Do you have a hard time calling people "Sir"? - Page 2

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Do you have a hard time calling people "Sir"? (Page 2 of 3)

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:23:03 PM EDT

[#1]

I selected option 2, its what polite people do. I could see how it would cause great internal dialog for a leftist though with trying to fit 67 genders or so into a "Sir" or "Ma'am".

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:23:46 PM EDT

[#2]

I did in military school.
At 65 I'm mostly on the receiving end now.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:25:30 PM EDT

[#3]

I say grace and I say ma'am . . .

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:29:17 PM EDT

[#4]

No, it's not a habit for me, but when I worked the gun counter, I often addressed some guys as Sir, if they didn't talk like a know it all and were genuinally interested in the subject.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:30:03 PM EDT

[#5]

It's just polite and how I was raised.

I will use sir or ma'am if I don't know you well....after that all bets are off.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:31:45 PM EDT

[#6]

I use it all the time.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:32:23 PM EDT

[#7]

It’s easy for me. I was raised with good manners, unlike you cocksuckers.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:33:31 PM EDT

[#8]

I didnt read what all you knuckle heads said.... but if you cant say "...sir" to a decent random person...... you SIR are a fucking asshole.... I mean for fucking real, nothing wrong with common courtesy to a normal person.... to me it signals that common ground is on the table and a normal conversation is possible.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:33:50 PM EDT

[#9]

It's a sideways insult in the Navy to call an enlisted "sir" which is the required address to an officer.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:34:16 PM EDT

[#10]

Not a problem at all, it’s how I was raised (Alabama). Now that I’m out of the country it definitely gets me a few odd looks.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:36:00 PM EDT

[#11]

There is also the proper inflection for sir or ma'am. One infers respect and the other is a fuck you.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:38:42 PM EDT

[#12]

I use it all the time.

However, i hate being called Sir. Makes me feel old.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:39:12 PM EDT

[#13]

First post and everything...

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:39:44 PM EDT

[#14]

Didn't grow up addressing people as sir as a child, I would call them Mr. So and So, or "Mister" if I didn't know them. Once I started working at my current job with a ton of ex-military guys, and a somewhat rigid chain of command structure it was an expectation. Now I use "Sir" addressing everyone, except the guys I work with, we call each other homo/bitch/etc. when we're fucking around, it became second nature.

Now it's conditioned and I don't even think about it.

I teach my 4yo to use "Sir" and "Ma'am."

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:40:00 PM EDT

[#15]

Calling people sir/ma'am is so ingrained in me that it took hundreds of push-ups before I quit instinctively calling my Drill Sergeants "sir."

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:40:13 PM EDT

[#16]

I use it occasionally, and usually that being in a tone of fuck yeah or hell no.

It's not used much in the upper midwest.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:44:08 PM EDT

[#17]

My default setting is polite. So yes, I say it regularly. People who take issue with it likely have other issues IMO. Oh no, someone was polite, I don't like that!

(Other than military rank stuff

)

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:44:26 PM EDT

[#18]

Nope. Even in the ghetto area I lived in, respect was a basic concept that most people possessed. You always start with niceties until given a reason not to. Those that didn't were few and I call them hotheads. They're the kind of people that would stomp you out if you look at them wrong, and generally can't hold a job for more than a few months before blowing up. Those that weren't dumb and impulsive knew that coming at somebody in a disrespectful way was starting shit, and also bringing unnecessary attention to yourself, and I'm talking about people that have still pulled guns over things that I might consider trivial, but they sure did not in the moment, but otherwise they were very respectful.

I've seen situations escalate from 0 to life threatening quickly many times, and that taught me to always be as respectful as possible and be the first to apologize and all that jazz.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:44:41 PM EDT

[#19]

OP must have never served in the Military.

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:44:59 PM EDT

[#20]

Only if they're women

Posted: 1/20/2021 8:54:14 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
I address people as sir daily.

It's just polite/respectful.

View Quote

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:00:00 PM EDT

[#22]

Not a southerner, I call someone sir/ma’am as an extreme sign of respect.

I spent every minute of my 20’s on active duty and it really bothered me addressing people I didn’t respect as “sir”.

Now, 20 years later in a position to make policy for hundreds of people in my organization I still cringe inside when people address me as sir, which happens multiple times per day.

So ya, I have the opposite problem.

