Quote Originally Posted by cassiesmom View Post
Two examples. On Saturday my mom (who's 75, but don't tell her I told you) and I (43) went Christmas shopping. We stopped for a quick lunch at a chain restaurant near the shopping center. The server greeted us by saying, "Hi, I'm (name), can I get you guys something to drink?" I have two comments: a) neither of us are guys, last I checked we were both female; and b) is there a less-informal way of asking that question? If I'm with friends, that's a totally appropriate question; but I think my mom is entitled to a slightly more formal version of the question, just on the basis of her age. (Those of you who've waited tables, go ahead and flame me for that.)

So we get to the mall and decide to take a shortcut through Abercrombie and Fitch, which has one entrance off the parking lot and another from the shopping center walkway, to get to the store we're headed for. We're greeted by a young woman who said (kid you not): "Hi, how's it goin'?" I thought I heard it wrong, but on our way back through the store to the car, the same thing happened. I was floored. Whatever happened to good afternoon, or even a simple hello?
The "you guys" thing always bugged me, too. When I was managing the band from S. Africa, they thought it was the thing to say when addressing audiences in America. "Hey, how you guys doin'?!" Aaargh! I repeatedly told them to stop it and finally I threatened to cut their mic if they did it again. Honestly though, I can't say that I see it as disrespect so much as being overly casual and familiar. That doesn't mean I like it, though.