'Sir' is rude???

[Hamshire]

I don't use it in business. I was raised saying it to everyone, but I was also a kid at the time. Makes sense.

Sometimes you talk to a person and you hear "Yes, sir" like 20 times in a conversation and it gets old.

I get that. I might initially address someone as "sir" or "ma'am" in the beginning of a "professional" conversation, but I won't use it every single time I have to answer them.

[32drawlength]

I grew up on Minnesota & they are great people who just never use that lingo.
That phrase is basically foreign up there & is probably looked at invasive by "some southern" person.
Once explained I'm sure it would help some understand better.
I can say I understand how people use the phrase with respect intended.
Carry on

[Bruiser]

[QUOTE=Cuz;10099521]Criosity got the best of me

is that a condition

[Bullseye07]

I saw it to everyone, no matter the age or status. I even call my subordinates "sir" or "ma'am".

[Graysonhogs]

If you're 18 or 98, I'm calling you sir. If you don't get/appreciate that, then **** off!

This^^^^. If that's being rude, I'm the rudest SOB around. Yankees calling us rude is the definition of ironic. In my experience, the ones I have dealt with are probably the rudest I've seen . I said in my experience, so that I don't get the pic of the "broad brush".

[glocker]

When I lived in NY I was asked multiple times not to call them sir/ma'am they said it made them feel old. I told them where I was raised everyone was a sir/ma'am; younger or older everyone got it. I had a hard time not continuing to say it to them. And if you really want to get some looks say it to a stranger up north, then they really know you aren't from there

[sqiggy]

Oh I'm gonna keep on keepin on. I've been talking this way for 30 sumthin years and don't plan on changing.

Just for them, just say "You's Guys" from now on. They'll get that!!!

[Rudyl]

Well in TEXAS.......its a sign of respect......SIR

[Graysonhogs]

'Sir' is rude???

I don't use it in business. I was raised saying it to everyone, but I was also a kid at the time. Makes sense.

Sometimes you talk to a person and you hear "Yes, sir" like 20 times in a conversation and it gets old.

Not to me. I was raised that way, I raise my kids that way as well. To me, it's better than "yeah, yeah, uh huh". I also had a football coach that if he heard you addressing a coach, teacher, or any other adult with anything other than yes ma'am or yes sir", prepare to run your tail off.

[RogueSamurai]

Happened to me when I moved from TX to Maryland way back in High School. Teachers in TX expected to be called Sir or Ma'am. Teachers in Maryland were shocked by it.

[wisco-hunter]

Yep, I'm a Wisconsinite, saying sir is usually fine, but strange if you know the person, and generally used by children when talking to an adult. Calling a younger woman ma'am is considered rude, it is usually used by children to address their moms/friends moms. If a woman is younger she will take it as being called old or to already have bore children (even if she has you shouldn't call her it until she's older). Just a different region that's all.

[dbaio1]

Matt, I spend a lot of time in Wisconsin, and this is the first time I've heard this.

Same here, spent many days and nights in Beloit and Milwaukee WI over a 10 year period and I can assure you the use of ma'am and sir were common especially in the business world I worked in.

Sounds like a liberals point of view to me and typical for them to want to change the world to their way of thinking.

[enewman]

Dang. I must be rude. I even say thank you mam to little girls if they do something. And sir to little boys that hold doors open. Here at my shop. I work on manners. So I even say sir to my guys. Makes for a good habit. Then when at a customers house it just a common word.

[pblaetz]

I am a Northerner................and probably in the minority as a Northerner. I use sir frequently, but not as often as most Texans. I will admit, like it or not, that I find when it is used to much it losses it's sincerity. I always address my elders as sir(which are becoming fewer and fewer as I'm 58 now) but not necessarily men my own age or younger. I do expect "thank you" and "your welcome" and have no problem with "no problem" when used in a causal situations. I believe delivery and genuine sincerity when being polite are extremely important. If you don't really mean it, it shows, and can easily be considered rude.

[TimH]

I encountered that often during the years I lived in Green Bay. It's funny thought how 'they' can think Sir, or Ma'am is rude, or sarcastic when the common reply to a 'Thank you,' is Yep!

Regardless though, I think the right thing to do is to respect their wish not to be referred to as Sir, or Ma'am if they don't like it.