Oh, and stop calling him ‘Simon’. He’s not your child’s classmate or your daughter’s boyfriend.
Every comment I receive about the Opposition leader refers to him as ‘Simon’. I determinedly delete each ‘Simon’ and replace it with ‘Busuttil’ or just add on the surname, and still the ‘Simons’ keep pouring in.
I can’t stand it. What is this country? Read my lips: he is not your daughter’s boyfriend. He does not live next door (and even if he does, you would only address him as Simon directly and not speak about him as Simon to strangers). He does not do your laundry. He is not your child’s classmate. He is not your brother or your son or your cousin.
He is the leader of the Opposition. His name is Simon Busuttil in the first instance and in every instance thereafter, Busuttil.
You complain that he is not taken seriously, and then you call him ‘Simon’.
Is the prime minister Joseph? No. He’s most definitely Muscat. The only people who still call him Joseph are the uneducated rabble who rush about shouting at his public meetings. But they would, wouldn’t they.
Quit this Simon business. He’s Busuttil. And if you don’t understand the significant difference in subtext between the two, you probably shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
Gonzi was Gonzi, not ‘Lawrence’. Sant was Sant, not ‘Alfred’. Fenech Adami was marketed as ‘Eddie’, but those were vastly different times and circumstances, and no properly brought up person ever called him that by the end of it unless they actually did know him personally.
Calling a grown man and a senior politician – the Opposition leader, no less – by his first name is patronising and belittling. This is Malta, yes, where bad manners are now a pandemic. But if you want the man to be respected, first try showing a bit of respect yourselves, and stop it with the ‘Simon’.
Repeat after me, for practice: Busuttil. Busuttil. Busuttil. Simon BUSUTTIL.
Do the French call their president Francois? Do the British call their prime minister David and their Opposition leader Ed? Do the Italians chat on about Matteo or do they speak about Renzi? Do the Germans discuss Angela as though she has just cooked them a nice supper?
Well, then.
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Thank you. I have been fuming about this for a little while.
People here are lazy talkers. It’s easier to say Gonzi than Lawrence, Sant than Alfred, Eddie than Fenech Adami.
Back then, the PN capitalised on that by projecting Eddie, the guy next door, the person one could count on, in preference to the complicated surname. And it worked.
‘Simon’ might be going through the same process. Easier to use the name than the surname.
With Joseph Muscat, the name and surname need much the same effort to pronounce. The surname being that bit easier for Semitic tongues to get round, than Joseph. Had he been called Peppi few would refer to him as Muscat.
Daphne, really, you have ran out of ideas for your blog. As much as I admire you for your articles, but really you could have done without all this fuss about nothing.
[Daphne – Only somebody poorly raised (and with no knowledge of the psychology of communication/language) would say that.]
Dear Massimo Borg, I would not suggest you become an image consultant any time soon. Anything related to marketing might be outside your grasp and you will probably struggle with strategic planning.
Are you one of those people who think that calling people Challie or Joey is endearing? As for common courtesy, where does one begin?
Pray, where is the spot where I can bang my head?
Thank you! This is called basic manners and respect which are very much flying out of the window unfortunately.
I’m not questioning your knowledge on the subject, but is it more important then giving us your opinion on weather Dr Busuttil should resign or not ?? That is a real issue at the moment not calling him Simon or Busuttil or Xmun ic cirinew or whatever.
[Daphne – Do you have any idea what patience it takes to run this blog? The only people who can possibly have any idea are the politicians who knock on doors to be faced with unquantifiable idiocy in people’s kitchens. I spent eight hours from evening right into the night, last night, giving you my opinion on WHETHER Simon Busuttil should resign or not. I woke up at 7am to carry on for another couple of hours before going to work. I came back in at 6pm to take up where I left off; it’s 10.30pm and I’m still at it. Then some fool pops in here for the first time, reads the first thing at the top of the page, and demands to know why I haven’t told him whether I think Busuttil should resign or not. At this point, I feel like switching off and watching trash TV.]
Correct me if I’m wrong, and I’m always waiting for your updates, but I have not seen any of your opinion on weather Dr Busuttil should resign or keep going. And I’m being very polite in my opinions…try not to be sarcastic all the time
[Daphne – I have the patience of Job, Mr Borg. The only possible tone in circumstances where I have spent long hours writing something repeatedly, only to be asked 48 hours later why I have not written it, is sarcasm. To quote Labour billboard girl Ramona Frendo, dejjem ahjar minn daqqa ta’ ponn. I strongly suggest you go through the comments board beneath each of my latest posts.]
