How Do You Usually Begins your Conversations?

[Prinses]

Same in Dutch. I am probably one of the few people in this part of the country that wouldn't dream of using the informal form of address to anyone older than me. Period. And that includes relatives - and yes: that would have included my parents.

It's rude to say 'je/jij' instead of 'uw/u' to strangers or people who're older imo. People here complain when I say 'uw/u' though, they want me to say 'je/jij'

[The Lawspeaker]

It's rude to say 'je' instead of 'uw' to strangers or people who're older imo. People here complain when I say 'uw' though, they want me to say 'je/jij'

I make a consistent point out of using "u"/"uw". There is nothing more that ticks me off more than some young shop assistant addressing me informally. I tend to respond rather coldly to ones informal "hi" and "how can I help you" (informal you) with a "Certainly, you may." (formal you). I have no problems with it on forums though but on a day to day basis I don't take kindly to it. You know what those high school lassies are usually like. Call me an old fart, my dear Prinses, call me an old fart !

[Kivan]

I don't know, it always starts in different ways with different people. Today for example, the first thing i said was "Good afternoon babe" first for a certain person. hahaha

[Prinses]

I make a consistent point out of using "u"/"uw". There is nothing more that ticks me off more than some young shop assistant addressing me informally. I tend to respond rather coldly to ones informal "hi" and "how can I help you" (informal you) with a "Certainly, you may." (formal you). I have no problems with it on forums though but on a day to day basis I don't take kindly to it. You know what those high school lassies are usually like. Call me an old fart, my dear Prinses, call me an old fart !

No I can understand it from people of your age it's normal. Dutch people usually care about such things and they taught it us at a young age to adress people who're older with the formal way, but not everyone does it

[The Lawspeaker]

No I can understand it from people of your age it's normal. Dutch people usually care about such things and they taught it us at a young age to adress people who're older with the formal way, but not everyone does it

Maybe that traditionalism can also be more regionally based. It could be that Northerners are slightly more informal (I have noticed that pattern as well).

[Dandelion]

I make a consistent point out of using "u"/"uw". There is nothing more that ticks me off more than some young shop assistant addressing me informally. I tend to respond rather coldly to ones informal "hi" and "how can I help you" (informal you) with a "Certainly, you may." (formal you). I have no problems with it on forums though but on a day to day basis I don't take kindly to it. You know what those high school lassies are usually like. Call me an old fart, my dear Prinses, call me an old fart !

I remember on Flemish television this guy addressing an 80 year old woman with 'je/jij'. It sounded so wrong in my ears.

[The Lawspeaker]

I remember on Flemish television this guy addressing an 80 year old woman with 'je/jij'. It sounded so wrong in my ears.

That's disgusting ! I am not even joking: what a time to be alive....

[Finnish Swede]

LOL. I bet I would be very ''rude'' person to many ....

As small talks? ... waist of time and energy.

Still being '' rude'' (or more like ... seeing like one) has never raped or murdered anybody. So I'm happily children of ''rude'' people! LOL.

'

[Dandelion]

That's disgusting ! I am not even joking: what a time to be alive....

Marcel Vanthilt is a fanatical proponent of Modern Standard Dutch and want 'je/jij' to become more popular here. He's a lot too fanatical in that endeavour and forgot there's a polite form still. As you know, we have great difficulties saying 'je/jij' casually and instead prefer 'ge/gij' (often confused for 'u' because the direct/indirect object and the possessive forms are 'u' and 'uw' respectively).

Anyway, very impolite to tutoyate an elderly woman, it's like cursing in the church (Dutch proverb).

[The Lawspeaker]

Marcel Vanthilt is a fanatical proponent of Modern Standard Dutch and want 'je/jij' to become more popular here. He's a lot too fanatical in that endeavour and forgot there's a polite form still. As you know, we have great difficulties saying 'je/jij' casually and instead prefer 'ge/gij' (often confused for 'u' because the direct/indirect object and the possessive forms are 'u' and 'uw' respectively).

Anyway, very impolite to tutoyate an elderly woman, it's like cursing in the church (Dutch proverb).

I consider modern Standard Dutch (the sheer disgusting chutzpah the Hollanders used to have in calling it "General Civilised Dutch" !) to be just another version of Hollander imperialism and I think the South should culturally reorient itself more on Flanders. I would love to see Flanders joining the Netherlands and then replacing this Hollander Dutch with a more balanced version that takes both traditions into account.