Are these words even cool to say these days?


The last lady I said "yes ma'am" to, she gave me a funny look.

I also hate being called Sir. That's what my granpa was called.


In general it's just good manners that usually applies to the work force or military, other than those, it just seems useless to say anymore.

 

I agree. I never say Ma'am anymore for fear of a woman's wrath who believes by being called ma'am, ages her by decades.

 

I usually refer to friends as "good sir". But that's really more of an in joke...

 

thats why i go with 'miss' or 'mr.'

 

In the south ma'am and sir are still used as a sign of respect. I love it when I encounter women from other areas of the country and call them ma'am. They always act like I'm trying to call them old.

 

Most people I've encounted doesn't mind being called "Sir" or "Ma'am". It's better than to call them by their first name, which can de disrespectful to an older person.

 

I'm definitely a ma'am and sir guy, but I can't get used to people calling me sir. Feels strange.

 

This. Or when people call me Mr. Fett. It's like, "That's my dad, I'm Yoda". (Names changed to protect the guilty)

 

personally i hate being called Sir, but when i'm at work i generally refer to older men as "Sir" until i can tell what kind of person they are. i still say "yes ma'am" but more in a playful manner.




cause, ya know, i'm so smooth with the cougars.

 

I use'um all the time.

 

It's an acknowledgement of respect. I'll always use "ma'am" and "sir", and I've taught my children to as well.

 

my father (mid 50s) thinks it's incredibly disrespectful when people greet/treat him in an informal/ friendly casual manner at restaurants.

 

Or how about in TNG when they even call women who are superior officers sir.

 

Other dudes calling you sir is cool. It's respectful.

When girls call you sir... that's lame.

 

I use them constantly. I feel it shows a sign of respect. Also because I can never remember the names of my patients. 

 

I haaate being called ma'am. I like miss  

 

I usually say "Miss" over "Ma'am." "Sir" is just the polite way to address a man who's name you don't know.

 

I always had you down as more of a mademoiselle.

I got called a gentleman the other day by a girl, I almost laughed at her.

 

Being in martial arts for nearly ten years it has been ingrained into my mind to ALWAYS say "Ma'am" or "Sir". It simply just shows respect.

 

I always use "sir" or "ma'am" to be polite. I always feel a little weird being called "sir" myself, but I do appreciate that the people doing it have good manners.

I ran into one of those once; clerk at a store who appeared to be about my age (~27) and got pissy because I used "ma'am" instead of "miss". I just told her "sorry, I was just attempting to be polite and "ma'am" is my default for addressing women of any age". She wouldn't let it go, so I just grabbed my stuff and left, restraining myself from addressing her with a far less polite four-letter word.