Very simple….may I ask you a favour to copy the link where you expressed your opinion on this topic, as I can’t find any. And sorry if I’m not of the same IQ as you are.
[Daphne – Then you are in the wrong website. And no apologies for the sarcasm.]
Mr. Borg, first of all, “weather” refers to the climate: is it sunny, rainy etc. The word you should have used is “whether.”
I don’t know why you are having such a hard time finding Mrs. Caruana Galizia’s opinion on “whether Dr. Busuttil should resign or keep going” but I am going to help you out and point you in the right direction.
Try looking under “Yet another good comment” and find Mrs. Caruana Galizia’s replies to Peter Mallia and freedom5.
Mr. Borg ma naghmlux mod li inti wiehed mill ftit Laburisti li hlief titfa kummenti kontra Dr. Busuttil fuq inewsmalta.com hux?
Tidhol hawn biex taghmilha tal-pulit imma l-kummenti li titfaw huma tant mahmuga u insulenti li Daphne lanqas jixirqilha li twieghbek.
Le u le, Dr. Busuttil mhux ser jirrezenja. U f’wicckom ser jibqa.
Ghamiltu minn kollox din il-gimgha biex jitlaq imma ghall xejn.
Issa hudu pacenzja u ghoqodu attenti x’taghmlu fi Brussells ghax ser ikun hemm tlett zwiemel Nazzjonalisti fuqkom.
Massimo Borg, why should you bother that much whether Dr Simon Busuttil should resign or not?
Just tell us why he should. Tell us please. Enlighten us.
Finally, I do not expect that you are one of his supporters.
Because with all of Muscat’s arrogance this past year, he was not capable of making the smallest of inroads on Labour’s big majority.
Because he was also deputy leader in the last general election. Because he himself admitted that there was no progress in these past 10 months. He was just happy that the party has not gone backwards.
Busuttil is a party leader not a supermarket manager.
Mr Massimo Borg, will it help the Malta Labour Party if he does?
I also take it from your non committal, that you are not one of his supporters.
Il-laqam li Mr. Borg ta lil Dr. Busuttil iktar il-fuq jindikali li dan huwa wiehed minn ftit veru ftit Laburisti li jikkumentaw fuq portal tal-Labour.
Minn kollox qed jaghmlu biex iwaqqaw lil Busuttil ghax jafu li Muscat ma joqghodx hdejn l-icken sebgha tieghu.
B’din it-telfa ta’ siggu issa nistennew iktar bumbardamenti fuq Dr. Busuttil ghax hekk gew ordnati. Imma l-energija posittiva qeda fuq in-naha tieghu u ser issib lill-partitarji Nazzjonalisti warajh ghal kollox.
Daphne
You must have realized by now that the mob and the idiot parrots have been unleashed to mock you, harass you and make you lose your temper. They are mere parrots, no better.
Do not publish their comments and divert them to The Times and Malta Today where they belong. Those are the two newspapers that have the quality and low level of discussion that these people can decipher or digest.
[Daphne – I haven’t lost my temper at any point. I am miraculously calm, though sporadically irritated.]
You sound a little bit like Elliot Rodger.
I hope you won’t go around ‘purging’ society to accommodate your narcissistic fantasies.
P.S : Don’t believe me? Read for yourself :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/225960813/Elliot-Rodger-Santa-Barbara-mass-shooting-suspect-My-Twisted-World-manifesto
Borg take note , it’s not WEATHER but WHETHER , you might just be out of your depth here.
Besides, Mr Massimo Borg, remember that “it’s an ill wind that blows no good”.
Sorry Rosie for being so inferior then you and I made a mistake in WHETHER.
U ftakar haga wahda Rosie…..li mhux il gradwati biss intitolati ghal opinjoni. Nies bhalek jibqu jaghmlu hsara kbira il Partit Nazzjonalista li tant huwa ghal qalbi. Fil jum tal votazzjoni kullhadd jivvota anki min jikteb l ingliz zbaljat.
Imma l-policies halluhom f’idejn min jaf jikteb Ingliz korrett. Possibilment anke l-kummenti.
Borg – it’s THAN you, not THEN you.
