Seconded. I much prefer people with this attitude to those who seem to be constantly looking for something to be pissed off about.
Oh, I know it could've been much worse. In fact, now that you've reminded me, even I encountered worse. I feel bad for the people who have to deal with that crap all their lives. As for this particular salesperson, I heard her with other customers... It didn't seem to be a matter of trying to make conversation so much as being unable to not make non-stop babbling conversation. B.J., now you've heard of it. This was a major department store (same company that owns Macy's).
whenever i go into a shop i loudly insist everyone calls me The Earl of Tuesday and demand anyone younger than me shine my shoes. and if they don't i'll complain to the manager in swahili until they give me free t-shirts. because respect isn't earned, its blindly given to someone older than you especially if they are whiny and like to disparage people based on their belonging to a section of society. Sarcasm
I try to be nice to cashiers since I know they take so much crap day in and day out. My friend works as a cashier for a grocery store, and I hear some horror stories from him either about co-workers or just customers being nasty. I think it's just good customer service for cashiers to be nice, and to strike up conversation. The Customer is the only outlet for cashiers to make conversation anyway, so it's nice to have a bit of small talk. Also, it gives variety to the work day other than just being there like a robot helping customers and doing nothing else.
Not everybody wants that. In any case, there's a difference between being "social" and being a chatty, annoying jackass. Better to not talk enough than to talk too much.
That's true, even though I wouldn't call them a jackass. Maybe if they start pushing it more and more to the point of annoyance, but that typically doesn't happen with the cashiers I see.
Since you are so into this formality stuff, you should at least know that you don't introduce yourself as "Mr" Last Name. (Except if you are Mr Wolf. He solves problems.) EtA: ninja'd.
In Australia using first names is the norm. Adults introduce themselves to children by their first name, the only place they call adults Mr. or Mrs. is in school. Outside of school I've only addressed the very elderly that way and only heard it used with the very elderly, such as in a doctor's office. I've wondered if this is more casual than in the US because of past interactions I've had.
Why, specifically, do you believe that advanced age should automatically command what you would consider to be greater respect? Try to answer without appealing to tradition, please.
The point is, you don't introduce yourself as "Mr Smith". You introduce yourself as "John Smith". People who wish to maintain a level of formality will address you as "Mr Smith" (or whatever title you hold). Here the level of formality varies. Young-ish people commonly go for the first name only. Professional settings usually call for a higher level of formality, at least when speaking with clients/customers. But again, it depends on the situation, the people involved, the level of familiarity, etc. In school the level of formality rises as you rise in level. In primary schools teachers and pupils are addressed by first name, while in university instructors are addressed as "Professor" and students are addressed as Mr/Ms.