.

[Moliere]

I don't use brother and sister much at all. I'm not calling a kid "president" when I see him in the hallway. I do use the terms "bishop" or "president" when I see the bish or the stake president. I don't have a special exemption for the patriarch, although in fairness I have no idea who that is in our stake.

I'm terrible with names so I will often forgo any sort of greeting and simply talk directly to someone without using their name. And while I do know the names of my in laws, I have used this approach for 15 years. I don't call them mom and dad nor do I call them by their first names. I simply address them directly. Don't know why I do that, though.

Calling inlaws "mom" and "dad" is just weird. MJ calls my parents that but there is no way I'm calling her parents mom and dad. Instead I use their real names.

Now that I reflect on the brother/sister thing, I think I use it a bit similar to the familiar/unfamiliar terms in French. If I don't know a person very well I'll call them brother/sister (vouvoie) but if I know them I'll use their actual name (tutois).

[Clark Addison]

I don't use brother and sister much at all. I'm not calling a kid "president" when I see him in the hallway. I do use the terms "bishop" or "president" when I see the bish or the stake president. I don't have a special exemption for the patriarch, although in fairness I have no idea who that is in our stake.

I'm terrible with names so I will often forgo any sort of greeting and simply talk directly to someone without using their name. And while I do know the names of my in laws, I have used this approach for 15 years. I don't call them mom and dad nor do I call them by their first names. I simply address them directly. Don't know why I do that, though.

I do the same thing. If I am going to call them anything, I use their names, but usually it is just "Hey, how are you doing?"

[byu71]

This made me think of something else dealing with salutations. Whenever I see the Elders I usually say, "how is it going guys". I always call the Sisters, "Sisters", never "how is it going gals".

Lastly my friends and siblings who have sons on missions seem to always when seeing the Elders refer to them as "Elders". I think that is only natural as they have an affinity for the Elders when they see them. They always engage them while I just exchange grettings.

[RC Vikings]

I'm terrible with names so I will often forgo any sort of greeting and simply talk directly to someone without using their name. And while I do know the names of my in laws, I have used this approach for 15 years. I don't call them mom and dad nor do I call them by their first names. I simply address them directly. Don't know why I do that, though.

My wife has used these approach with her Mom. She was twelve when she moved back in with her and really never felt comfortable calling her Mom or Margarita so she's gone with the no name approach also.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'm not much of a participator in the calling the former bishop, bishop.

[smokymountainrain]

Calling inlaws "mom" and "dad" is just weird. MJ calls my parents that but there is no way I'm calling her parents mom and dad. Instead I use their real names.

Now that I reflect on the brother/sister thing, I think I use it a bit similar to the familiar/unfamiliar terms in French. If I don't know a person very well I'll call them brother/sister (vouvoie) but if I know them I'll use their actual name (tutois).

Definitely weird to call the in-laws mom and dad.

[byu71]

I'm not much of a participator in the calling the former bishop, bishop.

I know a guy who asked his siblings and their families to refer to him as Bishop. When he was released he also released the family from the request.

[wuapinmon]

Being raised Southern, it took me a good 20 years in the Church to break myself of the Brother/Sister thing to my peers, but for people who are elderly, I still use it. Also, if someone was my bishop when I was younger, I can't call them by name. It just doesn't feel right. I do, however, refer to Bro/Sis so-and-so when telling my kids about someone. I don't allow my kids to use adults' first names without honorifics. For example, Tim is "Uncle Tim" to my kids. I don't let them call him Tim no matter how many times he tries to act cool and tell them to call him "just Tim." The man was born in South Carolina! He should be ashamed of himself, but I learned long ago that he is shameless.

[Blueintheface]

I ran into our current bishop last week and it was the first time I'd used his first name since we used to play basketball together (before his calling). I didn't do it out of disrespect at all he's just in his late 20's and he was in jeans at the time and it seemed reasonable. He was more embarrassed than I was that we hadn't spoken in more than 6 months and actually seemed taken aback that I used his name. A really great guy, though I sensed he felt bad that he hadn't been by to visit since I left the church (sad for him as I don't expect such attention).

I still call the former bishop "bishop" (also a young buck in his mid 30's) mostly because I was his Exec Sec but also because he was the most serious guy under 40 that I've ever known.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I ran into our current bishop last week and it was the first time I'd used his first name since we used to play basketball together (before his calling). I didn't do it out of disrespect at all he's just in his late 20's and he was in jeans at the time and it seemed reasonable. He was more embarrassed than I was that we hadn't spoken in more than 6 months and actually seemed taken aback that I used his name. A really great guy, though I sensed he felt bad that he hadn't been by to visit since I left the church (sad for him as I don't expect such attention).

I still call the former bishop "bishop" (also a young buck in his mid 30's) mostly because I was his Exec Sec but also because he was the most serious guy under 40 that I've ever known.

You keep using the expression "left the church". Seems awfully dramatic. Have you asked for your name to be removed or something?