[dom0]

> Really? I've been assuming that addressing people by first name--even people you've just met--is now the default, at least for the United States and Canada.

Nope.

> I know that it used to be rude to address someone by their first name unless you knew them well.

Correct.

> But I thought that the etiquette has changed completely: First name is fine and last name sounds rather formal. Do others have a different experience?

Outside of school/university it's simply presumptuous. Don't do it.

[Frondo]

Perhaps it's regional. These countries are both huge, with a wide variety of social norms represented. Out here on the left coast, first names seem to be the norm, as the GP poster surmises.

I can't actually remember ever being in a business meeting/academic setting, where Mr. or Ms. was used, at any point. In movies, sure, but it really does seem quaint.

[dragonwriter]

> Out here on the left coast, first names seem to be the norm, as the GP poster surmises.

No, it's not. Preferred personal informal names are the norm for anyone you've been introduced to (and are normally part of that introduction); those may be legal personal ("first" in the usual English order) names, but often are legal middle names, derivative forms of either first or middle names, or names distinct from any legal name.

[Frondo]

I'm really quite reluctant to deny my life experiences up til now on your word, telling me they've been wrong experiences. I'd guess we've just seen different things out in the world.

[dragonwriter]

I don't think we are, since the region you claim the behavior generalizes too is the one I am also most familiar with. I think you are simply making the mistake of confusing "a person's preferred appellation, which is sometimes their legal first name but very often something either subtly [as in shortened form] or radically different from.the first name" with simply "first name".