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Old 11-06-2014, 11:41 AM
 
159 posts, read 199,154 times
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I have small children who are very polite by the standards of our current location (always using please, thank you, etc.). We don't live in an area with widespread use of sir and m'am. Will my kids be seen as rude if they don't use sir and m'am when speaking with adults? Is teaching them use of sir/m'am something I need to add to my task list before we move?
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Old 11-06-2014, 11:55 AM
 
Location: Dunwoody,GA
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I wouldn't say that every child does it by any means, but it is considered polite by most people here. It certainly couldn't hurt.
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Old 11-06-2014, 12:03 PM
 
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They should naturally pick it up once they move here. They may be referred to as sir and ma'am themselves. The bigger issue I think is people who move to the South and are taken aback by being called sir and ma'am. (To me that's actually ruder. lol)
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Old 11-06-2014, 12:26 PM
 
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Our children and grandchildren will always be raised to use sir, ma'am, please and thank you. They will also be taught to offer their seats to expectant women and the elderly and to remove their hats indoors.

If that is too "Southern" -- and I don't believe it is -- I will gladly own it. That's basic civility and good manners, both of which are in short supply in this world.
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Old 11-06-2014, 12:27 PM
 
209 posts, read 274,665 times
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I grew up saying sir and ma'am. It's a good habit that will serve them well when it's time for social functions and job interviews.
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Old 11-06-2014, 12:37 PM
 
Location: Ono Island, Orange Beach, AL
10,733 posts, read 13,279,572 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arjay57 View Post
Our children and grandchildren will always be raised to use sir, ma'am, please and thank you. They will also be taught to offer their seats to expectant women and the elderly and to remove their hats indoors.

If that is too "Southern" -- and I don't believe it is -- I will gladly own it. That's basic civility and good manners, both of which are in short supply in this world.
Amen.
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Old 11-06-2014, 12:42 PM
 
3,972 posts, read 12,610,426 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arjay57 View Post
Our children and grandchildren will always be raised to use sir, ma'am, please and thank you. They will also be taught to offer their seats to expectant women and the elderly and to remove their hats indoors.

If that is too "Southern" -- and I don't believe it is -- I will gladly own it. That's basic civility and good manners, both of which are in short supply in this world.
Yep. Us too.
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Old 11-06-2014, 12:46 PM
 
4,749 posts, read 4,302,776 times
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It depends on the person. I had a teacher flip out on you if you didn't say, "Yes, ma'am" or "No, ma'am". This was hard for me because I had just moved to ATL from NY and I was always taught that "ma'am" is an insult to a woman (her age). I was told to use "miss".

I've gotten used to the southern tradition.

Again, it depends on who they're talking to. If it's some Baby Boomer that has grown up in the south all of her life, she would probably say that your ids are rude.
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Old 11-06-2014, 01:06 PM
 
Location: Duluth, GA
1,383 posts, read 1,547,318 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ha-Mez View Post
I grew up saying sir and ma'am. It's a good habit that will serve them well when it's time for social functions and job interviews.
As someone who didn't grow up having to say sir and ma'am, there have been times that it might have served me well to have acquired the habit once I did move down here after college. That's not to say that not saying it has ever been a hindrance. But, when I did make a point to use it, it sounded un-natural and almost forced, which doesn't go very far when you are trying to ingratiate yourself to co-workers and supervisors at a new job amongst locals whose use of sir and ma'am is essentially automatic, and you're a wet-behind-the-ears 23 year-old yankee college graduate trying not to stick out in a culture you didn't grow up in. Now that I'm in a position where I am supervisor to others, having "sir" directed at me ain't so bad.

Point being that I do wish it was a bit more habitual to me for the reasons HaMez cites above.
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Old 11-06-2014, 01:43 PM
 
13,975 posts, read 25,836,731 times
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We moved from the northeast with one child in middle school, and the other just starting high school. As has been said, they picked up the sir and ma'am very quickly. Teachers and coaches seem to expect it.

I don't however, think using Mr or Mrs Last Name is any less polite, in fact, I find it a little more personal.
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