Is It Ever Wrong To Call Someone Sir?

[Brokenbad]

Besides the obvious misuse of calling a woman sir, is it ever offensive to call male sir?

I ask this because a customer became upset today when my coworker routinely answered his question with sir at the end. The customer specifically said that he didnt play the disrespectful "sir" game.

Why would anyone be upset by being called sir?

[thefuzz]

Many folks from the north say it makes them feel old.

I apologize, and let them know it's a respect thing that my grandfather and father taught me.

They rarely say anything else about it.

[g5jamz]

I make my kids say it to any adult male/authority figure. Maam for any adult female/authority figure.

I use it too to provide an example. I've never had anyone get upset at my use of it. I'd take it as a sign of ignorance of someone that got upset about it and just let it go.

[CatofWar]

I use sir and mam during every interaction I have regardless of who they are. The young kids at mcdonalds look at me funny. Hard habit to break.

[mmmbeans]

in addition to what fuzz said, northerners think you're being sarcastic if you call them sir/maam.

[g5jamz]

What don't northerners get upset about.

[mmmbeans]

the civil war.

[PantherBase]

Besides the obvious misuse of calling a woman sir, is it ever offensive to call male sir?

I ask this because a customer became upset today when my coworker routinely answered his question with sir at the end. The customer specifically said that he didnt play the disrespectful "sir" game.

Why would anyone be upset by being called sir?

Not from where i come from

It's called being polite!

[g5jamz]

the civil war.

Good one.

[Wither]

It doesn't make sense to end every phrase with "mam" or "sir." If you use the terms correctly you add it in appropriately without thinking. You can always tell who doesn't use the words on a regular basis as they use it too much or in the wrong phrases.

I'm not sure what the "right" and "wrong" phrases are but it just sounds bad sometimes.

[CarolinaNCSU]

No sir

[nickzz]

if someone does get upset about it i think it's because they're either A) a woman or B) a prick

[Tarheel31]

I don't like being called sir, that's what you call my dad.

From the guys comment it sounds like he thought your coworker was being sarcastic.

A pointed "SIR" at the end of a sentence is the same as a "PAL" or a "CHIEF"

[Brokenbad]

I don't like being called sir, that's what you call my dad.

From the guys comment it sounds like he thought your coworker was being sarcastic.

A pointed "SIR" at the end of a sentence is the same as a "PAL" or a "CHIEF"

I did not notice the coworker overusing sir, but perhaps my judgement is clouded by how often I use sir/mam.

Both my coworker and I are veterans and that doesn't help.