do you use the terms "sir" and "maam"?

[nakedfrog]

I guess it depends on what the OP means. If I'm trying to get a randos attention I say Sir and Ma'am, but I never say yes sir or call someone I know sir/ma'am.

People all work do it all the time and it's fucking annoying.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Most women under 65 I've talked to prefer not to be called ma'am. They're archaic terms that can fuck right off.

They worked pretty well in the military

 

[HeXen]

I say them often to strangers and working outside, that happens a lot.

 

[Muse]

So what's my reward if I'm perpetually offended by everything ?!?

Well, you get to audition for stand-up comedy at practically every comedy club in the world. Just riff on any goddamn thing and bask in the laughter.

 

[FirNaTine]

Working for a long time in a paramilitary (career fire department) environment, I often use them as a reflex adressing folks I don't know.

Several years ago I spent about two weeks in London. I was in a small bar in between Christmas and New Year's, just getting out of the place we were sharing with my wife's family. There were only handful of seats at the bar, a few tables, and otherwise standing room. I saw a guy who had 15 years or so on me walk through the door, scan the bar like he was looking for a seat, and pause seeing all the bar stools taken. Out of habit, I stood up, waved to him, and addressed him as "Sir" when I offered him my seat. I got a "fuck your sir, I work for a living" response. I was dumbfounded and started to backpedal explain that it's just a habit in my line of work as a firefighter.... He let me go for a few seconds, broke into a smile, offered his hand, and asked what I was drinking. I pointed to the tap setup and said I just had that one (a local British brew) but that I was really just looking to sample stuff I might not see in the US. Turns out he was also a local bartender nearby, and this was his hangout on his nights off. I guess an American tourist being polite, and not looking for a Budweiser struck him in the right mood. He treated me to several more rounds (I did buy a couple also), and told the bartender there to look after me for the rest of my trip (they did.)

TLDR sometimes it works....

 

[Captante]

TLDR sometimes it works....

Yep ... being polite & respectful will never hurt and most of the time helps!

 

[nakedfrog]

They worked pretty well in the military

They didn't really add anything to the experience by my reckoning. The military could function just as well as it does now without them.

 

[Starbuck1975]

They didn't really add anything to the experience by my reckoning. The military could function just as well as it does now without them.

They serve a purpose, some grounded in tradition, but mostly the decorum and respect extended to senior officers under a chain of command...I remain in contact with senior officers I once served under, and I still extend to them the respect of calling them “Sir” and “Ma’am”. Respect not only added to the experience, it is foundational to the experience.

 

[BudAshes]

No ma'amahan.

 

[brianmanahan]

No ma'amahan.

if i ever get married, i will call the wife that

 

[highland145]

Yes ma'amahan.

fixed

 

[jonwilliam]

For male, I hardly say Sir, I use Mr. and for female, I do say Maam often.

 

[mikeymikec]

UK: The last time I used 'sir' or "ma'am" was in the air cadets as a teen.

 

[BudAshes]

For male, I hardly say Sir, I use Mr. and for female, I do say Maam often.

I've found woman these days prefer "Bitch please..."

On an unrelated note I've been getting kicked in the nuts a lot lately for some reason

 

[nakedfrog]

They serve a purpose, some grounded in tradition, but mostly the decorum and respect extended to senior officers under a chain of command...I remain in contact with senior officers I once served under, and I still extend to them the respect of calling them “Sir” and “Ma’am”. Respect not only added to the experience, it is foundational to the experience.

Meh, they serve the same purpose as any other greeting, and others greetings could be given the same gravitas by being treated/used in the same way. It's nice that it makes you feel good to extend those terms to your former colleagues, but respect is about a lot more than those two words. Of course, I also don't share your viewpoint about respect being "foundational" to the military experience. We probably served in very different militaries.

 

[snoopy7548]

For male, I hardly say Sir, I use Mr. and for female, I do say Maam often.

You gotta stop puttin' the pussy up on a pedestal.