A question that's been bothering me for some while

["Ian Schoeman [NEW Steelmaking, Nc]" <Ian.Schoeman@iscor.com>]

Alan Meekings wrote:

<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".>

I think it is a matter of personal opinion.  When I refer to WED as
Deming, I do not have less respect for his teachings as when I refer to
him as Dr. Deming.  I certainly do not think of him as "Deming the
thing"  To me Deming is easier to use than any other name.  When I write
to the DEN I will never refer to Myron Tribus as simply Tribus.  So why
would I refer to Deming simply as Deming?  I don't know.  I have heard
people talk about Dr.D, Deming, W Edwards Deming.  It does not matter to
me.  It probably did matter to him though.  Why else did he prefer W.
Edwards Deming and not William E.Deming, or Bill Deming?  Jim Wade,
wrote in answer to a post by John Seddon on the ISO 9000 disacussion
list at MCB university that Deming always signed his Christmas cards
"Bill".  Dunno if that is true, maybe Myron, Jim or anyone who knew him
personally will know the answer. 

If Deming was alive today and a member of the DEN, how would we then
refer to him in our posts?

I think the crux of the matter is not how we refer to him but what he
said.  Of course that does not mean we do not have to be respectful.
This is IMHO a matter of personal opinion and perhaps culture.

Ian