How do you feel when a stranger calls you sir

[mg357]

I have been called sir a few times in my life But imho i think i'm to young to be called sir btw i'm only 27 soon to be 28.

 

[Hawkeye#28]

Remain vigilant if the one addressing you has a visible badge........

 

[wbraswell]

Get used to it. You may consider yourself a young man at 52, but guess what? They don't, and you didn't either at that age. They are just showing an old codger the respect they think he deserves. I call people ma'am and sir that are younger than me.

 

[JCS&W]

The proper use of "Sir" and "Ma'am" was part of the way my mom and dad raised me. I am over 60 and when I am called "sir" it surprises me, more than upsets me. I do not belive age has much to do with being called "sir". It has a lot to do with respecting someone you do not know. Chuck, I am older than you, but if we met and I did not know you, I would address you as "Sir". But, since I know you from this site, I will just say, "Chuck, you may not feel old, but statistics show that you have lived over half of your life." Feel better now?

 

[roundgunner]

I use Sir a lot during day to day nicety’s. I also do a lot of work with fresh active duty guy’s (less than 1 year) who never wear name tags while in contact with me, I almost always get more respect than I deserve, (they know I was active but not what I was) but I address them as Sir unless they do something to trip my trigger. The few I get to know are different and with the instructors I try to be on a first name basis unless we are in front of the students.

I feel like me giving them the Sir treatment helps them with getting used to giving the respect to the ones wearing the Zero uniform.

If I get the chance I try to talk to them about the benefits of volunteering for everything that comes down the line and give them some of the good stories that came to me from volunteering for everything. They have already been at least double volunteers by the time I see them anyway, I also try to give them a little bit on respect, the difference of respect of the uniform/position and respect for the man who earned it.

Someday when I feel like typing a lot I will share some stories here, I have a lot and can get pretty long winded.

To me this uniform still gets the most respect, and the men who wear it are normally quiet about it.

 

[walter o]

thank you sir

I started at 14 working at a full service gas station (if anyone remembers those ) we were required to address all customers as sir or mam.It is something that hes stuck with me through the years of life . It is a sign of respect ,young or old no difference it is still sir or mam if i do business with a person who i am not on a first name basis.

 

[PA Reb]

I was raised by my parents to address any adult as Mr. or Mrs. which I still do today. I'm now in my late 50s and I personally prefer being addressed as "sir" rather than "hey boss", "chief", or "yo, dude"! Just before this past Christmas, I met my youngest daughter's new boyfriend who addressed me as sir. That, along with feeling the bones crunching in his hand as we shook, immediately made me suspicious. It seems I was right as today he's her new "ex-boyfriend" !

 

[fat tom]

I agree and I also think that teenagers have no right to call an adult by his or her first name. They should always call them Mr. <insert last name>, Mrs. <insert last name>, or Ms. <insert last name>.

Down here,in the rural South,it's more commonly < insert first name>. Unlike Caje,I actually prefer that.
f.t.

 

[tops]

I like "sir" just fine. What concerns me is the increasing number of 20-something waitresses and check-out counter girls who call me "sweety" or "honey". That's what they called my grandpa when I was a kid. It doesn't do much for a guy's ego to think that girls look at you as a cute old guy..."cute" like some little doll they won at the county fair.

Even if they want to take you home? Larry

 

[Mickey D]

I'm 55 and just getting comfortable telling the waitress and other helpful women "Thank you dear".
I find it respectful and applaud the any young folks that call me sir. It tells me they were brought up right.

By the way, my GF tells me I look old when I wear my fedoras.

 

[GKC]

When I was growing up, the correct reply was either "Yes, Sir" or "No, Sir" or "Yes, Ma'am" or "No, Ma'am." If I forgot and just replied "Yes" or "No" I would immediately be asked, "Yes what?" (and so on.) "Yeah" or "nah" and other slang forms were never, ever acceptable, even with an added "Sir."

Seems harsh by today's standards, perhaps...but then, look at today's standards. Give me the manners and behaviors of the 1950s (and earlier) anytime.

