Is it wrong that....

[Bloopinator]

When I tell a stranger I don't know (You know if they drop something) I call them "sir" or "ma'am" even though they aren't old? I heard that some adults don't like that, I'm still gonna say it but I wanna know. Is it wrong?

[Dan Apodaca]

I do the same thing. I think it just feels weird to people if it's being used in the context where it's clear that they're being seen as old.

I doubt anyone's really offended by it, though.

[Night]

Only if you get the gender wrong

[BlairH]

I personally only use it when I challange a worthy opponent to a duel!

[kmeyers]

I personally only use it when I challange a worthy opponent to a duel!
do you slap them with a glove as you say it?

...and I say sir or ma'am all the time too, it's polite. Until recently I became a "sir" and I'm rethinking the whole thing.

If someone calls me sir, I usually say calling me sir is like putting an elevator in an outhouse...it just doesn't belong.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I'm used to it because my dad and mom always had me saying it to strangers. A lot really like it and some would say " I'm not that old " and laugh.

Old habits die hard. It still happens.

[Typo Lad]

It's not wrong. Assumed familiarity, now that would be wrong.

[Slam_Bradley]

Since when is politeness and manners a bad thing?

[jessecuster]

I am 32 years old and still address some of my parents friends as Mr or Mrs. It just being polite.

[Donald M.]

If it's a young woman or a girl I'll usually say "Miss", a young guy or a boy I'll just shout "Yo, dude!" or "Hey man!" or "Hey, kid!" something along those lines, but otherwise Sir or Ma'am is the best way to go, nothing wrong with it.

Some adults may not like being called Sir or Ma'am, but that's their problem, not yours.

[borateen]

When I tell a stranger I don't know (You know if they drop something) I call them "sir" or "ma'am" even though they aren't old? I heard that some adults don't like that, I'm still gonna say it but I wanna know. Is it wrong?

Being polite should never be wrong, and you should never feel wierd about having good manners. Kudos to you!

[Tadhg Adams]

Since when is politeness and manners a bad thing?


Since 1987.

[Lubichev]

I blame it on the release of Guns-n-Roses album Appetite for Distruction in 1988. Such rude little boys.

[Beatnikman]

So "hey, buddy" isn't the epitome of politeness?


No wonder that lady looked at me funny.

[Gaz]

Sir's fine, I'd probably go with Miss for a woman unless she was significantly older than me. (I'm talking a good 20 year age gap at least)
It's weird when you start getting it, but you get used to it... I think.

[Tadhg Adams]

Sir's fine, I'd probably go with Miss for a woman unless she was significantly older than me. (I'm talking a good 20 year age gap at least)
It's weird when you start getting it, but you get used to it... I think.

I've taken to using Ms. because my using Miss seems to offend quite a few wimmens.

[Valmore]

I am 32 years old and still address some of my parents friends as Mr or Mrs. It just being polite.

Yeah - I know that feeling. In college I worked with some of the neighbors from my block I grew up on. I'd call them Mr. or Mrs. and they'd look at me and say, "You can call me Travis" or "You can call me Debbie."

[Michael P]

I just this year got comfortable calling my godparents by their first names.

[YoursTruly]

My kids call everyone ma'am or sir. I was raised to call my elders ma'am or sir as well. Although... when someone calls my ma'am I feel a little old. I don't feel old when someone calls me "Miss".

[i_mmmchocolate]

I always use 'sir' and 'maam' when addressing someone significantly older than I am. If I know they're last name, then I'll call he/she Mr/Ms, i.e. Mr Cronin.

[Gaz]

My kids call everyone ma'am or sir. I was raised to call my elders ma'am or sir as well. Although... when someone calls my ma'am I feel a little old. I don't feel old when someone calls me "Miss".
Hence why I would do it that way. I do get a bit uncomfortable when someone around my age calls me sir though, it feels... odd.

[Corsair]

Sir and Ma'am are absolutely the best choice if you don't know the person. It still takes me a second sometimes to realize that I'm the "Sir" in question, but I'm much more inclined to return the politeness when answering. "Hey" and "Yo" generally get answered with a "What the %&^@ do YOU want?".

Sir is often still best even when you do know the person's name. Say if you're in sales or are dealing with people in a professional capacity. If I'm checking into insurance, or taking my car in for a tune-up, or getting my taxes done, it bugs the hell out of me when the person I'm dealing with suddenly decides (s)he's on a first name basis with me. God help you if you're a telemarketer and you address me in the familiar.

[Crinos]

I always address my parents friends as Sir and Madame. Some of them get a kick out of it, some dont. It really depends.

[Gaz]

Sir and Ma'am are absolutely the best choice if you don't know the person. It still takes me a second sometimes to realize that I'm the "Sir" in question, but I'm much more inclined to return the politeness when answering. "Hey" and "Yo" generally get answered with a "What the %&^@ do YOU want?".

Sir is often still best even when you do know the person's name. Say if you're in sales or are dealing with people in a professional capacity. If I'm checking into insurance, or taking my car in for a tune-up, or getting my taxes done, it bugs the hell out of me when the person I'm dealing with suddenly decides (s)he's on a first name basis with me. God help you if you're a telemarketer and you address me in the familiar.
Nah, in that case, call me Mr. At least until I say otherwise.

[Puma]

sir for men over twenty, ma'am for women over forty, miss for the rest. young men and boys, it depends on the situation.

yes, i work with the public and unless I know the individual or have been instructed to call them by their first name it is always Mr., Mrs., or Ms. surname. They tend to call me Ma'am or Ms. Librarian.

it's just good manners.

[Bloopinator]

sir for men over twenty, ma'am for women over forty, miss for the rest. young men and boys, it depends on the situation.

yes, i work with the public and unless I know the individual or have been instructed to call them by their first name it is always Mr., Mrs., or Ms. surname. They tend to call me Ma'am or Ms. Librarian.

it's just good manners.
But who am I gonna call young man or boy? I'm 13!!!!

[i_mmmchocolate]

At a past CBR meet up, the one at the Brewery, the waitress (a woman maybe 2 or 3 years older than me) called me "maam".

I was like, "um, okay...young lady." Or, 'miss'....can't remember which right now.

That was funny.

[Gaz]

At a past CBR meet up, the one at the Brewery, the waitress (a woman maybe 2 or 3 years older than me) called me "maam".

I was like, "um, okay...young lady." Or, 'miss'....can't remember which right now.

That was funny.
Oh, I've got a better one. I was on a high school field trip to a sort of model EU, and my friend Laura wore a pinstripe trouser-suit and horn-rim glasses. One of the building staff assumed she was a teacher and started talking to her about where we were to go and when.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Oh, I've got a better one. I was on a high school field trip to a sort of model EU, and my friend Laura wore a pinstripe trouser-suit and horn-rim glasses. One of the building staff assumed she was a teacher and started talking to her about where we were to go and when.

Oh, I've got a betterer one.

When I went to pick up my sister at her high school, we entered the building and a teacher says, "Girls, get back to class!"

[K'Nort]

I think ma'am is usually safer than miss. If someone seems significantly older and calls me 'miss,' it feels demeaning. I guess because I only ever hear it used around here for waitresses. Women in any other circumstance get ma'am regardless of age.

The first few years of getting called ma'am certainly stung, but really, what else do you say? The important thing is that you're trying to be polite.

[Sir Tim Drake]

I think it's reasonably polite to call other people sir or ma'am. I would certainly be pleased if someone called me "sir," without adding "you're making a scene." ;)**

Calling yourself "Sir," on the other hand, is inexcusable. :D


**This is a Simpsons quote, just in case anyone thought I came up with it myself.