L-istatuti u ir regoli tal Partit Nazzjonalista jinkitbu bil Malti HP BAXTER. Jew ma tafx li hemm kelma ohra ghal policies bil Malti ??? Fil kaz ma hemmx post ghal min ma jafx il lingwa Maltija
Though I totally agree with all this, you are wrong when it comes to the Italians, I heard them calling him and his predecessors everything under the sun…
I prefer to call the leader of the opposition as Dr Simon Busuttil.
However, it is only the name of “Simon” that really belongs to the individual as “Busuttil” is not his own but it is the family name.
[Daphne – That’s a very strange view of names.]
That ‘DoKtor’ thing is so banana republic. I think we’re the only country in Europe that does it.
[Daphne – Oh golly, more common ground, Kevin, though I suppose it’s only a matter of minutes before you come back with a theory about who destroyed the Twin Towers.]
It takes only a few hours to review the available evidence. Anyone sensible enough not to trust the worldview that’s been thrust on him can see what happened. And if you dig deep enough you’ll be able to realise how they are able to do these atrocities again and again without intelligent people realising it.
If you think I am mad, I am. But solely for spending so many hours of my life in the quest of the truth. As I often say, I know exactly how you all see it. But then there are so many facts you are unaware of.
Just explain to me – rationally – how the THIRD tower fell demolition-style that day without being hit by any plane, keeping in mind that to demolish such a building takes well over a month of preparation. Go ahead – search Youtube third tower. Listen to Silverstein, the leaseholder, say they “decided to pull it”. I mention the third tower because it is the easiest point of departure. the evidence is abundance elsewhere too. I happen to know what reliable evidence is, what forged documents look like, how dots can connect or mislead. I also happen to have a good idea of institutional behaviourisms, especially in the police and intelligence fields.
So before you make a fool of yourself, do your research. Go to the architects’ and engineers’ 9/11 site and read what the thousands of petitioning professionals are saying. Or just carry on ridiculing ‘conspiracy theorists’ and do what you do best.
Right on cue…
Allow me, Kev.
If these are your engineers and architects for truth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVCDpL4Ax7I
So this guy measures a building using ‘physics toolkit’ software and at 1.17 admits he doesn’t even have the blueprints.
Let’s change perspective shall we? The one below illustrates the real state tower 7 was in, looking at it from the plaza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbPpK-oWdYc
No conspiracy video will ever show you those pics, just the notorious ‘intact’ Tower 7 going into freefall. Edited to make it last 2.25 seconds.
This one is based on the conclusions of the report, basically the same, except for the source of fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PpsCCTMP8w
Two for the effort, Jozef. A good start, but you’ve got a long way to go since you’ll need to use your brain. Steel structures don’t disintegrate into thin air with ‘kinetic energy’, Jozef, and skyscrapers don’t collapse in their own footprint unless the base and centre structures are exploded into dust. Not with planes and not with fire. If they have to collapse, they first topple over and lean towards the weakest structural points.
As I said, get the right information and use your brain. The evidence is abundant. Then you can discover all the other false flag operations perpetrated by the global network of intelligence forces that operate outside the parameters of governments and the rule of law.
It’s a matter of custom and convention. I was brought up to never refer to persons by their first name but Mr. or Mrs. So-and-so. Perhaps I’m less sociable than the average Maltese? Maybe.
Our present polite usage is modelled on the British system. In Italy, it is considered perfectly acceptable to address people, including public persons, simply by their surname without signor or signora and it is done on TV all the time. There are other usages.
[Daphne – It’s got absolutely nothing to do with ‘Britain’ or ‘Italy’. It’s about context. When addressing somebody directly, you don’t use their surname in isolation unless they’re a crook or a servant. But when discussing them (men, not women) with others, you do. And the only proper context for use of a Christian name is when discussing friends and family with friends and family, or work colleagues with work colleagues, or when speaking to any of those directly.]
In Russia, for instance, there is no equivalent to Mr. so-and-so. People are addressed by their first name followed by their patronym. This includes letters: there is no Dear John or Dear Mr. Smith – you just write down their name and their patronym e.g. Sergei Viktorovich (Sergei son of Viktor) or Irina Vladimirovna (Irina daughter of Vladimir). The communist era “tovarich” — comrade — has, of course, fallen in desuetude. If one is writing informally, one can start off by using “Hi Katya” – Privet Katya.
[Daphne – Who cares about Russia. It’s not European culture. You might as well tell me what happens in China or Algeria.]
Tovarishch is now ‘gospodin’, galateo. But do tell us about Katya. Is she a good Russian teacher?
