PP> If possible, I'll phone the company and find out if "Chris" is male or
 PP> female... otherwise, if there are several people to address, I just
 PP> write, "Dear people".  Calling to find out gender has also prevented
 PP> me from sending a letter to someone who doesn't work there any more!
that works sometimes.  Often it would cost me too much in long distance calls 
to phone evry client and ask that question.  As it is I spend upwards of $300 
a month in 45c stamps, so imagine what it would cost to phone all of them as 
well (never mind that I'd have to hire someone just to make "Is B. Estevez a 
man or a woman?  Is she married?  What does the B stand for?" phone calls.  
My applications clearly state "first name" "family name" with boxes to tick 
for "Mr" "Mrs" "Miss" "Ms" but 90% of them come back without those clues, so 
the correspondence goes out gender neutral.
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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