If I know someone very well that I know is a veteran and not a southerner I’ve asked them not to address me as sir a few times.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:00:15 PM EDT

[#23]

No problem using sir or ma'am growing up and for work. There are times I say it too much, been on dates and called her ma'am out of habit

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:00:35 PM EDT

[#24]

I was in the military.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:01:19 PM EDT

[#25]

It's firmly engrained for me.

The amount of people who get butthurt by it or assume it's a trait of military service has remained consistent over the years.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:02:32 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:

Good idea. Poll up.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
IBTP Sir...

Good idea. Poll up.

Voted...

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:03:30 PM EDT

[#27]

I don't do it anymore. I'm nearly 50. I'm at the age where there are a lotta younger men who I don't call "Sir" and I'm close enough to the older guys to get away with not calling them "Sir." Finally, after departing the Army 15 years ago, I simply don't feel like being servile to anyone anymore.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:05:02 PM EDT

[#28]

Well I'm not in the military therefore have no superior officers and I'm not a child, so no "sirs" from me. We're all adults and I address you as an equal

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:05:52 PM EDT

[#29]

I do. I have a bit of a problem with authority so showing deference is not my bag.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:08:00 PM EDT

[#30]

I can't think of a single time I've called someone "sir". And it irritates me when my employees call me that.

I say "yes ma'am" or "no ma'am" sometimes, but it's sarcastic.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:09:25 PM EDT

[#31]

I dont use sir very often but i address pretty much every woman i speak to as ma’am though.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:09:54 PM EDT

[#32]

I don't assume gender. C'mon man!!

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:10:31 PM EDT

[#33]

I use it freely when speaking with a police officer or a judge, but when people call me sir I figure they’re just being a smartass or being silly.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:12:55 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:

It's so ingrained in me that I have trouble not saying it.
I say sir and ma'am even to kids.

So if you hear me just say yeah then know it was intentional because I don't think you are deserving of that respect.

View Quote

More importantly I say it to my kids, because the best way to get them to do it is model the behavior. My oldest is best at this and it paid dividends with teachers, principals and coaches

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:15:57 PM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:
Or is it second nature to you? Did you grow up addressing people that way? How do you feel when people address you that way?

View Quote

Just a normal thing in Texas

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:16:18 PM EDT

[#36]

The only men I don't start out calling sir are ones I start out by calling Doctor or a similar title.

Sometimes I wonder how many of you can function in polite society without accidentally eating ornamental soap.

When you first met your wife's Dad did you call him Mr or just say "what the fuck is up Al!"

I will say that people that keep saying Sir after being told its unnecessary are annoying.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:18:21 PM EDT

[#37]

No problemo.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:18:42 PM EDT

[#38]

no, i dont call anyone sir

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:20:10 PM EDT

[#39]

A doc I worked with from up North said, "You don't have to say 'sir' to me."
I told him it's nothing more than a polite manner of speech and that I also refer the dude at the drive through window as 'sir'.
Him:

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:23:17 PM EDT

[#40]

I was taught to respect elders, and "adults".

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:35:05 PM EDT

[#41]

I don't care for it much.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:35:38 PM EDT

[#42]

Can you show us where sir touched you on this doll?

eta: Some of the best jocularity in basic training occurred when someone called a ma'am "sir". Good times...

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:37:31 PM EDT

[#43]

I had four drill instructors that made sure I knew how to say it. And often.

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:39:29 PM EDT

[#44]

Till HR smacks you in the face for not respecting another person's preferred gender/ pronoun etc

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:46:28 PM EDT

[#45]

I accidentally called a 1st Sgt "sir" once while an Lt and Cpt were standing there.......You can imagine how that went!

Posted: 1/20/2021 9:48:27 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
I was in the military.

View Quote

This... then as a civilian in the military industrial complex

Posted: 1/20/2021 10:18:33 PM EDT

[#47]

I don't call anyone that.

Posted: 1/20/2021 10:20:52 PM EDT

[#48]

Oh women hate being called ma'am, stick to "your Honor" in court

Posted: 1/20/2021 10:22:18 PM EDT

[#49]

Grew up in the '50s so it was common.

Posted: 1/20/2021 10:30:22 PM EDT

[#50]

Your posts are getting old sir.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Do you have a hard time calling people "Sir"? (Page 2 of 3)

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