A question that's been bothering me for some while

[Alan Meekings <alan@meekings.demon.co.uk>]

I wonder if anyone can help me with a question that's been bothering me
for some while.  Why does everyone seem to talk about Deming "the
surname" and never Ed Deming (or Edwards Deming or even W Edwards
Deming) "the person"?

Today, I can't think of anyone I know personally whom I don't call by
their first name.

I therefore find it very hard to relate to someone - or is it some thing
- called "Deming".

Sadly, I never had the opportunity to meet the great man himself.
However, I know many of the subscribers to this network were more
fortunate than me.

I wonder, when you saw him, did you greet him with the words, "Hi there
Deming" - or, alternatively, something less formal like, "Morning Ed"?

"Why are you concerned about this?", I hear people say.  My answer is
that I find it very difficult to relate to "Deming as a thing" rather
than "Deming as a real warm human being".

Am I missing something, or are we doing "Ed Deming the person" a
disservice by turning his name into an impersonal noun?

I call myself Alan, rather than Al.  What did W Edwards Deming call
himself?  

And would it be OK for us to refer to him by his first name, even though
he passed away before many of us had the chance to meet him in person?
Regards,

Alan

Alan Meekings
+44 (0)385 258 741
alan@meekings.demon.co.uk