Yeah...I come from a "military family" and saying 'sir' isn't anything out of the ordinary. In fact, I catch myself doing it quite often. I agree with what Milford was saying...and in fact, I'd probably do the same thing he did.

"yessir"

"nossir"

One word, each. Southern tradition. Not Crap.

As a way of politely addressing an older person, whom you've never met, NC
"Nice to meet you sir."

As a way of addressing Southern males, over the age of, say, 40?
Kinda crap, but I'll waffle hard because who am I to argue with a regional nicety?

As a way for right wing pricks to say "screw you" while trying to maintain superiority? Ultra crap.
Like Bill O'Reilly or Matthew do - that kind of thing.
"Well, sir, that may be fine if you're a god hating communist, but..."
Why are you calling me sir? Clearly you don't respect or even like me.
That trend has got to end.
It's the social conventions equivalent of thinking that you have class because you recently made a lot of money, even though you still have no idea what to do with a fish knife and you think the finger bowl is a refreshing lemon drink.

-A

I hate being "sir"ed. I loved Cometbus' response to being sir-ed, which was, "Hey, I work for a living!"

Edit: Ladies usually hate being called mam.

I don't mid sir at all. I don't mind calling people sir. I don't understand what the big deal is.

What's the big deal?

This is an extreme pet peeve of mine.

I work with a guy that always greets me (by email or phone) with "sir". He's a nice guy and all, but seeing the first line of an email to me with "Greetings, Sir." Makes my skin crawl.

CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP. No waffles.

Being called "sir" happens to me just about 3,412 times a day.

One might call it an occupational hazard. I def. don't mind it.

sunlore wrote:Being called "sir" happens to me just about 3,412 times a day.

Well, you're old *and* a Second Lieutenant, right?
Duh!

-A

Sir = Not Crap!

Sir = Sincerity Isn't Required
Sometimes funny, sometimes Crap.

I'd rather be called Sir than Motherfucker, unless it's a compliment, like "That Motherfucker is a good drummer!"

Miss, Missus, Mamn, madam, what a conundrum for broads, eh?

I don't like to be called "Sir", and "Madam" makes me feel like i should be resting on the knee of Waylon Flowers.

Basically, though, if I don;t get called "asshole" I am OK with it.