Or translated into American: "I don't care what you call me as long as you don't call me late for dinner."

A lot of people don't really mind what variation of their name you use. But some do, and sometimes for good reason. In one of my posts way above, I mentioned a young woman nameed "Christine." She was a professional model and objected to being called "Chris" or "Chrissy." "Christine" was both the name her parents gave her and her professional name. The "William," whom I mentioned in the same post preferred being called "Will" rather than "Bill" because he was a singer and he used "Will" on posters, programs, and such.

I find it is just simple courtesy to use the name by whick a person introduces him or herself. Like my neighor across the hall: he introduced himself as "James," his wife calls him "James," and I think it would be discourteous for me to start calling him "Jim" or "Jimmie."

It ain't that difficult, folks!

Don Firth

P. S. My folks dubbed me "Donald," a good, solid Scottish name, and when I was little, they called my "Donnie," as did my sisters, Mary and Patricia. When I was about thirtenn and feeling all grown up, I felt that "Donnie" was a diminutive and somehow demeaning, and insisted on being called "Don." Short, tidy, strong. Not much one can do with "Mary," so my older sister was fine with that, but Patricia began objecting to being called "Patsy" (a slang term used on radio crime dramas for a dupe or sucker) and wanted to be called "Pat." Fine.

I've noticed that on a lot of American TV comedies, the doofus in the cast is named "Donald." Why, I don't know. But the other characters always address him with a tone of contempt, and he is always portrayed as a bit of a stumble-bum. So I'm sticking with "Don," "Don Firth" is the name I have always used on posters, programs and such since I first started singing professionally.