That’s so interesting! I wonder how it works in Switzerland now, and if there’s a shift between franco- and germanophone areas or if they just split the difference/let Italian or romansh dictate formality.

You’re in your thirties, that’s a complete adult (as am I, even if it doesn’t always feel it). Do you think you’d be offended by someone using tu without knowing you? Or would it feel more like they’re hitting on you/trying to build rapport to sell you something?

Even for customers in their 20s? I’m in Germany and some youngish people actually get annoyed when I use the formal you with them. I would prefer they get annoyed in that direction, so I keep doing it (unless they appear to be at least a decade younger than me or I feel like I actually know them well enough to be informal- my metric is whether I’d feel comfortable making a genuine joke vs. a customer service joke with them), but it’s definitely not helping with any tips.

Now I’m just imagining that arch is pronounced unexpectedly. Please don’t correct me, I like my headcanon of “airtch.”

Is ⛓️ for people in prison?