# Help test my psycho-social theory--describe yourself **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 3, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301 "2004-07-03T00:35:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/101 "2004-07-09T18:15:24Z")
Well, siince we _still_ don’t know this theory… \*\*1.) Tell me a little about yourself. \*\* I don’t know how to do this without sounding like a singles ad. Christian, Republican, computer nerd, stubborn, eccentric, reads extensively and compulsively (history and biography - also Harry Potter), likes weight-lifting, cooking, martial arts, and arguing on the Internet. **2.) How do you typically address mail to a married couple?** Mr. and Mrs. John Doe. Sometimes Jane and John Doe. If they don’t have the same last name, then Jane Doe John Smith **3.) How do you put your return address on mail?** On the letter, it goes Firstname Lastname 123 Main Street Anytown, USA (555)555-5555 [Shodan@anymail.com](mailto:Shodan@anymail.com) On the return envelope, it is Lastname 123 Main St Anytown USA **4.) What are your age, gender, and marital status?** 48, male, married with two kids. Now what is this theory? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/102 "2004-07-09T18:34:09Z")
1. Tell me a little about yourself I’m a tomboy nerd technical writer who likes roleplaying games, fiction writing, motorcycles, cats, and industrial music. 1. How do you typically address mail to a married couple? John and Jane (or Jane and John, depending on who I know better) Doe if they have the same last name. If they don’t, John Doe and Jane Smith-Doe or John Doe and Jane Smith (or again the reverse if I know her better). I would never address anything to “Mr. and Mrs. John Doe”…and in fact I refuse to open mail addressed to us in that way–I make the spouse open it since, after all, _his_ name is on it. 1. How do you put your return address on mail? When I write it, first initial and last name. Usually we use stickers which have: My name (hyphenated) Spouse’s name Address 1. Age, gender, marital status? 39, female, married, no kids (three cats) ---
**Author:** ![TwoTrouts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@TwoTrouts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoTrouts)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/103 "2004-07-09T20:28:04Z")
Okay, I’ll bite. 1. Live and work in Montgomery County, Maryland. I am a Purchasing Manager. I have a bachelors degree in Biology, Masters in Business. I fly-fish, read alot, ride herd on three teenage step-daughters, one very old cat left from my past. 2. Mr & Mrs Last Name OR The LastNames 3. The LastNames 4. 49, Male, married ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/104 "2004-07-09T20:29:42Z")
1.)Likes reading, animals, outdoorsy stuff. Ultra-liberal. Kinda weird & geeky. 2.) If they share the same last name, then probably “Jane & John Smith”; if they don’t, then “Jane Smith & John Doe.” 3.) I have labels I run off on the printer that just say my last name & address, then I slap 'em on the envelope. 4.) 27-year-old single gay female. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/105 "2004-07-18T01:29:31Z")
Still no theory??? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/106 "2004-07-18T03:12:45Z")
1. Tell me a little about yourself fiction writer/professor, dad of 2 daughters, not very social (except online, where I love to engage people in discussion), hoarder of thousands of videotapes, think seriously about baseball every day. 1. How do you typically address mail to a married couple? first name, last name/ first name, last name (no conscious order) 2. How do you put your return address on mail? Slap a sticker on, or else scrawl my last name 1. Age, gender, marital status? 51, M, divorced (and loving it) I don’t care if we never hear your theory. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/107 "2004-07-18T03:53:52Z")
1. Retired accountant. Own a Harley and put a lot of miles on it. Used to do a LOT of backpacking but seem to have gotten away from that. Lions club member. Vietnam vet - Marine Corps - 2 purple hearts. MBA. Trying to get a fiction book published. 2. If it’s someone I don’t know it’s Mr. & Mrs. If I do know them It’s Bob & Sally Jones. 3. I always use one of those prepared address thingies people send you hoping you’ll send them money. 4. 57, male, married 36 years. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/108 "2004-07-18T04:48:49Z")
1. A happy worker. I would die for any one of my three sons but I loathe the role of mommy. That’s why I’m such a happy worker. Book addict (mostly mystery-detctive fiction). 2. Mr. and Mrs. John Doe - But it’s a family tradition and I’m definitely changing it now that I’ve read this thread. I rarely send mail. 3. Last name and address. Sometimes first initial too. 4, 53, married, female ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/109 "2004-07-18T17:07:57Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > I’ve got a little theory I want to test, so I’m starting a poll of sorts. Since I don’t want to risk skewing the results, I’m not telling you what the theory is just yet. It’s been long enough. Why don’t you go ahead and tell us about your theory? ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/110 "2004-07-18T17:43:46Z")
1. I’m a stay at home mom of two kids & college student. I’m atheist, liberal, tattooed and don’t dive an SUV or a minivan. 2. People of my generation, Sue & John Smith. People of my parents or grandparents generation, Mr & Mrs John Smith. 3. Lastname Street Address City, State Zip Or I use the free return address labels various people keep sending me. 1. 29, female, married ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/111 "2004-07-18T17:53:26Z")
