wtf?

[adrienmundi]

Can anyone honestly explain to me why Congress now requires that constituents include their title when contacting them online? One's choices are Ms., Mrs., Mr., and Dr.

Seriously, what the fuck?

update: The original post was inspired by an Act for Change web form, wherein they stated the above (only without the cursing). Having gone to www.senate.gove, the full range of choices for the required field are:
Mr.
Mrs.
Mr. and Mrs.
Ms.
Miss
Dr.
Dr. and Mrs.
Dr. and Mr.
Rev.
Rev. and Mrs.
Rev. and Mr.
Admiral
Captain
Colonel
Commander
Corporal
Father
First Lieutenant
Lieutenant
General
The Honorable
Major
Major General
PFC
Rabbi
Sergeant
Sergeant Major

So, still, what the fuck?

Comments

[arjache.livejournal.com]

That's a _required_ field?

[adrienmundi]

According to www.senate.gov, yes, though with a somewhat expanded (but still crappy) list of choices, posted in an update.

[arjache.livejournal.com]

This seems like a maintenance headache. It'd be so much easier for their web engineers if they just had an optional text field rather than a drop-down. I wonder if they realize that it's taking them more work to do a worse job.

On the other hand, you could probably get away with "The Honorable"....

[adrienmundi]

It's often what I do, but still, I know that my definition of honor carries little or no truck with them, and has nothing to do with being a judge. Still, why the fuck do they need "honorifics" that denote either binary gender or some specifically privileged professions?

[servingdonuts.livejournal.com]

Choose Reverend. I have no doubt that you are revered.

[adrienmundi]

That's a pause-worthy bit of perspective: thanks.

[sassysmile.livejournal.com]

Major General is fun to say!

[misterrain.livejournal.com]

I dibs Commodore!

[thegoodwill.livejournal.com]

That annoys me too. I shouldn't be required. I guess it is used so when you get the form letter it generates later, it addresses you 'properly'. Whatever.

It is sad that I think seeing ones like "Dr. and Mr." is actually progress.

[gedanken23.livejournal.com]

Do you not like the idea of titles or are your desired chopices missing?

[adrienmundi]

I don't like the idea of mandatory titles, and based on my initial post, I fucking hate that these mandatory titles are primarily based on binary gender (later modified to binary gender or privileged professions). Why does any of this matter?

[gedanken23.livejournal.com]

"Why does any of this matter?" works in two directions ;-)

Yeah I assumed you hated them, but was a bit surprised by the post that listed off a lot more. It made me think for a moment that there might be acceptable titles if properly done, which intrigued me.

I would prefer suffix. "Matt The Destroyer of Worlds"

[adrienmundi]

Personally, I view it as yet another in a nigh-endless attempt to order me to fit other people's realities, such that unless I "play ball", I am disregarded as a constituent to my supposedly elected representative.