I spoke to my customers with Yes Sir.
I taught my sons to do the same. It's amazing to see a young eighteen year old man say
Yes Sir to an older gentleman. He hired him on the spot! Manners still mean something these days.

I get called sir a lot by younger coworkers who are from India, and of course, people from the south, since I have been doing a project in North Carolina for the past couple years.

I always think of the Bob and Tom "I am not sir, I am El Conquistador" bit but I'm pretty sure most would not get the joke.

The thing I find odd is when I am a customer dealing with a service worker that calls me "boss". I'm not used to that. Not sure if I've been called "chief" or not, but probably.

I was hanging out with friend that was in the navy some years ago and we went through some of the base gates and they kept calling him "chief", but then I realized, that's his rank!

As a youngster I was taught to always say yessir/nosir as one word. Then I went into the Army and learned pretty quickly that drill sergeants don't like to be called Sir.

Now days the "sir"/"mam" is creeping back into my vocabulary but really have to be careful as sometimes it is hard to tell the gender and get it correct,

I think the “boss” thing is Latin/Argentina.

The border, people used to call customers “jefe” at times.

Being born and raised in the South, it's an automatic thing. Every man is Sir, every woman is Miss or Ma'am.

"I think once you stop hearin' sir and ma'am, the rest is soon to foller"

Cormac McCarthy - Sheriff Ed from No Country for Old Men

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:

I was hanging out with friend that was in the navy some years ago and we went through some of the base gates and they kept calling him "chief", but then I realized, that's his rank!

Correct.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:

I was hanging out with friend that was in the navy some years ago and we went through some of the base gates and they kept calling him "chief", but then I realized, that's his rank!

Correct.

Look at that mustache!!

Many times I've had women spin around with a look on their face of how dare you. Do you think I'm old? I explain I use the word Ma'am to convey respect. It's not an estimate of age.

I've been thanked a few times for calling a lady 'miss'.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Being born and raised in the South, it's an automatic thing. Every man is Sir, every woman is Miss or Ma'am.

In the mid 60’s at the age of 13, we moved to South Carolina after having spent most of my life in So. CA. It only took me a week or so to answer yes/no sir/ma’am after continually being corrected by teachers and other adults. It ended up being a very important life lesson. Even in my 70’s I still address folks that way.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
I think the “boss” thing is Latin/Argentina.

The border, people used to call customers “jefe” at times.

Boss is what prisoners cal the guards

I do the same, and it used to be easy, but these days it can get you in trouble. I made a traffic stop on a car once and when I walked up to the window, I started my usual spiel of "Good evening, sir, I'm officer X with the X police department and the reason I'm stopping you today is..."

The person behind the wheel responded "I'm a ma'am."

quote:

Originally posted by Lunasee:

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
I think the “boss” thing is Latin/Argentina.

The border, people used to call customers “jefe” at times.

Boss is what prisoners cal the guards

A police lieutenant who flew my v-tail addressed the captain he worked for, as "boss."

I'm 76, grew up with sir and ma'am and still call most women ma'am unless I'm on a first name basis with them, and sir for men. I call younger women, like preteens and up sir and ma'am as well.

It's just the way I talk or converse and it doesn't seem unusual or stilted to me. Never had any flak or questions or strange looks from anyone I addressed that way.

I would add, however, if someone, male or female, is being rowdy, obnoxious or just a WTR, I don't engage in any conversation with them at all and simply go my way.

Bob

Well back in the day it would have been """Yes Drill Sgt or No Drill Sgt."" or all hell would break loose.. and now when called " Sir" my reply is "" Do not call me sir..I worked for a living""..... Growing up in the 50"s and 60"s it was Yes sir or yes Ma"am or you got the back side of a adults hand up the back side of your head (the Denozo slap) for disrespecting a older person................But I still adress men and women with respect.............................. drill sgt.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Being born and raised in the South, it's an automatic thing. Every man is Sir, every woman is Miss or Ma'am.

Exactly. If I am speaking with a 12 year old, this is how I address them. The same as I would address anyone of any other age.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

A police lieutenant who flew my v-tail addressed the captain he worked for, as "boss."

Calling your work superior Boss is much different then calling some random person Boss. One means you work for the person the other might mean you were a convict in prison.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lefty Sig:


I always think of the Bob and Tom "I am not sir, I am El Conquistador" bit but I'm pretty sure most would not get the joke.

I thought Bob and Tom were funny but I just couldn't get used to the constant laughing.

I am addressed by many as sir. One guy at work calls me Chief a lot. Without getting into too much, I stood up for him with the owners. He started calling me Admiral after that. I asked him to stick with Chief, as it just “fits” better. I know he was doing out of respect, but it just felt weird.

I have had a few people call me boss. I don’t like it one bit. I usually reply with a smile, “yes, I am, and that’s the last time you’ll address me that way.” One guy does it a lot in a friendly way. We have worked together long enough that I know he isn’t trying to be a prick, and he is from Jersey so it’s kind of normal to him. Anytime he calls me boss, I simply say “what’s up employee?”

When we interview people we usually have hiring events. So a lot of people show up at once, and are in the queue to be interviewed by the department managers. It gives me a chance to be the “greeter” and chat with people and watch them interact with other strangers. People who use sir and ma’am are always looked at a little more positively.