 

[Mustang51]

Even if they want to take you home? Larry

Well, the only one lately who would like to, I think, is a clerk at our neighborhood drugstore. She looks a little like a slightly less attractive version of the woman who played "Hazel" on TV. My wife thinks it's hilarious. Me...not so much.

 

[carpriver]

I am a retired NCO. When I was assigned a new guy right after his reporting I would inform him I was a NCO and he would call me Sargent and if I was with other NCO's to call me Sgt. Carpriver.

My Pa taught me that sir was a sign of respect. You called everyone (male) sir until the individual asked you to call him by his given name, and when ever a boss told you to do something it was yes Sir. For women you always called them ma'am. I always called my Pa Pa unless he was giving instruction, then it was yes sir.

My Pa told me respect is given, trust is earned, He said love and respect are pretty close to the same in Gods eyes, I didn't have to like everyone but I was better out respecting everyone and always given them their dignity.

I dislike being called dude, hon, sweetie, by wait staff, check out clerks, I will call them on it, I have a name if you don't know it call me sir,or mister. I am not your buddy or your boy friend.

When I hold a door for someone when(if) the assay thank you I will say your welcome. If the door is held you me and mine I will say thank you sir or ma'am. We raised kids in the military for them sir and ma'am came natural, but we reinforced respect and dignity.

 

[mkk41]

Yeah , it kinda makes me uncomfortable , especially when someone overdoes it.

However!

Working in the defense industry , I often have officers coming thru and talking to me. And as someone who only made it to E-5 (Petty Officer 2nd Class) , having Oak Leafs , Eagles and even the occasional STAR calling me Sir is priceless!

 

[xray97]

The High School I attended required that all adults be addressed as sir or ma'am. When roll was taken in class the only acceptable response was "here sir (or ma'am)". Failure to call a teacher sir or ma'am resulted in the offending student being told to hit the floor and "give me 25". Most became very proficient in pushups their freshman year until they got used to the routine.
This was (at the time) an all male public school. Students had to apply and be accepted to attend. Those who couldn't, or wouldn't, conform to the rules was referred to their district high school.
Graduates from this high school were often viewed as desirable by some employers because of the discipline and specialized training we received. The habit of addressing people respectfully served me well. As did the pushups

 

[MSgt G]

I address anyone I don't know on a firstname basis as "sir" or "ma'am", no matter their age or profession.

Exactly; it's not an "age" thing, it's a "respect" thing for me.

 

[MSgt G]

In my Navy days as a Chief Petty Officer if someone called me sir I replied with "I'm not a sir, my parents were married".

Must be a Navy thing, I have no idea what this means.

 

[truckemup97]

I was born and raised in Oklahoma. I call most folks I don't know well ma'am or sir. Age doesn't matter. This seems to bother ladies in the northeast the most. My daughter's friends think it's kind of cute.

 

[kamloops67]

I agree and I also think that teenagers have no right to call an adult by his or her first name. They should always call them Mr. <insert last name>, Mrs. <insert last name>, or Ms. <insert last name>.

i agree that teens need to show respect, at my house though my sons friends are all on a first name basis with me ,i like it that way . i know that they respect me and my home. i speak to them as equals but they all know that i call the shots .
when dealing with strangers or people i dont know well ill refer to them as sir or mr.--,
i was addressing a older gentleman who has been kind of taking me under his wing with all things club related ,we were/are on a first name basis. i guess i got too familiar one time and said "thanks man" well his face kinda screwed up like id struck him and he just sort of stammered out "uhh..your welcome...DUDE" we both laughed and it has become one way we greet each other .
this man is our range warden. very respectful always willing to help, and it is a marvel the way he can remember people, their family, even their pets names , but you do something wrong the kid gloves come off ! no foolin, he takes pleasure in removing idiots from our range. he is fond of saying "i cant stand stupid people"

 

[GKC]

Must be a Navy thing, I have no idea what this means.

It's a new one to me too...but then, I've been out of the Navy for a couple of years now, and maybe some new things have come along.

I often heard "Don't call me sir, I work for a living" while I was in the Canoe Club, though.