So I grew up in California, even in the 1970s the pastor at our church said "Call me Roger" to my friends and me. My father's one look, being a Korean man, made it obvious that would never happen. To this day, I call my parents' friends "Mr. XYZ" or "Mrs. XYZ." /1

The point? I understand how loose social mores have become. But I don't like it! Especially in a professional context. When I started out as a young professor, I had some students call me by my first name. I was so surprised! And appalled! This, at an Ivy League school! /2

So I figured out a strategy. Second week of class (never the first), I say very calmly, "Here is how you call me: Professor Kang, or Dr. Kang" And, for emails, you are not texting your friend. I know you view email as basically talking; but I am old; I view emails as a written /3

letter. Like, written written. So, I expect: a subject heading (e.g. "Regarding the midterm") a salutation (e.g. "Dear Professor Kang"), a main body, and then finally, a signature (e.g., "I remain, your humble servant, Sebastian"). This usually gets a laugh. But it also gets /4

the point across: we are no friends. This is business. And, I tell them -- "Some of you may know how to write a professional email, and some of you may know how to act in a professional setting. But if you don't know, I am teaching you now how to behave. Take this class /5

seriously as a step in your professional development. I'm not your buddy, and although I may seem pretty relaxed and make a lot of jokes, don't get me wrong: I will treat you with the same respect that I expect you to treat me." You know what? 99% -- literally 99% of students /6

will behave the way I tell them to. But, it is true I have to teach them how to behave. But -- that's on me: 50% is my responsibility, to teach them how I want them to act. Then, 50% is on them to do so. But it's my job first. Just my two cents. /end.