Do most kids/teens/young adults in the South still say "yes ma'am" or "yes sir?" (DMV, office)

[salutethehill]

My wife (30) and I (35) both say it, as does our 3, 5 and 8-year old. It's commonplace here in SC.

We traveled to Minnesota to visit my sister last summer. Some of the folks that commented on it appreciated it. Others weren't as appreciative (one person was downright offended). Oh well.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

I was raised/taught early to use such terms when addressing adults, especially with strangers...along with "please" and "thank you" and "you're welcome."

In fact, so ingrained is the habit, that I still naturally do it today, especially with older folks.

And I taught my own children (now grown with kids of their own), to do the same. And for my son -- when he was just a little boy -- to shake a man's hand firmly, and look in him in the eye, and say something like "nice to meet you, sir". And my daughter to say the same, sans the actual handshake.

*shrug* Some might call it "outdated" or "stuffy"...but lots of us in Texas/South just consider it "Good Manners"

Another user of those words, TexReb. I was taught it's just good common decency and civility. Still use it to this day and so does my daughter.

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by Peon

Country......

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[allenk893]

I couldn't believe it when we were on a road trip and made a stop in Baton Rouge, LA at a McDonald's. A group of little girls and their moms came in and my mom wanted to know what was going on because it was sort of a commotion of laughter and praise. She asked this little girl and the girl - maybe age 9 - was responding to her questions saying "Yes Ma'am" and "No Ma'am" after everything. I was shocked. It was the sweetest and most respectful thing I've seen from a child in a very long time. I always thought children of today were just hopeless disrespectful horrors. But seeing that gave me faith back in humanity. Parents in Louisiana do not play those games with kids.

[northbound74]

Not in the part of the south I grew up in. A few did, but most did not. This was 20-30 years ago.
I never really witnessed old-fashioned manners on a large scale until I moved to Wisconsin. I'm not saying people here are better, so please don't get me wrong, but they do make pretty big deal out of being polite and well-mannered. I think some people are genuine with it, but others do it because it's just what you do.

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by northbound74

Not in the part of the south I grew up in. A few did, but most did not. This was 20-30 years ago.
I never really witnessed old-fashioned manners on a large scale until I moved to Wisconsin. I'm not saying people here are better, so please don't get me wrong, but they do make pretty big deal out of being polite and well-mannered. I think some people are genuine with it, but others do it because it's just what you do.

Wow, where did you grow up?

I was born and bred in the American South - over my lifetime I've lived in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas. (I've also lived in CA, OH, Japan and Germany but I digress.)

My point is that one of the most prominent cultural traits that I've noticed in the South is how many children - AND adults - use "M'am" and "Sir" in their everyday language - from Texas to Maryland and all points in between.

I've lived mostly in the southern US for 50 years. Regardless of color or ethnicity, income level or creed, the usage of those terms is very common to this day. I do hear less of it in urban areas, but it's still quite common.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by northbound74

Not in the part of the south I grew up in. A few did, but most did not. This was 20-30 years ago.
I never really witnessed old-fashioned manners on a large scale until I moved to Wisconsin. I'm not saying people here are better, so please don't get me wrong, but they do make pretty big deal out of being polite and well-mannered. I think some people are genuine with it, but others do it because it's just what you do.

Interesting. You grew up around Paragould, Ark., correct? I heard a lot of ma'am and sir in Jonesboro when I was there 25-30 years ago.

[northbound74]

Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas.
Arkansas was a bit more rough around the edges than the others, but I still didn't hear sir and ma'am any more in the south than in other parts of the country.

Not saying this as an insult to the south, but I don't buy into this notion that they have the market cornered on politeness and hospitality.

[le roi]

Originally Posted by xboxmas

Besides Florida, I haven't been to the south-are kids down there still taught to say it, or is it becoming less and less common? What areas is it the most common in?

in my hometown in central SC it is common

you don't hear it here on the coast, just a few hours away.

i was raised to say it, but dropped that habit a long time ago.

[Lamplight]

Originally Posted by northbound74

Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas.
Arkansas was a bit more rough around the edges than the others, but I still didn't hear sir and ma'am any more in the south than in other parts of the country.

Not saying this as an insult to the south, but I don't buy into this notion that they have the market cornered on politeness and hospitality.

I only lived in TN before I moved to my current town, but I tend to feel the same way. I don't know, maybe in most of the south besides my hometown saying "yes sir" etc really is common, but in the 32 years I lived there I very rarely heard children say it. I wasn't taught to say it, and I can't remember any of my friends who were. And I'd say the people in my current town are at least as polite as the ones down south, if not a little more so. But I still don't hear "yes sir/ma'am" very often.