Familiarity Breeds Contempt

A representative from a credit card company called me the other day. He very politely asked for me by name. My first and last name was used. Once I stated he was talking to the person he called, he proceeded to discuss an overdue bill, one that I had already paid. No problem.

Suddenly, I noticed he was referring to me by my first name. Mind you, he had initially introduced himself by his first and last name. Still, he felt comfortable enough to believe we were on such good terms, that he could be familiar with me. I finished the conversation very quickly. When I hung up, I was angry. Just because I owed a bill was no reason for him to automatically call me out of my name. He did not know me at all.

Maybe I