I was sharing a snippet of a private eye story, I had written, and in the story I refer to my detective as Detective Zia. This confused the reader, who thought the character was a cop. Which led me to wonder, how do people refer to real private detectives that they hire?
I know we don’t call each other Mr. and Mrs. anymore, so if you have ever hired a PI, or if you were going to hire one, would you just call them Joe or Janet? Would you think it was weird if they introduced themselves as Detective Janice? Would that feel like they were impersonating a cop?
Come to think of it, no one ever called Nero Wolfe, Detective Wolfe. Ha. Maybe I was being weird. Ah well, can’t undo what’s in the blood. But I can change the title of my detective, if it’s inaccurate.
Like a lot of cops I’ve done PI work to supplement my income. A lot of former/retired cops also used to become full time private detectives. In my observation neither happens anywhere near as much as it used to.
I did a lot of corporate internal investigations and insurance work. Clients either called me Pete or Mr. Beitz, in equal number of each. Having been a Sheriffs Investigator I would object to a private dick using the rank of “detective” to announce themselves. Although I suppose legally they could as it is a term used on the state license. I don’t recall ever hearing of a PI being charged with impersonating. Because a lot of people are ignorant of the difference between a private detective and an actual police detective there’s no reason to pretend either way.
Well, it’s Spenser, like the poet. (Which is how he corrects people who misspell it in the books.) I would recommend skipping the show (which is pretty much Spenser only in name) and going straight to the books. Or if you must watch, look for the three A&E movies starring Joe Montegna.
Confirm. I was a PI for over ten years and was almost always addressed by my first name (except in depositions or when testifying). NOBODY says, “Detective Smith,” when addressing a PI.
As far as addressing a PI by his/her last name without an honorific…never seen or experienced it. This may be common in the military, or in some LE circles, but it would be considered rude in the semi-professional world of private investigation (and just about anywhere else). Do you call your accountant by his/her last name only? Your hairdresser?
Honestly, if I hired one my inner 12-year-old would probably compel me to refer to them as a ‘Private Dick’ as much as possible While I’ve not had a need for one, I’ve met a few and worked with security people, and like the other posters said none of them use titles. They all just use a regular name in the regular way - so usually Firstname, in introductions Firstame Lastname, occasionally Mr/Ms Lastname for formal situations, and some people just go by Lastname as their general name.
The law firm I was with hired one in a court case I was involved in a long time ago. He referred to himself as a private investigator, not a detective.
I’m not sure what my brain was thinking when I wrote that scene. It’s not like I’ve ever heard a PI called that, either. I guess I just like the sound of the title “Detective So-and-So” a lot.
Maybe I’ve just watched too much Law & Order. teehee
And not enough Magnum PI. (Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever watched that.)
I had previously come up with the cutesy name of Patrin Dye, Private Eye. But that might be too cutesy.
So in what real life contexts do grown up people call each other Mr and Miss/Ms/Mrs?
When I had retail jobs, everyone always introduced themselves by their first name, and I can’t remember any instance of people around me using it. Is that more of a professional/upper class thing?
Fiction doesn’t have to be anything like real life.
To use the TV series Lost for an example, one of the main characters is a spinal surgeon and in real life he would most likely drive a new Mercedes, BMW or Audi not a 40 year old Ford Bronco.
The Bronco is used instead of a new Mercedes because the Bronco is rugged and adventurous looking even though it’s very unrealistic that a spinal surgeon would drive such an old vehicle.
In The Shawshank Redemption the movie is set in Maine and filmed in Ohio so there’s no actual prison like that in Maine.
The Shining takes place in Colorado and uses an exterior of a hotel in Oregon and the opening of the movie is in Montana because the creators didn’t think Colorado was expansive looking enough for the opening.
There is also no maze behind the Oregon hotel and that was all built in England.
In conclusion it’s fiction so you can do what you want. It can be an alternate world or you simply don’t have to explain yourself.
It used to be the standard and things have become more casual over the years, but I am still called Mr. Gas by staff at my doctor’s offices, my car dealer service department, my bank, and many other places I do business with. All my children’s friends call me Mr. Gas, and my children are 18 and 21.
I don’t expect it in professional situations–I am a VP at my company and sometimes the new hires right out of school “Mister” me and I tell them to call me Cooking. Vendors, customers, and colleagues all use first names.
Maybe it’s generational; I see being called Mr. as a token of respect (not respect out of age, but just respect). Some younger people don’t like it because it makes them feel old but I appreciated it even when I was 22. I don’t think it sounds old; it’s part of being a grown-up. Some people don’t want to be a grown-up.
Interesting. Definitely not my experience, at all.
I'm 34 and I'd still feel weird if people called me Mr. I've been referred to as Miss by parents speaking to their toddlers, but never directly. It would feel super weird if someone did.
Once when I was in my early twenties, someone called me, "Ma'am" that was sooo cringeworthy. I am not a grey-haired grandmother. Although, if I was a grey-haired grandmother I'd still cringe.
And yes, I am someone who absolutely does not want to grow up. And I don’t intend to, either. Maybe others can sense that and that’s why they don’t label me like one.
Maybe not the later books. They got pretty formulaic and short, relying on a lot of Susan/Spenser dialogue that had gotten old for me. But the early/middle ones, yeppers.
While I’ve not had a need for one, I’ve met a few and worked with security people, and like the other posters said none of them use titles. They all just use a regular name in the regular way - so usually Firstname, in introductions Firstame Lastname, occasionally Mr/Ms Lastname for formal situations, and some people just go by Lastname as their general name.
