As I recall… there was a famous (or infamous) incident when one high-profile politician stopped using “tu” in the middle of a previously very friendly visit… and said a very clear/loud “vous” to the other high-profile politician… and the “insult” was widely reported in the international Press…
EDIT: they had been happily tutuying each other until the temperature or something changed…
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I worked with very senior Germans who’d been working with each other for 25 years and saw each other socially, with families etc.
In the office it was always “Sie” (Vous).
Some colleagues did agree to “Tu” each other, then kept forgetting or lapsed 
.
@Stella Agree, switching from tu to vous can be incredibly insulting. Unfortunately I have had to use it, which is a shame
but were you deliberately using Vous as an insult ? surely not… 
Politicians play all sorts of silly games… ordinary people just do their best to get along
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With one exception, that hasn’t been our experience. Maybe it depends on where you live?
And who you mix with, and relative ages, etc?. We always used first names with our next door neighbour Collette, but at 97 it would have been very rude of me to use tu.
It can be very useful to indicate to someone they should back off.
Goodness no! People can be on first name but vous terms for 40odd years, or forever.
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I think “ye” is “vous” Still used in Cork as in “are ye going to the match?”
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Wow! So it’s not what we’re used to from Germany with Sie and du.
I’m with you on all points. Having learned French as a child, and in more polite times, I only ever use “tu” for animals and small children.
I’m afraid to admit (here) that I tend to channel Maggie Smith in Downton and vousvoyer all persons as a sign of respect. I don’t mind what they use for me.
Since I smile and chat rather a lot I hope people take me as an old fashioned dinosaur rather than being offish. I would always rather err on the side of courtesy!
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quite possibly…
my query was directed to @flobil in response to his post…
Tu or Vous… I always thought it odd that they sang “vous”… now I know they were being very, very polite and respectful
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I always assumed it was a way of asking explicit permission by a foreigner, more than just asking the question.
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More than one of them? 
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ha ha…
Voulez-vous… avec moi?
Yes, thinking about it… it does sound as if one lady was expecting/hoping-for lots of “attention”
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Although maybe it’s different in the US?
My guess is that it has more to do with the rhythm/scansion of the words than strictly correct French usage. 
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I agree, would sound crap in tu form
Apart from the French among us.If we were to all meet up and speak in French, would we vouvoie ou tutoie?
All the associations, work, sports club ect I go to all tutoie. I always vous older people but they always say to use tu. So I guess as I think its only @Gareth (and Cat and James) and I in our age group I’d be starting with vous and seeing what you all propose . Edit, sorry and Vero!
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