"Du" or "Sie"? Poll — please click here and participate

Dear users and authors,
which form of address do you prefer on the forum and on the portal in general?

Please join the poll here.

I think using “du” is fine among us authors, but in customer communication I’m someone who doesn’t use “du” and instead prefers the more formal—and, in this context, I think more polite—“Sie” (even if the other person addresses me informally ...). I have a business relationship with customers, so to me a polite “distance” simply goes without saying.

Best regards, Nina

For me, it really depends on the situation. I have a pretty good sense of who I can address informally online and who would prefer to be addressed formally.

In real life, I also place a lot of importance on using the correct form of address.
Although it’s actually quite complicated here. I just got back from New Zealand, where—as in all English-speaking countries—there’s no “du” or “Sie,” just the single “you.” That makes things a lot easier. But it would be pretty hard to imagine addressing absolutely everyone as “du” here. ;-)

To be honest, I prefer “Du.”
That’s probably because I lived in Vorarlberg for almost 19 years, and there it’s customary to use “Du.” Even though older people are addressed with “Du” followed by their last name.

Of course, it always depends on who you’re talking to.

I agree with ZwergnaseBaer/Nina. However, if a customer addresses me informally from the start, I’ll use “du” as well.

Best regards, Petra

I’m in favor of using the formal form of address, including in patterns.

In patterns, I generally avoid forms of address altogether. I prefer “we” or “one” there.

I address my customers informally! It simply makes things more personal, and customers are more likely to ask something or just thank me for the friendly contact! However, if someone addresses me formally (which happens about three times a year), then I do the same.

Even though the question was what people would prefer on the portal and in the forum,
I’m like crochetwithlove and use “du” with my customers. If someone addresses me with “Sie,” I use “Sie” back.

Here in the forum and on the portal, I also use “du,” and I don’t really care either way.

In real life, I liiiiiiove being on “Sie” terms until you really know each other well, and I HATE this modern habit of using “du” with bosses.

Best regards, Marion

I think “DU” is perfectly fine. Although—you might say “you stupid cow” more quickly with “du” than with “Sie”........

I prefer “du.” If a buyer addresses me as “Sie”—which is rather rare—I naturally go along with it.
In my patterns, I use “du”; I find it more personal for the knitter following my pattern.

I came across this site by chance and have already found some lovely things and made some of them myself. I really like “du” because it made me feel welcome right away as a newcomer. In private life, I find “Sie” more appropriate when addressing superiors.

I address my customers informally online and haven’t had any negative experiences so far; if anything, I’ve found that customers feel more personally looked after as a result. I also write my patterns using the informal form of address, which I personally find much more pleasant than the formal one.
In direct email correspondence, I address customers formally, as well as when customers pick up goods directly from my home
. It’s still possible to maintain a pleasant tone even when using the informal form of address.

However, the question was about the forum and the portal: I prefer the informal form of address.<\/strong>