Surnames

[Melody]

Amy wrote:
>Likewise walking out farther still onto a very thin limb, boys and
>men *in general* have less intimate friendships.  Women and girls
>call each other by their first names because it brings them closer;
>men and boys call each other by their last names because it keeps
>them more distant.


Actually there is another reason I just thought of.  For men to refer
to a guy by his last name implies that he is the only one to have that
name.  So if he had a brother, that first guy would be Y and the
brother would be another name.  Kind of like the etiquette in Jane
Austin.  The birth order bestows the family name on the oldest.  They
alone have the distinction of being "The Y".  Of course, birth order
does not necessary work this day and age, so the placing of the title
last name could mean you are thought to be "The Y".

I hope that made sense.  :)

Melody