DEAR ABBY: Whatever happened to respect for your elders? None of my six nieces and nephews has EVER called me "Uncle Sam," nor have any of their children called me "Mr. B." When the 5-year-old called me "Sammy," a name I loathe, I nearly snapped. Am I out of line? -- SAM IN SHEFFIELD, MASS.
DEAR SAM: If "Uncle Sam" is what you prefer to be called, you should have made that clear to your siblings when the nieces and nephews were little. Children are imitative. If their parents call you and refer to you as just plain Sam, don't blame the children for doing the same. I don't know how old the kids are now, but it may be a little late for you to start complaining about this.