The term "Sir".

wolf moon · 16-12-2011 11:32PM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

What are your thoughts on people calling you Sir or whatever the female equivalent is?
.

I think it sucks and I ask people to stop calling me that.

pragmatic1 · 16-12-2011 11:32PM

Kev.OC wrote: »

As a barman in a hotel, i call people "Sir" and "Madam" on a regular basis, and think nothing of it. Still think it's weird when someone calls me sir though...

Why do you call customers that?

UnknownSpecies · 16-12-2011 11:35PM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Why do you call customers that?

I also used to work as a waiter in a hotel, we were told to called visitors "Sir" and "Madam". It sucked but it was better than being unemployed!

bicardi19 · 16-12-2011 11:39PM

Depends, are they from Donegal, cause then it's ok.

Dudess · 16-12-2011 11:43PM

When I dealt with customers I'd only refer to auld fellas as "sir". I'd never call women ma'am or madam - that'd feel weird. I wouldn't like it, no matter what age. It might be well intentioned but it confers unnecessary airs and graces IMO.

linkedup · 16-12-2011 11:44PM

Kevin Smith

Sir

phasers · 16-12-2011 11:58PM

I don't like the female equivilants. Miss is patronising and Madam is what you call auld wans.

Normally I'm just called 'love' though

Dionysus · 17-12-2011 12:00AM

The Great Chinholio wrote: »

Youll address me by my proper title

Unbelievably, one Tony O'Reilly, controller-in-chief of the Irish media, actually said this almost verbatim to an RTÉ reporter some years ago when she had the gall to address him as "Mr O'Reilly".

bob the bob · 17-12-2011 12:08AM

Once called a Christian brother teacher "sir" as some of the lay teachers insisted on being called it.

It unleashed fire and brimstone in him, his exact words were " I was never knighted by the fcukking queen of England, don't you dare call me sir"

biko · 17-12-2011 12:12AM

Aye, it's weird - "Sir" is for old people.
Happens occasionally, in finer establishments.

Dudess · 17-12-2011 12:14AM

phasers wrote: »

I don't like the female equivilants. Miss is patronising and Madam is what you call auld wans.

Normally I'm just called 'love' though

I love being called love - it's sweet.

kieranfitz · 17-12-2011 03:22AM

Do NOT call me sir, I work for a living.

The only people I've called sir in a good way are Officers and sergeant majors I've met through the R.D.F. But for the most part if I'm calling you sir the your in the sh*t,

Kev.OC · 17-12-2011 03:43AM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Why do you call customers that?

Habbit, i suppose at this stage. Seems more polite than "Oi, bollox, here's your change!"

And personally i don't think i can pull off saying "Love". I know a good few people who can, but i'm not one of them. Think when i try it it comes across as condescending. :-/

Chuck Stone · 17-12-2011 03:46AM

If someone calls me Sir I call them 'Your Holiness'.

John Doe1 · 17-12-2011 05:34AM

bicardi19 wrote: »

Depends, are they from Donegal, cause then it's ok.

Hi sir it is not:p

kmart6 · 17-12-2011 06:15AM

true-or-false wrote: »

I was working in a shop and I still remember the first time a kid came in with its mother and she said "now give your sweets to the lady". I played it totally cool, but on the inside I was thinking "OOOH! I'm a lady!".

Similar working in a restaurant....was always referred to as 'The Man' by parents! Was a pain at times though when parents would use the threat of 'The Man' to try get control of their children...then the lids look at you in fear!

Manic Moran · 17-12-2011 07:23AM

sergeant majors

Plural is Sergeants Major. And yes, I'm a 'Sir' because military protocol dictates it of my subordinates.

However, it's as good a term as any to use, it's a little more polite than "Hey, you" and I think "Mister" is even more weird.

For the females, I stay military with 'Ma'am'. Not the same connotations as 'Madam,' though it's really the same word.

NTM

Bundberg · 17-12-2011 09:00AM

I have noticed people from India still use "sir" or "madam" when talking to forigners

mattjack · 17-12-2011 09:12AM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

What are your thoughts on people calling you Sir or whatever the female equivalent is?

Personally I really, really, really hate being called Sir. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Bar staff bringing drinks is cringey too.

Would Boss suit ya ?...... Hi boss the piebalds over there or boss "are ya sellin ' that transit " ?

Ellis Dee · 17-12-2011 09:16AM

Bundberg wrote: »

I have noticed people from India still use "sir" or "madam" when talking to forigners

I've noticed the same and am used to it. In South India, however, it is very disconcerting to be addressed as "Massa".:)

Bundberg · 17-12-2011 09:32AM

Ellis Dee wrote: »

I've noticed the same and am used to it. In South India, however, it is very disconcerting to be addressed as "Massa".:)

There is a dilemma: it shows the honour to other people that is a good thing but I would like to feel all people are equal

Manic Moran · 17-12-2011 09:38AM

Dionysus wrote: »

Unbelievably, one Tony O'Reilly, controller-in-chief of the Irish media, actually said this almost verbatim to an RTÉ reporter some years ago when she had the gall to address him as "Mr O'Reilly".

Senator Barbara Boxer in the US did the same thing to a General who kept addressing her as "Ma'am", the standard military form of address to a female of higher rank.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0CprVYsG0k

Jimmy Garlic · 17-12-2011 09:44AM

I hate it when people call me Sir Quentin Clarence Preston Stilton Forbes. I find it ever so formal old boy.

Poor Uncle Tom · 17-12-2011 10:42AM

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I hate it when people call me Sir Quentin Clarence Preston Stilton Forbes. I find it ever so formal old boy.

So do I, I prefer Sir Tom....

Sittingpretty · 17-12-2011 10:50AM

When I worked in mid west America. It was always "yes ma'am", I like it

Chuck Stone · 17-12-2011 12:23PM

I call people 'Sur' like Ted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DukZxJ4wS4A

Latchy · 17-12-2011 12:59PM

I'm often greeted with a smile and ' can I help you sir ? ' in stores which is much nicer than the assistant giving you the blank stare or look .

pragmatic1 · 17-12-2011 01:24PM

mattjack wrote: »

Would Boss suit ya ?...... Hi boss the piebalds over there or boss "are ya sellin ' that transit " ?

I'd prefer mucker. " What about ye mucker"

Agricola · 17-12-2011 01:32PM

I don't like it. I think in 20/30 years, I'll be old and grey enough for the young folk to call me Sir, but not yet.

At a carvery recently, the guy behind the counter was probably 20 years older than me and kept saying "Would you like a roast potatoe Sir?" "Some brocolli for you, Sir?" "Would Sir like some gravy on his meat, Ohhh I bet Sir would!" I thought I was in the Fast Show. Terrible.

cloud493 · 17-12-2011 01:44PM

I call every man I don't know, or want to be respectful to, sir, and every woman ma'am, or miss/.

The term "Sir".

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