With all your Russian knowledge, galateo, you should know that name+patronymic IS the equivalent of “Mr Busuttil”. Calling him “Simon” would be like calling Putin “Volodya”.
In Italy, I call the domestic help “signora” . You know nothing about Italian usage of address.
[Daphne – Good manners and correct forms of address are the same in most European countries, A. Charles. You call the domestic help ‘signora’ because you probably only use her once a week if that. If she were there in your kitchen and bathroom every day for years, the correct form would be for you to use her first name (nowadays) and for her to call you ‘signore’.]
But we can call him ‘simple Simon’ if we mean to be mean, which is not allowed on this blog, even if ‘Joseph’ is the correct form.
Kev minn jghajatlu “Simple Simon”? Intom il-laburist tghajtulu hekk ghax tridu tumiljawh. Imma ma nistenniex ahjar minnkom, ghax l-injoranza u l-maledukazzjoni li ghandkom hija tant kbira li huwa impossibbli li xi darba titghallmu.
I’m with Baxxter on conscientiously objecting to referring to the smug ginger freak and the wigged wonder with any form of reverence.
Let’s try a simpler way to help those who do not see the point of this post.
Do you call your daughter’s teacher by her first name (eg: Maria), her first name preceded by Ms (eg: Ms Maria – if she is in junior school) or by her surname preceded by Ms (eg Ms Tabone)? Probably one of the latter two.
Shall we try with the family doctor? I bet none of us calls him by his first name unless he is a relative, do we? It’s always Doctor or Dr Borg isn’t it?
I remember in 1988 at a wedding, when Censu Tabone happened to be invited, and one of the guests approached Dr Tabone and addressed him “Ara Censu”.
The problem comes from television. We see politicians addressing us and take it for granted that they are actually speaking to us face to face.
We establish a relationship in a way that makes us believe that we know one another, when in actual fact we fail to understand that they don’t know us at all.
The leader of the Opposition should always be addressed with full respect and should never be called by his first name. Thank you for bringing this up.
I’m not surprised. Most people from St. Julian’s referred to Censu Tabone as ‘Censu’ as did those who took to Marsalforn in summer.
In truth many people from St. Julian’s knew Censu personally or knew one or more of his many children and Dr Tabone knew most in return. He was after all an extremely popular eye specialist.
His house was practically a club where most would congregate particularly during election time. His wife Maria was always around and was also referred to by her Christian name.
That’s the way it was and I really don’t think Censu would have wanted it any different.
I agree entirely with what you say, Daphne – BUSUTTIL or maybe DR. BUSUTTIL would be more appropriate.
Thank you.
can you send me your email address please?
[Daphne – dcgalizia@gmail.com]
Just to spare some of the frustration, a mail to link with your email address somewhere on the blog would help.
[Daphne – No thanks. As it is, those who really want it can ask for it. And those who just need to tell me something can say it here. I’m the only person who sees these comments before upload.]
I have been reading your blog for some time now and find it most interesting. Like many here I do believe that we have come to the point were we do not see some things for what they are, namely this election was not so much about policy but about a few idiots who felt wronged for whatever reason and continue to display their disapproval by not voting or indeed voting for Labour or the fringe parties.
What a shame that the rest of us who have a brain and a some memory of the past do not realise that it is repeating itself.
It’s these idiots who will be the first to cry at what has become of our democracy and basic rights. What a shame.
So you are fuming because so many, including nationalist supporters, call Dr. Busuttil “Simon”. Surely you know that the most loved PN leader by nationalists was “Eddie”. Did you ever fume so much about Dr. Fenech Adami being called “Eddie” ?
[Daphne – Fuming is hardly the right word, Mr Privitera. I reserve fuming for far more serious matters. But if you wish to know whether I considered the use of ‘Eddie’ inappropriate, yes, I did – and wrote about it too. Issa sar il-‘most loved leader’, Eddie Fenech Adami? Niftakrek tghajjru ‘vavu tal-harqa’.]
WELL SAID DAPHNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ara il-Privitera! Look, Daphne – the Labour rabble are gradually popping back in with their comments, encouraged by their most recent electoral victory.
Eddy, your party’s success at the polls is not to your own credit, and it neither makes you superior nor more intelligent than you ever were before. Your arguments were and still are puerile and childish, they never stand up to analysis or criticism.
Your ignorant dismissal of the PN as all but dead and buried, having not a snowball’s chance in Hell of being elected in 2018, can only be borne of your own long-suffering experience of being forced to support the opposition party for 26-odd years, less of course that disastrous 20 or so months that was the Sant debacle, which your lot seem to have Tippexed out of the MLP history books.
