Do you say Sir/Mam' - if so why?

[SpeedRacer 1]

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I throw around Sir freely since most men see it as a sign of respect. Ma'am on the other hand tends to offend women whom are sensitive about their age so I usually don't say ma'am unless they're older than 60. That or they are treating me like I'm much younger than them.

THIS is what bugs me! A man can be called "sir" and it's cool. Women gotta make it all complicated. Just what then, is the female equivalent of "sir"?


Sir & Ma'am are useful when you're trying to get the attention of someone you don't know. what else are you going to call them?

Speed Racer
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[floridadiver81 0]

me personally..i am in the military food service industry. I never really used it before i came into the military but i find myself saying it now...like everyone else has said...as a relfex action. Sometimes i say it without even realising it. I find myself using it outsdie of work also. Its not very common nowadays and it should be. No one respects anyone else or their property anymore..and its sad. Ah well..i feel like im making a differance in someone's day by saying it..so i choose to. Thats what i think.

"Age has absolutely nothing to do with knowledge, learning, respect, attitude, or personality." -yardhippie
"Fight the air, and the air will kick your ass!!! "-Specialkaye

[wildcard451 0]

I was raised in the south.

Enough said.

[tmaricle55 0]

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say it quite a bit. It is a simple sign of respect, regardless of the person's age. I was also taught saying thank you costs you nothing, but not saying it can cost you more than you will ever know.

Being from the south it was expected with any answer as a child. Kept saying it as an adult... never really broke the habit.

Muff Brother # 3883, SCR # 14796 ICD # 1 - Pres.
Yeah, I noticed and I think it's funny!

[MarkM 0]

I usually say mam when some cute young girl calls me sir, so I irk them as much as they irk me

[shropshire 0]

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[popsjumper 2]

I was raised by a BIG belt.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[shropshire 0]

It's a real shame whan a kid gets abandoned by their parents and run ferile with a pack of Belts as their only company.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[normiss 874]

boy howdy....

up until I punched him back anyway....!

[Titanman2789 0]

i only use it when stopped by police. i wont anymore though. the yes sir, no sir thing didnt get me off a ticket last time

[livendive 8]

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boy howdy

Do we have to go through that whole rigamarole again?

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[moodyskydiver 0]

I was born and raised in Texas and I dont know about anyone else,but common courtesy was a must growing up. If I didnt respect my elders or those of authority then I'd get in trouble with the parents.Proper manners are a reflection of you as a person and of your upbringing and thus on your parents.So dont disrespect your parents with poor manners.If I had kids I'd raise them the same way.It doesnt matter how old someone is I call everyone Sir or Ma'am.My husband is the same,he calls me Ma'am and I'm 13yrs his junior.Its just how we were brought up.

Its just a common courtesy as are 'please' and 'thank you' or calling someone you dont know well Mr. or Mrs./Miss instead of using their first name.

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[jverley 1]

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I guess my issue is that if it's almost a reflex action, how does that imply respect?

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Because we reflexively DO respect everyone.

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Yeah right

Yes, a person does not have to earn my respect, but they can lose it.

John
Arizona Hiking Trails

[Richards 0]

Yes. I can't really come up with any real reason for it. I was just raised that way.

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[shropshire 0]

Thanks everyone.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Viking 0]

I work in an Emergency room dealing with sick and in some cases dieing people. I try to be as polite as I can, the older patients love it, and it get me points with the nurses

I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver
My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin

[lawrocket 3]

Yes. I always have. I always will.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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Yup. It's the respect thing; it's how I was raised.

Now I especially enjoy using it when talking to people who totally wouldn't expect it - like the cashier at the convenience store.

What she said. I say these all the time as a sign of respect, but go out of my way for service industry folks. They put up with a lot of shit, so I especially make a point of saying please and thank-you, sir and ma'am to them. It's funny when they're only half my age.

Blues,
Dave

I do pretty much the same...if the latte gal was very nice, I call her ma'am. I call people sir or ma'am if I respect them (note: respect does not require 'like', however, most of the time I respect and like the person I call sir or ma'am).

Now then I get crazy looks all the time because I always call my husband 'sir', but that's a personal thing...we were in the army together, but that doesn't have anything to do with it. I respect him more than anyone else; even on the occassion that I don't really like him at the moment...

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[Amazon 7]

I was raised that way... its just proper.

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

Usually to authoritative figures...ie...police officers, judges, lawyers. Also anyone who happens to be a "senior".

bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[shropshire 0]

'You had lots of experience of police officers, judges, lawyers.... wardens ?

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[FIREFLYR 0]

yes,Because you have a better chance of not getting the ticket.
~J

"One flew East,and one flew West..............one flew over the cuckoo's nest"
"There's absolutely no excuse for the way I'm about to act"

[lug 4]

It not so much about being respectful as it is about having proper manners and being polite.


Personally I address people as “excuse me (mam/sir) or (young lady/young man). This gains their attention with out being uncivil and in turn the lady or gentleman will correct me on how they wish to be addressed.

Blue sky New York the number one city for being polite.

To bad so sad, London for being number 18, maybe you’ll do better next year.

Memento Mori

[NewGuy2005 53]

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I guess my issue is that if it's almost a reflex action, how does that imply respect?

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Because we reflexively DO respect everyone.

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Yeah right

Yes, a person does not have to earn my respect, but they can lose it.

DING_DING_DING_DING.... We have a winner!!

[gmanpilot 0]

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... but I could NEVER call a cop sir.

Why? Should they for some reason be extended a lesser degree of respect?

_________________________________________
-There's always free cheese in a mouse trap.