How do you feel when a stranger calls you sir

[fat tom]

In Texas Ma'am and Sir is taught at a very young age. It's just the way it is.

Down here,if you DON'T use those terms,it conveys a serious lack of up-bringin'.
f.t.

 

[williamlayton]

Yes Ma'am--No ma'am--yes sir --no sir.
Just the way I was raised and I am 72.
Blessings

 

[Welder1]

My dad raised me to always use sir or maam whenever addressing someone. I believe that respect among our great countries young people is fading fast. Don't look at a sir as a sighn of age take it as a sighn of respect and discipline.

 

[JJEH]

I "Sir" and "Ma'am" people quite often.

It has NOTHING to do with age. Is has to do with RESPECT.

Exactly, couldn't agree more!!!

 

[NFrameFred]

I was taught to use the terms as a gesture of common respect and manners.

Yes, there's snow on the roof now but I am still mildly irritated when a waitress or counter girl calls me "darling" or "sweetheart" since I have to resist the urge to ask when we slept together since I obviously don't remember her face or the encounter . . .

 

[roarindan]

I be 62 end of the month. When someone calls me sir I reply....don't call me sir, I work for a livin.

 

[Frizzman]

I like being addressed as "sir". I appreciate the respect and courtesy. I'm 58 and I don't consider myself to be an old man but I am getting there. I well remember when I was a young person and viewed someone my age as fairly old. Being addressed in that manner has been earned by surviving through a whole lot of ****. My folks also taught me to be polite so I also use sir or madam/mam to address people I don't know...That even goes for young people. Also, it seems that more younger people hold the door for me when I am going into various places these days. My first thought is usually that somebody taught that person manners and I am glad. I don't mind being called "sweetie" or "honey" either. I certainly have been called much worse. Relax and enjoy it!

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I'm a native Texan, so "sir" and "ma'am" are as pointed out previously, a way of life. I also served in the U.S. Army during the time the "Sir Sandwich" was the order of the day - as in "Sir, yes, Sir!". Shortly after we married, some of our friends were concerned about how our future kids would be raised. In other words, they were concerned I might be a bit too strict and hard core for them. My response was to tell them that under my reign, the "Open-faced Sir Sandwich" would be the standard. My feeling is one "sir", at least for me, is more than sufficient. My kids are now 15 yrs. and 17 yrs. old. Both are also native Texans, and I cannot tell you how many people compliment my kids on their manners, and their "sirs" and "ma'ams". Looks like the open-faced Sir sandwiches worked for my kids.

I'm age 56, and I'll turn 57 yrs. this April. What will make you feel OLD is when you get the Senior discount without even asking for it.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[dewey]

I noticed from the above posts that say "Sir" was taught to the young from Ma, NY, WY, Tx and her in SC. I'ts not JUST here in the South that it's taught by a sign of respect but all over the country.

 

[Comrad]

Some parts of the country it seems to be more prevalent to be called sir. What really sand papers my toilet seat is when my wife and I are addressed as guys or you guys. Usually happens in a diner restaurant.

 

[ordy]

"sir" and "maam" was the way I was raised and have passed that on to my son. More about respect than age. In my job, I teach newly graduated nurses and tell them right out that if I hear them call a patient "hon", they will hear about it.

 

[JcMack]

I'm age 56, and I'll turn 57 yrs. this April. What will make you feel OLD is when you get the Senior discount without even asking for it.

Best of luck,

Dave

Dunkin Donut's is 10% off, 20% for LEOs. Employees get 50% off. So if you were a senior working at Dunkin with a part time job in LE, the ramifications are mind boggling. Suppose Hassan would let you sleep on a pallet in the back of his Dunkin store with the rest of the relatives for 25% off the rent. Learn to love the discount. We are all gonna need it.

 

[Joewisc]

I find a lot of women, especially the "liberated" ones, don't like "ma'am." I'm 70 and grew up giving my seat on a subway to a female no matter how old. "Sir" comes naturally to me after serving in the military. Although respect is earned, we are commanded by God to love one another. He didn't say we had to like one another.

I rarely encounter younger folks, especially teens and those in their 20's and 30's, who call me "sir" or otherwise show respect. You can always tell by their demeanor if not their words that they view older folks with disdain. Those of us over 50 or so came from a different generation when civility and manners were the norm. Nowadays, there is a coarseness to society that didn't exist back in the '50s when I was a young lad. One bad move by my brother or I and dad had the strap out. My mother used a shoe. Sounds cruel in today's politically correct, softened up society, but it taught me life lessons about respect for one's elders. When I was in boot camp in the Navy at 17, I once got kicked in the *** by the Company Commander for not tying my ditty bag right. It hurt but I never tied my ditty bag wrong after that and 53 years later I still remember how it felt.

 

[Mustang51]

Some parts of the country it seems to be more prevalent to be called sir. What really sand papers my toilet seat is when my wife and I are addressed as guys or you guys. Usually happens in a diner restaurant.

Thanks for reminding me. I absolutely can't stand that.

 

[GKC]

Learn to love the discount. We are all gonna need it.

My wife asks me why I don't like the senior discount...it's not the discount I don't like, it's that here lately I am given it without asking for it, or having to prove that I am eligible for it.

 

[Iggy]

I say it all of the time, no matter age or whatever, to anyone I deal with. Feller waits and holds a door for me for a second if I'm a bit behind him gets a Thank you Sir.
I don't git as many as I give, but mebbe them that git's it will think on it and give it back to someone else.

 

[doublesharp]

If you take 78 as the average lifespan and look at it like a basketball game, that means you have four 19.5 yr quarters/two 39 yr halves.

58.5 starts 4th qtr, so at age 52 you are on the backside of the 3rd qtr. Still feel young, mister?

Myself, I'm well into the 4th qtr and am living like the game will go into overtime.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Sir doesn't bother me as much as some cute young thang calling me Mr. Gary

 

[DelFuego]

I do not think you can ever go wrong by being respectful of others. I think that in todays world being polite in both how you treat and address others is very important to a civil society. All my best, Joe.

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>.

 

[Pootie]

Sir doesn't bother me at all. Sometimes when called Mr. **** I still look around for Dad though. On a very positive note, I very much enjoy seeing my son (34 years old) use Sir/Maam as he holds the door for complete strangers.