Deep Six "You Guys" --or 86 it!

Clay Thompson is an Arizona Republic columnist who offers his humorous look at life in Arizona. The other day his column carried a letter from a lady who didn't like it when waiters or waitresses asked "How are you guys?" The same lack of professionalism and phony informality applies to broadcasters when addressing either their colleagues or their audiences.

So with a very deep bow to Mr. Thompson, here is his follow-up, with comments from readers:

Good work, you guys

So, do you remember the one the other day from a woman of a certain age who didn't like it when restaurant servers or others referred to her and her husband as "you guys?"

And I, though much younger, said I also found that objectionable, but didn't have a snappy comeback and suggested maybe some of you did.

Well, you did. You guys never fail to scintillate.

Here are a few of your ideas.

"I used to take my elderly mother to lunch every week at very nice restaurants. Often the server would say, ‘Are you guys ready to order?' And I'd make a big show of swiveling my head around, as though the server was addressing someone behind me, then I would ‘Oh, are you talking to us? We're ladies, not guys.' ‘'

"When my wife was recently in this situation, the waitress called us ‘you guys,' and my wife looked down her shirt at her boobs, and said as politely as you please, ‘Nope. Sorry. Last I checked I do not have a *****.' The waitress dropped her pad and pen, picked it up and scurried away like she saw something under our table that scared her.·

"I have been known to respond, ‘Excuse me, my wife is a lady, not a guy.' "
"Sorry, I'm no longer a guy. I had a sex change operation last year."

"We were in a restaurant with a group of people when the waiter came to our table and asked, ‘How are all you guys today?' The man sitting closest to the waiter answered, ‘We guys are great and I am sure the ladies are doing fine, too.' Unfortunately, the waiter did not get the message and referred to us ‘you guys' the rest of the evening. His tip reflected this."

"I am not a guy. I tell waiters that I am not a guy and that flusters them. … I think the expression just shows laziness and is unprofessional in any business. Using the terms, 'Ladies and gentlemen,' or ‘Welcome, my name is so-and-so. What may I serve you?' works."

Good ones, you guys.