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I thought having your parent enumerate out your middle name(s) was the classic sign that you're in deep shit…

• rjurney 17y ago
  Not in Russia, where first/patronymic is a proper formal address. Just good manners. Very good manners under the circumstances. I think this anecdote was in his short story, 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich' if I'm not mistaken? And I think the plate lickers were the first to die.
  • nzmsv 17y ago
    Yes, but when it's a parent talking to a little kid, the formal address can mean one of two things: a) they are being funny, in the "look at you being all grown up" sort of way; b) the kid's in trouble. Funny how some things are international that way :)