1.) Shy computer programmer, loves books, divorced, 15-year-old son 2.) First name (man) and First name (woman) + Last Name 3.) With a rubber stamp “The (Last Name)s” + address 4.) 48, female, divorced ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/112 "2004-07-18T18:12:56Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > I’ve got a little theory I want to test, so I’m starting a poll of sorts. Since I don’t want to risk skewing the results, I’m not telling you what the theory is just yet. > > 1.) Tell me a little about yourself. > > 2.) How do you typically address mail to a married couple? > > 3.) How do you put your return address on mail? > > 4.) What are your age, gender, and marital status? 1. I am bookish and neurotic. I really, really like dead white men. I was raised in a Conservative non-observant family, but my tastes are far more high-falutin’ than theirs. I like museums, performing arts, and Masterpiece Theatre. I am a graduate student with wide-flung interests in literature, linguistics, cultural studies, and neurobiology. I am also hung-up on “the right way of doing things.” 2. Mr. and Mrs. Hisfirstname Theirlastname, unless there is a complication such as different titles (Drs. Hisfirstname and Herfirstname Theirlastname. I don’t know what I’d do if she’d kept her name. Probably look it up in The Crane Blue Book of Stationery.) I respect the titles people want–my father has a Ph.D. but wants to be “Mr.” not “Dr.” 3. For business correspondence I have return address labels with Myfirstname Mylastname. For personal correspondence, I just write my address on the back of the envelope. When I worked in a stationery store, I got the idea from The Crane Blue Book of Stationery that this is what one does if one doesn’t have the address _printed_ on the backs of the envelopes. 4. 24 year old female, never married. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/113 "2004-07-21T18:35:34Z")
This thread ain’t dying until we know the theory. Keep nagging, **Czarcasm**. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/114 "2004-07-21T19:33:37Z")
1. I’m an underachieving office assistant with dreams of fame and fortune but without the ambition or talent to make it happen. 🙂 I enjoy books, music, movies, and conversation, as well as a good cup of coffee. 2. Usually, when addressing something to a couple, I’ll sack the “Mr. and Mrs.” or whatever and just use first names, i.e. “John and Jane Doe”. None of my married acquaintances has decided to keep their maiden names or hyphenate, but under those circumstances, I would probably go with “John Doe and Jane Smith (Or Smith-Doe)”. Hell, if she was that adamant about keeping her name, I might even make a point of putting her first. I rarely have to address anything in a formal style, so I don’t know how I would cover that. I even address stuff to my parents by both their first names. 3. My return address is usually first initial last name, address, etc. I rarely put my whole name up there. Definitely not on bills, hardly ever on personal correspondence. I got some return address labels along with my Scooby Doo checks, but they’ve lamentably all been used up. 4. I’m 28, female, and woefully and irredeemably single. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/115 "2004-07-21T19:49:17Z")
\*\*1.) Tell me a little about yourself. \*\* I have a degree in graphic art and am currently a freelance copyeditor. I enjoy reading (duh), movies, pets (dogs more than cats), music, art (duh), cooking, and just generally anything colorful and fun. **2.) How do you typically address mail to a married couple?** Depends what they call themselves. If they share a last name, I do “She and He Lastname”; if different names, I put each one’s name (no title) on a separate line, hers first. This has the advantage of working nicely for gay couples as well. **3.) How do you put your return address on mail?** I have stickers with my name, and with both of our names (mine first; different last names). Sometimes I put it in the upper left corner, sometimes on the reverse flap. **4.) What are your age, gender, and marital status?** 37, female, extremely married (14 years), no human kids. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/116 "2004-07-21T19:52:27Z")
_1.) Tell me a little about yourself._ I’m 28 years old. Recently got married, just opened my own writing business. No kids, two cats, lots of friends, very close family on my side, but not my husband’s. _2.) How do you typically address mail to a married couple?_ The way my momma taught me to: Mr. and Mrs. Husband’s first & last name or, if the wife hasn’t taken the husband’s last name, Mr. Husband’s first & last name and Mrs. Wife’s first & last name. _3.) How do you put your return address on mail?_ I’ve still got some nifty stationery left over from my wedding thank-you cards that has our return address on the back flap of the envelope. Otherwise, I usually put my full name or Mr. and Mrs. Husband’s first & last name if it’s from both of us on the top left of the front of the envelope, with the return address underneath, unless it’s a check to a billing company. Then I just put the return address up there. _4.) What are your age, gender, and marital status?_ As you probably gathered, I’m a 28 year old married female. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@shy\_kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_kat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/117 "2004-07-21T19:59:42Z")
1.) Tell me a little about yourself. Shy, poly/lesbian, bookish gamer-girl who likes animals. Ultra-liberal. 2.) How do you typically address mail to a married couple? Mr. and Mrs. Lastname if I don’t know them well. First name and First name Lastname if I do. 3.) How do you put your return address on mail? name street address city and state 4.) What are your age, gender, and marital status? 29, female, partnered/poly ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/118 "2004-07-21T20:07:06Z")
1. I’m not sure what you want to know. Suffice, it to say, I’m the fellow who talks so much. Funny meeting you here after all these drinks. 2. I haven’t had to do so yet, because if I send mail, it’s usually to just one of them and not the couple. If I had to, I’d probably address it to “Mr. and Mrs. So and So” 3. Name Street City, State, Zip 1. 22 y/o, M, Single. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/119 "2004-07-21T21:52:53Z")
Alright **CatLady** , it’s driving me bonkers! What’s the theory already? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301/120 "2004-07-21T22:12:27Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > \*if the wife hasn’t taken the husband’s last name, Mr. Husband’s first & last name and Mrs. Wife’s first & last name. Argh! Are you my annoying friend who INSISTS that I MUST be a Mrs. “because you’re married,” even though there is no Mr. Mylastname who is my husband? Even though I have repeatedly told her that I do not wish to be addressed as Mrs. Anything and prefer Ms., if a title must be used? Please rethink this. There is no logic to sticking “Mrs.” in front of a woman’s birth name. And you may well be pissing people off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-test-my-psycho-social-theory-describe-yourself/253301.md?page=7)