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

[shropshire 0]

I hear it all the time from my colonial mates... but why would you call anyone who you dont know and will never see again.... Sir/Mam?
It all sounds a bit false and empty, like 'Have nice day'

I've not called anyone sir (apart from when taking the piss) since leaving the forces (didn't actually mean it then either).

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

[lisamariewillbe 1]

"Thank you sir, may I have another"


Cough

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[shropshire 0]

Where's my spanking paddle?

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

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Who said this had ANYTHING to do with spanking.... jeesh bunch of perverts in this group



*cough*

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[skybytch 273]

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.

[shropshire 0]

4 *cough*






P.S : How's the climbing going?

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

[ArmyMedic 0]

for us it's an Army thing..' Sir, yes Sir'

but if it happens to be our favorite LT, then the 'Sir" has a hidden meaning...with all due respect

"This is better than sex, and cheaper too!"

[shropshire 0]

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

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

[livendive 8]

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

[livendive 8]

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

Do you think the value of "please", "thank-you", and "excuse/pardon me" are also reduced by being reflexive?

Blues,
Dave

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

[skybytch 273]

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

It's not a reflex action. I have a choice in how I talk to other people. Calling someone "sir" or "ma'am," regardless of their age/race/social class, might brighten their day; I see that as a good thing. Saying "sir" or "ma'am" to the cop that just pulled me over might save me a ticket; I also see that as a good thing.

[FlyingJ 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.

Same here. I use sir/mam all the time in service oriented communication. It is natural in that context, but I really don't use it outside of that though.

edit: I don't have a problem with it being a "reflex action" either. I have seen it brighten the face or attitude of someone that is in a position that often results in being given flack by people they deal with, especially if I am polite to them and show them respect immediately following someone else being an asshat.

Killing threads since 2004.

[JohnMitchell 16]

I was raised to say "sir" and "mam" to grownups. Now that I am a grownup I use it much less frequently, but I use "please" and "thank you" a lot.
People older than I am don't want to hear that I think they're older than I am. People my age don't expect me to call them "Sir", and to call people half my age "Sir" just sounds a little odd to me, unless they're in uniform.

[shropshire 0]

Good point - and I was brought up to be polite in those ways..... so It could just be cultural differences.

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

[shropshire 0]

More good points ... but I could NEVER call a cop sir.

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

[LisaM 0]

I was not raised to say it, but I do now. My husband was raised to use it and he still uses it and I liked how it sounded. So I started doing it. It's an "old school" thing and I know I am impressed when I see people treating others with great respect. Too much of that has gone away these days.

~ Lisa
~ Do you Rigminder?

[monkycndo 0]

I 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.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[skybytch 273]

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but I could NEVER call a cop sir.

Dunno how the cops over there are, but I highly suggest using "sir/ma'am" if you ever get pulled over in the States. Here it's a pretty safe bet that being respectful to the cop that just pulled you over will give them a good reason to exercise their discretion in your favor.

[Buried 0]

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More good points ... but I could NEVER call a cop sir.

same here. i can't say that to anyone and dont really like it back. I'm to young and will also be to young to be called sir anyhow.

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[NewGuy2005 53]

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

Because we reflexively DO respect everyone.

[shropshire 0]

<< I know I am impressed when I see people treating others with great respect>> - Like you say, treating people with respect is not as common as it was and IS S'POSED to be!!

Thanks everyone.... I've come to the conclusion that it's not that we show less respect than you jolly nice people but Sir/Ma'am is yet another sign of our cultural difference.

Yo Ho Ho - Seasons' Greetings.

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

[shropshire 0]

Yeah right

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

[Icon134 0]

I do occasionally... but I often find it strange when others call me sir... especially Luetenants...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[downwardspiral 0]

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.

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[mamajumps 0]

Absoulutely! It's the way I was raised and the way I'm raising my kids. I was brought up that you show adults respect, kids get up so an adult can sit and so on. Now as an adult, I say it to anyone that I think may be older than me. As a respect for my elders. I guess its a southern thing... when we were in NYC I never heard any politeness let along that and now that the snowbirds are here, you get some really weird looks when you say it from them. If there was more respect in the world, it wouldnt be the toilet it is becoming... just my 2 cents....