# Has "SIR" become a word of intimidation? Is it a uniquely American usage? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806 "2011-07-21T03:34:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/21 "2011-07-21T15:48:15Z")
> [@Soliloquy](#): > > No, I’m saying that I AM a cop and I would never do that. I, personally, believe it sounds rude. I wouldn’t address someone like that. I prefer to be more professional, less informal, less… Buddy-buddy, if you will. If I’m writing you a ticket, chances are we are not meeting up for drinks later. If you’re cute, there’s always the chance… ;)😃 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/22 "2011-07-21T15:50:36Z")
> [@Soliloquy](#): > > As a cop, I would never “pal” or “buddy” someone. To me, that sounds rude. Plus, if I’m about to write you a cite, you may not want me to call you buddy, even if I was being sincere. Would you feel very chummy towards me? “Hey, Buddy! This is gonna cost you a lot of money! Be a pal, now, and sign right here. Press hard, three copies.” “Hey, officer… didn’t you used to be an elevator operator for Hudsucker Industries?” ---
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/23 "2011-07-21T16:08:29Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > If you’re cute, there’s always the chance… ;)😃 If you can afford the ticket AND buy me drinks, you might be able to afford me. 😉 Hahaha ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/24 "2011-07-21T16:13:57Z")
Sir is common enough around here but I’ve encountered the stern American “Sir” before. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/25 "2011-07-21T16:43:24Z")
Kay: Don’t “Sir” me young man, you have no idea who you’re dealing with! ---
**Author:** ![spqrobert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@spqrobert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spqrobert)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/26 "2012-04-05T20:31:14Z")
The US is dangerously close to becoming a police state. The police and security agents call you Sir because they are ostensibly public servants. The word itself is polite. They are here to serve YOU, the public, but, like you pointed out, the tone is menacing. And it’s MEANT to be menacing, I think. I’ve noticed it a LOT, too. A lot of very angry people go into security positions, and they are extremely stressful jobs. Plus, there’s a paranoid fear of violent crime in the US that just doesn’t match the statistics, so a lot of resources have been allotted to policing the public. For example, the US has the largest prison population in the world. And do you remember the paramilitary force that the city of Denver unleashed on protesters at the 2008 DNC? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/27 "2012-04-05T20:50:38Z")
Not uh, really… but I could look it up! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/28 "2012-04-05T20:52:40Z")
> [@spqrobert](#): > > The US is dangerously close to becoming a police state. The police and security agents call you Sir because they are ostensibly public servants. The word itself is polite. They are here to serve YOU, the public, but, like you pointed out, the tone is menacing. There is no relationship between use of the term “sir” and whether the US is a police state or not. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/29 "2012-04-05T20:53:30Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > There is no relationship between use of the term “sir” and whether the US is a police state or not. No relationship at all, no sir! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/30 "2012-04-05T21:36:12Z")
I read that in the voice of the racist crows from Bugs Bunny. I couldn’t help it ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/31 "2012-04-05T22:03:49Z")
In general, I find that the “sir” is entirely superfluous. It’s not that you could replace it with something less formal, it’s that it wasn’t necessary at all to begin with. As I’ve pointed out in threads (here and elsewhere) that lament that children are no longer taught to say “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am” all the time, it is possible to be polite without using those words. The version of “sir” I mentioned in my previous post is, in my opinion, the opposite of polite. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/32 "2012-04-05T23:11:34Z")
With cops, a lot of time they are video or audio taping the incident. They want it clear that they were addressing the unknown male and doing it respectfully. I think do think the formality conveys a sense of “You need to be paying attention and taking this seriously.” I have issues with a lot of cops procedures. This isn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/33 "2012-04-05T23:18:07Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > As I’ve pointed out in threads (here and elsewhere) that lament that children are no longer taught to say “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am” all the time, it is possible to be polite without using those words. How would you prefer that I phrase the, “Thank you, sir,” that I say when a guy holds the door for me? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/34 "2012-04-05T23:35:44Z")
When my partner calls me “Sir,” I know he’s ready for some fun in the dungeon. ---
**Author:** ![poker\_in\_the\_rear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@poker\_in\_the\_rear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poker_in_the_rear)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/35 "2012-04-05T23:56:43Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Donald Hamilton once wrote that the four most powerful words in the English language are “please”, “thank you”, “sir”, and “ma’am”. That’s five words.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/36 "2012-04-06T00:42:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > As I’ve pointed out in threads (here and elsewhere) that lament that children are no longer taught to say “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am” all the time, it is possible to be polite without using those words. The version of “sir” I mentioned in my previous post is, in my opinion, the opposite of polite. Is that some kind of sexism? Do you only respond affirmatively to men?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sin\_Serially](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Sin\_Serially](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sin_Serially)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806/37 "2012-04-06T01:02:48Z")
In my experience (Texas) the word “sir” is a two way street. When I was younger and looked like a long haired punk I’ve been pulled over for legit traffic violations. After a few tickets for speeding, I realized the power of the word “sir.” If you give a police officer a respectful (and it needs to be believable) “sir” to them, along with honest answers, you can get away with a warning most times. I’ve had a personal string of 11 warnings in a row, mostly for speeding when I was younger. I am certain it was because of my politeness, deference, and the use of the phrase “yes sir.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sir-become-a-word-of-intimidation-is-it-a-uniquely-american-usage/589806.md?page=1)