Stick around though, Eddy, we always enjoy seeing you spit-roasted on the pages of this Notebook.
@ Eddy Privitera, you never cease to amuse us. You could not stand Dr Eddie Fenech Adami in such a way, that you refused to write your name as Eddie, but you prefer Eddy to disassociate yourself from the man you loathe so much.
“Idiots” are those who remain in denial after this second historic defeat of the PN. May you and your ilk keep your heads embedded in the sand. And may Daphne and Andrew Borg Cardona carry on their anti-PL diatribes. This is a sure recipe for a bigger PL victory in 2018 !
[Daphne – Pop a Prozac, Mr Privitera. Ever since I’ve been old enough to read Times of Malta, which is around 40 years, you have been right in there with your letters to the editor defending Mintoff and KMB and Sant and now Muscat. It’s the only reason anybody knows your name. You did it right through Labour’s electoral defeats in 1981, 1987, 1998, 2003, 2008 and the referendum on Europe. Issa ghandek b’xiex tifrah, miskin, fl-ahhar.]
U lanqas ‘sticker’ fl-official Malta Taghna Lkoll sticker album ma tawh, miskin.
Eddy niddubita tkunx hawn fis-sena 2018.
Ahjar ma tghajd xejn ghax jigrilek kif gralek bit-3 siggu.
Fl-ewwel sena fl-opposizzjoni Dr. Busuttil irnexxilu johdilkom siggu mill parlament go Brussells.
Fiha x’toghmod, Eddy.
Yep, not only is he a “top commenter” on Times of Malta’s comments board, but his comment count also exceeded the upper limit (some 10k) and the counter was reset. Possibli ma sabulux xi part-time job?
Sur Privitera , suppost int ma mortx tivvota, ghax ghadni niftakar lilek u lill dik il balala Sharon Ellul Bonici twerzqu kemm tifilhu li ser tqattghu il vot taghkom. Possibbli tinsa li ilek taqa ghan nejk mill 1981? Possibbli tinsa li min joghla hafna sabta kbira jiehu?
Wow!
Daphne, although as I said I agree with all this, on the other hand you can’t expect any better from a country where politicians come knocking at your door, send you birthday cards and call you to check if you voted or not.
Just after the elections, David Agius made a half hour speech on Net TV emphasising that the PN need to walk more into people’s kitchens.
If David Agius walked into my kitchen I’d sit him down and give him a lecture on 21st century politics and on wiping one’s schoolboy grin off one’s face when one grows up. Which he wouldn’t understand.
I still refer to Frank Sinatra as Frank, and Eddie is simply “Mass Meeting” from the golden early 1980s posters to go and hear him speak.
The only people who still call him Joseph are the uneducated rabble – so what do you call those who write Gowzef to make fun of his name?
I’m in a bit of a quandary after reading this post. Last time I met him during the campaign I did address him properly as Dr. Busuttil, but he insisted on me calling him ‘Simon’.
[Daphne – Yes. Because. You. Were. Face. To. Face. Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’ll explain again. When you are in direct conversation with people, you call them by their first names (if they are already familiar to you or if they have given you permission to do so). When discussing them with others who are not their friends and family or work colleagues, however, you use the surname. This website is one such example. I know Simon Busuttil. In fact, I know quite a few politicians. Do you ever see me refer to them by their first name? No. I do not write posts about ‘Simon’. I do not discuss ‘Mario’. I do not make reference to ‘Beppe’. I use their surname. And I actually know them, personally.]
It is all a question of values that are being undermined by the fad of being trendy. Anyone daring to keep to a level of values that call for real respect to others is branded old-fashioned.
It’s the same thing I had mentioned in the ‘Erin Tanti’ case. His pupils call him by his name ‘Erin’ rather than ‘Mr. Tanti’ or ‘Sir’.
This is the way this younger generation is being brought up. No sense of respect whatsoever. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ll be calling the Prime Minister by a nickname someday.
Well we had Eddie and Karrmenu or KMB. What’s new?
Unfortunately, educationists in England are demanding that pupils call their teachers by their first name. That is the modern trend, being set by politically-correct value-setters. The fish starts stinking from its head, says the Maltese proverb.
Respect is not fashionable or trendy. Be it in the year 200 BC or a hundred years from today, it’s still respect.
Ok let’s call him Buzullotti