# G.W. Bush: Show Some Respect, Would You Please? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360 "2003-12-16T18:19:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/21 "2003-12-16T21:03:15Z")
I almost always call my doctors “doc.” I had one surgeon I always greeted with “What’s up, doc?” She was in stitches the whole time! I think it comes down to respect: you don’t have to speak formally and be serious all the time in order to show respect, just act like you believe the professional in question knows what they’re talking about. I agree with **LaurAnge** however, that some occupations demand professionalism 100% of the time. GWB is THE leader of the most powerful country on the planet right now. He is our spokesman. If he carries himself like an ass/bumpkin/hick, and he’s supposed to be the best of us, what message is he sending to the rest of the world about us 'Merkins? Doc? Nucular? Good Riddance? Very professional. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/22 "2003-12-16T21:04:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*C’mon. It’s not a big deal. Now, if he referred to them as “My Niggaz!” that might be something. \*\* This made me burst out laughing at work and consequently get busted by my supervisor for surfing rather than working. I nearly got a “talking to.” ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/23 "2003-12-16T22:03:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy \* > \*\*POOPYPANTS!!! \*\* Again?! He’s out of control! ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/24 "2003-12-16T22:35:09Z")
I have to agree with the OP. While there isn’t anything wrong with calling a doctor “doc” it does sound bumkinesque coming out of the presidents mouth. Call them doctors in public. It’s not that much harder. ---
**Author:** ![Marathon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Marathon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marathon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/25 "2003-12-16T22:45:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*C’mon. It’s not a big deal. Now, if he referred to them as “My Niggaz!” that might be something. \*\* Why? Bush would only be following in [God](http://www.theonion.com/onion3731/god_gives_shout-out.html)’s footsteps! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/26 "2003-12-16T23:09:20Z")
Why would Bush not want to sound like a folksey Texan? Isn’t that a basic part of his image? Just because you don’t want a folksey Texan as President doesn’t change that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/27 "2003-12-17T00:16:53Z")
You see, I have this issue with Doctors. It usually starts when they introduce themselves: “Hi, John. I’m Doctor Shizznitzle.” ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/28 "2003-12-17T00:22:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Mace \* > \*\*You see, I have this issue with Doctors. It usually starts when they introduce themselves: “Hi, John. I’m Doctor Shizznitzle.” \*\* Well perhaps you’ll be happy to know that there is no Dr. Shizznitzle in all of googleland. Now surely there must be something more important I can work on. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/29 "2003-12-17T00:25:07Z")
‘Shizznitzle’ sounds like a German pastry. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/30 "2003-12-17T00:29:27Z")
[Homer] Mmmmm, wienershizznitzle… [/Homer] ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/31 "2003-12-17T00:31:50Z")
I bet it was for want of hot and fresh shizznitzle that Hitler launched his war… ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/32 "2003-12-17T01:31:30Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Shizznitzles.” ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/33 "2003-12-17T01:32:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seven \* > \*\*I have to agree with the OP. While there isn’t anything wrong with calling a doctor “doc” it does sound bumkinesque coming out of the presidents mouth. > > Call them doctors in public. It’s not that much harder. \*\* Are you kidding? It’s _twice_ as many syllables! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/34 "2003-12-17T02:30:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > Well perhaps you’ll be happy to know that there is no Dr. Shizznitzle in all of googleland. I shizzle hope nizzle! ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/35 "2003-12-17T02:58:04Z")
Gotta agree with you there, **Hello Again.** I work in customer service. And if I’ve got to send a customer to someone more senior than me, when I refer to that senior person, I refer to them as “Ms.” or “Mr.” because the customer doesn’t know the person I’m sending them to. I’m basically “presenting” my supervisor to them, and to get the point across to the customer that the person they’ll be dealing with is someone that they should listen to and respect, I refer to them in a respectful manner. Because Bush was presenting these people to us, the nation, he should have referred to them in a manner that indicated that _he_ respected them as well. Which, to me, would mean “doctor,” not “doc.” ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/36 "2003-12-17T03:16:23Z")
Oh puhleze. What a stupid thing to rant about! Get a life! ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/37 "2003-12-17T03:21:20Z")
It was too informal for that particular situation. I’m sure that his mother taught him better manners than that. On a personal level, it has been only within the last couple of years (out of 18) that I have felt comfortable enough to call my physician “Doc.” _In that particular situation_, it is intended as a compliment and I think he takes it as such. In another twenty years, I will call him by his first name. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/38 "2003-12-17T03:28:56Z")
Compared to what he _might_ have said, we should all be thanking our lucky stars that all he did was address these guys too informally. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/39 "2003-12-17T08:25:38Z")
Wow, somebody needs a hobby. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360/40 "2003-12-17T11:40:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LaurAnge \* > **Speeches given by the president should be in formal English.** So say you. The difference between you and GW however is that he has the political savvy to have been successfully elected POTUS and you have not. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Matchka \* > **If he carries himself like an ass/bumpkin/hick, and he’s supposed to be the best of us, what message is he sending to the rest of the world about us 'Merkins?** The message is not aimed at you. It is not aimed at the rest of world, who GW has clearly shown he does not give a rats about. It is aimed at the unwashed masses. There are more of them than there are of you. And the message he is sending is “re-elect me”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g-w-bush-show-some-respect-would-you-please/219360.md?page=3)