I’m also a wrestling official, and everybody sirs me when I’m wearing the whistle. I’m not quite 19, and I’ve had old, married former Olympians with kids sir me. It really freaks me out.
There is a gentleman who works as a manpower specialist for a company that is a subcontractor to my company on a major defense contract. “Sam” and I are in frequent contact (phone, e-mail, or face-to-face) dealing with issues that concern both our companies. I’m 47 years old. I retired from the US Navy as a Chief Petty Officer with 24 yrs. service. No one ever called me “sir” ; it would have been incorrect and inappropriate.
“Sam” persists in calling me “Sir” in even the most casual of conversations or communications regardless of the setting, or presence of other far more senior company officials.
Now, here’s my problem. To give you an idea of his stuture/seniority in MY eyes, “Sam” started his career as a P-40 Warhawk pilot with the Flying Tigers group in China in World War II. This man has more AAF/USAF experiences and tales to tell, as a true hero, than I (or most people) will ever be able to tell with a straight face.
What’s up with the “Sir” shit? I feel honored to be able to refer to this gentleman as “Sir”, and often do, but his persistence in calling ME “Sir” is running me nuts.
What a coincidence! I’m not a Mister or Sir, either!
[sub]I do get ma’am alla time though. Makes me feel old.[/sub]
Best encouragement I can offer in this case is: Yes. It * does * get better, but only once you realize you’ve officially joined us in the ranks of ** OFI ** and accept the fact that your contemporaries aren’t all that bad. It’s those young folk who have things all twisted around and haven’t a CLUE what they’re missing, so pay no mind to it. As for myself, I don’t so much mind the “Mister”. But DAMN! Don’t call me “sir”. I WORK for a living. ((Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. It stands for “Old Folks International”.))
…Sounds like a military man to me…
I’m 16, and I get sirred all the time. Its really wierd, considering most of the people that call me sir are older than I.
My friend, who is 42, hates being addressed as “sir.”
That’s probably because she is a woman.
You have luxury problems, my friend.
Would you rather be addressed with, “Hey, homey!”?
My friends at school and I address each other as “sir”. We’re a polite crowd, and it’s better than “Yo, foo’!”, “Wassup, bitch?” or “Hey, chachi!” – any one of which could be a standard greeting.
When I’m answering the phone at work, I’m required to ask the caller’s name before I connect their call. If I can’t connect the call, I’m equally likely to address them as Sir/Ma’am rather than Mr./Ms. <last name> – I don’t want to presume that I know them well enough to use their name (first or last), it’s much easier to say, and I might have already forgotten their name…
Sir/Ma’am makes so much sense. What polite form of address would you prefer, Whammo?