How do you feel when a stranger calls you sir

[old bear]

One of the few things I bothered to remember or stayed with me from my youth is, the words Sir and ma'am were an expected term of respect, and I was expected to respect everyone. At 64 years old I still address many forks with these terms of respect.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I used to teach at the local community college. I hold a Master's degree, and I always asked my students to just call me "Dave" or "David". At the community college level, your students fill the range from the new high school graduate, to the older student that had to quit school to work, and is now trying to obtain their degree. Some students called me "professor" or "Dr.", and I'd always gauge if it was meant with respect, or an attempt to, ah, polish the apple. If it was the former, no problem. If it was the latter, I would usually tell the students "God made my butt for me to sit on, not for you to kiss." It always got a laugh, and eventually, most of the students ended up calling me "professor"or "Dr", rather than my preferred "Dave". Sigh, it is at least better than other things I've been called in my life.

Regards,

Dave

 

[REM 3200]

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

But it's a southern thing.

 

[LTC]

My brother and I were raised with much the same training as I have read in many previous posts.

Did any of you ever answer you mother with a "what" when you heard her call your name. In our home it was "Yes Mother / Mom I'm coming".

Mom had a thing about hats on in the house also. I've heard her ask more than one male visitor " is your head cold". They generally got the hint.

Mom is gone over 7 years now, and the hat, if I'm wearing one, still comes off when I walk through the door of any house.

LTC

P.S. My brother is 70 and I'm pushing 66.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I find that different parts of the country have different habits when it comes to addressing others. I was raised to say sir or ma'am , no matter what the age of the person being addressed. I have had to get used to being called Mr Joe as that was not the norm where I was raised but it is here.

 

[moosedog]

I call a lot of people, some who are younger than me, sir out of respect and it does not bother me when someone calls me sir.
In my LE days I called a lot of people sir who really didn't deserve it, but you get more bees with honey than vinegar.
It doesn't bother me.

 

[Iggy]

In my LE days I called a lot of people sir who really didn't deserve it, but you get more bees with honey than vinegar.
It doesn't bother me.

Same here!!

 

[Springfeildkid585]

I think sir is the way to address an adult male I'm not on a first name basis. If I'm at work, it's always sir or ma'am.

 

[GaryS]

Old. That's how I feel.

A couple of years ago I passed a LT from one of the local PDs when I was leaving a coffee shop. He not only called me "Sir.", he held the door for me. I was in uniform, yeah, but my badge was silver, not gold.

And I was only 56 at the time.

Did I just say "only" 56?

 

[smitholdtimer]

OK, call me SIR!

Its only because I'm old and have kinda earned it. Not that I've done anything to deserve to be called Sir other than live too long but I do like being referred to as Sir much better than some of the things I've been called.

 

[COL Jagdog]

To start off with i'm only 52.
I still regard myself as a young man and lately have been
getting a lot of (sir) comments from younger adults who
we're respectable towards me. You know the "Thank You
sir", "excuse me sir", etc...
I'm still always taken aback slightly when someone uses
this when addressing me. I do appreciate them being
respectful and courteous but i just don't see myself as
and old man just yet.
Now i was always taught to use sir and ma'am by my
parents when i was young and my dad was a 20 year
Marine. So i always respected my elders.
At what point in life does being referred to as a (Sir)
start feeling comfortable to you ?

Chuck

It is a mark of respect to you -- and an honor -- even 2nd Lt's
as 22 yr-olds are called "sir" -- it is not a matter of age only -
it is a matter of deference and respect. The young folks that use that term with you obviously respect you and want to show that respect to you. It speaks much about your demeanor and character that they refer to you as sir. They obviously know a good (young 52-yr-old guy when they see one.

Life is good, my friend.

 

[COL Jagdog]

It doesn't bother me near as much as when someone calls me Ma'am.

Those evenings when I wear my red dress, I do expect to be called "Ma'am"

 

[mauiblue]

I wished more young people would call me sir. I call both young and older people sir or ma'am. It is out of respect. My friends addressed my dad as Mr (enter last name). In Hawaii the young people are taught to address non relative elders as "uncle" or "aunty". I hate that with a passion. It is okay if I am related to them of course.

If it makes any difference I am going to be 51 yr old this month .

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX using Tapatalk 2

 

[chud333]

Thanks for all the responses Ladies and Gentlemen.
I'm getting used to it albeit slowly....
Guess it's the times we all live in now and using Sir or Ma'am
is'nt as common as it once was. I still refer to my elders as Sir
and Ma'am and will til the day i die. Just ingrained into me by my
folks. I will also use Sir and Ma'am to a younger adult who is on
the ball and if i feel they are deserving of it.
The group of people here are some of the best people anyone
could ever want to know and converse with.
Thanks To All....

Chuck

 

[mauiblue]

Thanks for all the responses Ladies and Gentlemen. <snip>
The group of people here are some of the best people anyone
could ever want to know and converse with.
Thanks To All....

Chuck

Thank you, sir.



Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Poodle Soup]

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.

You, sir, look like you should be running away from nazis with Harrison Ford

 

[Brian41]

I'm almost 60 and have gotten used to being called sir now more often. I refer to others as sir or maam and always have though.

When my nephew was an early teen he called me Brian once. My brother got dead in his business and said that's Uncle Brian to you son. I don't think he's ever called me anything else since.

 

[Faulkner]

Don't you just love it when you go to an inner city McDonald's or other chain fast food joint that's being facilitated by today's kids and all you get is "what", "yeah", "huh", and "hey you". Here in the south it's appreciated when a young person addresses you with "yes sir" and "no sir", it means someone took at least a little effort to teach them the basics of manners.

 

[K1500]

It's what I'm used to...I feel like I never left the military, and that's fine with me; just don't you ever call me "Dude".; that will put you in the hurt locker ricky tick!

Dude, like, chill out man.

 

[dpowers311]

I think the same thing each time the young lady that is do my pt on my shoulder calls me sir. I am only 43.

Dave