Using sir and ma'am to address people...

[bennyboy]

I use "sir" or "ma'am" when I think a formal address is appropriate: talking to an older person, especially if they are a friend of my parents or grandparents.

[Whateverist]

Politeness is not a societal rule it's just good ol' manners to treat people with respect and others need to learn that we in the south are raised to respect others. I always hold the door open for ladies even when they say that I shouldn't treat them that way, yeah I've had that said to me, some perceived societal rules just suck.

GC

I hold the door open for everybody, granted the men usually take it from me but I still try. I think manners and society's rule are one in the same concept. Society dictates what good manners are which is why different cultures think different kinds of manners are appropriate. I get what you are saying though. I just don't want to put my idea of manners above letting someone be who they are. (ie I don't want to force ma'am on someone that doesn't identify as a female all the time and if my idea of manners needs to be tweaked for that I accept it)

Amazing to consider that without God, manners can't be objective.  And unless manners are objective, they can't be facts.  So unless you've got God, you're just a monkey in a suit doing a dance, you know?

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Yeah, I thought I was funny.  But I also appreciate good manners and try to always treat others with respect.  Unless they come on like pompous, asshole apologists.  Then all bets are off.

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Using diminutives is a southern habit and I find it quite rude. Calling customers, patients, etc "Honey Baby" or "Sweetie Pie' is insulting. These are terms reserved for very small children. Just because I bought a hamburger off of you does not make me your child. Southern respect , my ass!

You and I would clash very badly in person. I call everyone darlin, sweetie, and say 'oh honey' when someone does summin silly.

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LOL, so...in every southern "sir" or "ma'am" there's a teensy tiny "fuck you".  

Nope, I honestly mean every sir or ma'am I have ever said. If I don't say sir/ma'am to you in person THEN you know I'm being bitchy and don't like you. *whisper* (But no matter if I like you or not I will say Ms/Mr with your last name)

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Sorry, I was just imagining you saying it in a French maid's outfit looking back over your shoulder.

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What were you saying again?

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Well, to me it's a sign of respect. I often use it. Like when I need to get by someone at the store and someone is in my way i'll say "Excuse me ma'am/sir''

Try this one next time.

"Dafuq out of my way, homey" and then stare at them for about 10 seconds before you let them know you were just kidding.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I don't often agree with you, but the big thing I hated about living as a Texan in SoCal was how those SoBs never spared the time for simple courtesy. If life is so fast you need to be rude, perhaps you should slow down a little, Jack.

 Hopefully someday people will see that we quaint southerners have something going and they will jump on board. When I'm in need I know there are those I can count on because they have counted on me and things go much smother in life when people treat each other with value.

GC

What's really wild was how Cali was changing me, from a guy who'd stop if I saw someone broke-down on the side of the road to thinking Oh, keep going, it could be a setup. But being back home now for almost five years and seeing all the small courtesies attended-to lets me know that I can probably fetch help if I need it -- and as a corollary, I have an obligation to make sure the circle is unbroken myself.

I've got a lot of complaints about my brother rednecks, but with a few exceptions, a lack of concern is not one.

[NuclearEnergy]

I hold the door open for everybody, granted the men usually take it from me but I still try. I think manners and society's rule are one in the same concept. Society dictates what good manners are which is why different cultures think different kinds of manners are appropriate. I get what you are saying though. I just don't want to put my idea of manners above letting someone be who they are. (ie I don't want to force ma'am on someone that doesn't identify as a female all the time and if my idea of manners needs to be tweaked for that I accept it)

Amazing to consider that without God, manners can't be objective.  And unless manners are objective, they can't be facts.  So unless you've got God, you're just a monkey in a suit doing a dance, you know?

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Yeah, I thought I was funny.  But I also appreciate good manners and try to always treat others with respect.  Unless they come on like pompous, asshole apologists.  Then all bets are off.

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You and I would clash very badly in person. I call everyone darlin, sweetie, and say 'oh honey' when someone does summin silly.

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Nope, I honestly mean every sir or ma'am I have ever said. If I don't say sir/ma'am to you in person THEN you know I'm being bitchy and don't like you. *whisper* (But no matter if I like you or not I will say Ms/Mr with your last name)

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Sorry, I was just imagining you saying it in a French maid's outfit looking back over your shoulder.

.........

What were you saying again?

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Well, to me it's a sign of respect. I often use it. Like when I need to get by someone at the store and someone is in my way i'll say "Excuse me ma'am/sir''

Try this one next time.

"Dafuq out of my way, homey" and then stare at them for about 10 seconds before you let them know you were just kidding.

This is even better



[/video]

[mlmooney89]

I've been on the side of the road before multiple times. (Once the dumbass driving decided to be cool and spun us off the road, once I hit a deer, and once I was coming to a co-worker's aid) every single time someone stopped to make sure we were/I was ok. The first time they even hooked their truck up to or car and pulled it out of the woods. Made sure we knew how to change a tire and then said have a good night and went on their way. I have no idea if that happens everywhere but I sure do love it.