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I know lots of people that are from California that live in the Valley of the Sun. Not sure that would add up to everyone in the Phoenix as being from the Midwest and the South.
I don't know anyone who would have their kids do that. I am 48 and we were never required to do that with our parents. Maybe if you were in trouble that would happen. Other than that, never heard that happen.
I'm 68 and was raised in a middling sized town in New York state. We never were taught to use sir and ma'am at all.
I'm young I'm nearly 22 but I was raised to say yes ma'am/no ma'am yes sir/no sir. I mean I don't say it all the time sometimes when my mom addresses me I say "Yes mother" but always in a respectful tone. "What" and "huh" were never allowed unless you wanted to get slapped across the room (just kidding but you get the point). "Yes" was generally acceptable if you said it in the right tone. My parents weren't too strict about ma'am and sir but they did expect to be addressed respectfully. However, since my parents are getting older though I do try to make it a routine habit to address them as only ma'am and sir because that's just proper respect. Anyways I do want to raise my kids to say ma'am and sir. What do you guys think? I know in 2013 that's generally not the norm for today's kids but do you make your kids say ma'am/sir? Only to elderly? Just curious.......
My opinion is that Moderator Cut, if that worked for you well fine.
Last edited by Jaded; 07-26-2013 at 11:59 PM..
Reason: Inappropriate language usage
OK this is going to make the anti sir and ma'am people cringe but I just realize I even say sir to my husband! he says something I don't hear or understand, I say "Sir?". Again it's how I was raised. Believe me the man has no authority whatsoever over me -much to his chagrin. And he uses ma'am with me. I just realized this after his being home a few hours. I never even thought about it before. We have a Mexican crew of yard people and I said Sir to them and they said Ma'am to me. But come to think of it they do have authority over me cause without them our grass would look like ...well..let's just say they do a great job.
OK this is going to make the anti sir and ma'am people cringe but I just realize I even say sir to my husband! he says something I don't hear or understand, I say "Sir?". Again it's how I was raised. Believe me the man has no authority whatsoever over me -much to his chagrin. And he uses ma'am with me. I just realized this after his being home a few hours. I never even thought about it before. We have a Mexican crew of yard people and I said Sir to them and they said Ma'am to me. But come to think of it they do have authority over me cause without them our grass would look like ...well..let's just say they do a great job.
Well then, it's kinda meaningless, isn't it?
You don't do it as a conscious sign of respect, it's just a habit.
You don't do it as a conscious sign of respect, it's just a habit.
Most mannerisms in adults are habits. Do you consciously think to say please before you say it, every time? Do you think to say thank you every single time you say it? I doubt it.
Many of our speech patterns are habits that were taught to us to use to be considered polite.
Most mannerisms in adults are habits. Do you consciously think to say please before you say it, every time? Do you think to say thank you every single time you say it? I doubt it.
Many of our speech patterns are habits that were taught to us to use to be considered polite.
Actually, more than you would think. Read my other post.
Polite and respectful are not the same thing, btw. Think about it.
OK this is going to make the anti sir and ma'am people cringe but I just realize I even say sir to my husband! he says something I don't hear or understand, I say "Sir?". Again it's how I was raised. Believe me the man has no authority whatsoever over me -much to his chagrin. And he uses ma'am with me. I just realized this after his being home a few hours. I never even thought about it before. We have a Mexican crew of yard people and I said Sir to them and they said Ma'am to me. But come to think of it they do have authority over me cause without them our grass would look like ...well..let's just say they do a great job.
I don't think most are "anti" ma'am or sir, they just want it recognized that the lack of usage doesn't in and of itself imply one is rude or ill mannered. It's more if a locale custom than anything. If I lived where it was considered normal, I'd probably expect my kids to comply; but the inference that those who's customs are different from your own are wrong or "cringe-worthy" is insulting.
Do you think to say thank you every single time you say it?
Yes I do think to say thank you when someone has been helpful, because I am genuinely thankful.
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