Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Do you enjoy it when people address you as "Sir" or "Ma'am"? Or do you bristle?
I've noticed that I've been getting called "Sir" often, which wasn't true a few years ago. Are people getting more polite, or am I just looking older? It rattled me recently when a supermarket checker used "Sir" three times during a recent checkout. "Find everything OK, Sir?" "How is your day going, Sir?" "Thank you, Sir!" As if to make a point that she realizes I'm older than her. It's not because I look like a drill sergeant, or an English nobleman. It feels ageist to me although I know she was just trying to be polite, but still...
Can I get away with saying "Please don't call me Sir, it feels ageist"? Or would that just sound like a testy remark from a grumpy old man? I guess I could reply with "Yes, Madam" to a younger woman. That might get the point across if I want to be passive-aggressive.
"Sir"/"Ma'am" seem archaic in this day and age, not to mention they're not "gender-neutral" which could offend some people. But most people probably don't mind it and even like it.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect no matter what age unless they do something not to deserve it.
I agree, people can be polite and respectful to anyone regardless of age, and without having to use honorifics. I think it should be demonstrated by actions, not words.
I don't believe that when someone calls me "Sir" they actually respect me. It's just a custom.
Somebody has never had to report to a drill sergeant...
I've lived all over the east coast. The words are not "archaic" by any stretch.
Go in a courtroom and a judge gets called "Judge" or "Your Honor." Anything else can get you a reprimand. If you are stopped by a law officer and want to be treated with respect, you start out with "Sir" or "Ma'am." Those are pretty universal uses.
If you are in the south, you ALSO inquire after the health of cashiers and other workers before any other interaction. In the old Bre er Rabbit tales, failure to use the polite form of greeting was an invitation to fisticuffs. I never understood that until I moved to the south.
Somebody has never had to report to a drill sergeant...
I've lived all over the east coast. The words are not "archaic" by any stretch.
Go in a courtroom and a judge gets called "Judge" or "Your Honor." Anything else can get you a reprimand. If you are stopped by a law officer and want to be treated with respect, you start out with "Sir" or "Ma'am." Those are pretty universal uses.
If you are in the south, you ALSO inquire after the health of cashiers and other workers before any other interaction. In the old Bre er Rabbit tales, failure to use the polite form of greeting was an invitation to fisticuffs. I never understood that until I moved to the south.
Right, interactions with judges and police officers are different from regular folks.
What I've gathered from friends from the South, the friendliness and politeness are a facade. They are said to your face but not heartfelt.
I have never lived in the South. Have no plans to. I can picture people saying things like "Yessuh, Nossuh, Thankee Ma'am." Not where I've lived.
I don't think I've ever called anyone "Sir" or "Ma'am." Except when I was a child.
Before they started calling me "Sir", they didn't use any form of address. Just, "Did you find everything OK?" And most still do that. So when you live someplace where "Sir" and "Ma'am" are not common, you wonder why they start using it with you more.
Somebody has never had to report to a drill sergeant...
Clearly you haven't! Call a drill sergeant Sir or Ma'am and the response you get before you drop to give 10 will be "Who are you calling Sir? I ain't no Sir. I WORK for a living!"
Only officers get called Sir or Ma'am.
And the adults still say "Daddy", which is what they say in England. To me the whole "sir" and "ma'am" thing is a carryover from 17th-century England. Other parts of the US are less formal.
Anyway, as to the original post, I really am so tired of all the "ist"s being tossed around like candy these days. It seems so many people are just looking for ways to be offended. FFS, just stop the insanity already.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
