Do you call anyone "Sir" or "Maam"?

Question

I work in retail and some of my collegues call customers "Sir". I refuse to call anyone Sir. I don't have a chip on my shoulder, but neither to I think that anyone is better or more deserving person that I am.
I also hate being called "Sir". I guess I'm just a relaxed person who considers everyone equal.
Do you have to call people "Sir" or "Maam" in your job? Do you choose to use these titles? Or are you on the recieving end? I'd love to hear some different opinions.

I work in retail and some of my collegues call customers "Sir". I refuse to call anyone Sir. I don't have a chip on my shoulder, but neither to I think that anyone is better or more deserving person that I am.
I also hate being called "Sir". I guess I'm just a relaxed person who considers everyone equal.
I guess being an Aussie in Australia plays a part in this. We're generally a relaxed culture and don't grow up calling people Sir or Maam.
In my job it's acceptable to address customers with "Hi, how are you", "Can I help you mate?" or even my personal favorite, since we sell computers "Hi, how can I confuse you today?"
Do you have to call people "Sir" or "Maam" in your job? Do you choose to use these titles? Or are you on the recieving end? I'd love to hear some different opinions.

II guess being an Aussie in Australia plays a part in this. We're generally a relaxed culture and don't grow up calling people Sir or Maam.
In my job it's acceptable to address customers with "Hi, how are you", "Can I help you mate?" or even my personal favorite, since we sell computers "Hi, how can I confuse you today?"

Answer 1

I'm an Aussie too, I did grow up calling adults I know, Mr or Mrs whoever and if I didn't know them it would be Sir or Mam, I don't use these titles a lot these days, but every now and then, I deal with people of a certain age, with a certain bearing and the old polite courtesies come about. For some people, this kind of respect is very immportant (not to say that you are not respecting them by not conferring these titles). I think sometimes the Aussie blokey nature gets in the way of things. It's sad that I try to get my children to show other adults respect by calling them Mr or Mrs Whomever, like I did as a kid, because I think, apart from anything else, that it's good to give these titles not only to people in positions of repect like teachers and politicians, but also with strangers. If my kids don't know someone, I don't want them on a first name basis straight away, it just leads to too much familiarity and puts the whole stranger danger education into confusion. Woops, I've gone way off track here haven't I? Anyway, most people my age (I'm 36) or even a bit older don't want to be called Mr or Mrs Whomever, nor Sir or Mam, but some older people do. If it really makes you uncomfortable to use that language, that's not a real problem for most, but there are some who would judge you harshly for it. There are probably some retail situations which would demand it as well. Especially if you get into the better Department Stores or boutiques.....

Answer 2

I grew up showing respect to not only my elders, but everyone else in-between.
Not only do I say Sir or Ma'am, but my hubby, sons, daughter in law say it as well. What we may think may be something totally different. I too use to work in retail, and could manage to give someone the most sincere smile, respect ever.. with just a touch of something that made them suspect they were being told to ---- off. Now, part of me regrets that wee bit of something.. I'm still quite good at it..but everyone deserves more than a smile, and only a little kindness.
True! We are all equals.. no better and no worse than anyone else.. and we are all a reflection of the other.. Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated.. if not today, maybe years down the road then..

Think about it..

Northern here.. so politeness has nothing to do with where you were born, south or north.. more so, it has to do with who brought you up, and how you were taught.

Answer 3

People who come from the Southern part of the United States often use these terms. They are part of our culture and are considered respectful. It's not that someone is better than anyone else, it's just part of the culture. Students in schools here are pretty much required to address adults as ma'am and sir, as it is considered rude not to do so. Also, many children in small towns in the South are taught to address adults as Mr. or Mrs., never by the adult's first name. They may refer to a friend's father as Mr. Smith or Mr. Jim, but never simply Jim.

Answer 4

Sir and Maam are respectful polite ways to address people. My father was in the military and he kind of instilled it in me as a kid. My job does not require me to call people sir or maam, but I see that people speak to me in a more respectful manner when I use the words. My kids are 5 and 2 and they both use sir and maam. People always tell my wife and I that we have such well mannered children. I feel that is a great compliment.

I agree with profile nobadkids.

Answer 5

It's been driven into my brain to call people "Sir" and "Ma'am" since I entered basic training. I'm a military police officer in the US Army, and I have to call everybody by those titles. It even runs over into my time off, because now it's just a habit and I can't get away from it. Sometimes I get weird looks from people, but hey, that's life.

Answer 6

I have to use "sir" and "ma'am" every day. If the person I'm talking to gives me their first name I'll just use that instead. I think that these titles are cold and impersonal, especially if you work in a setting where you deal with the same customers/clients every single day. I really don't like being called "ma'am" but I realize that many companies are really anal about their employees continuing to use them. I do however get really ticked when people call me "miss".

Answer 7

I think it is only polite to call someone sir or madam when you are doing business with them ...from both ends...i call service people sir or maam, and i expect the same back, when you are my friend you can call me "mate' or "bloke" or dude or by my first name...but for a stranger of equal social standing...Ie not a child...it should be sir

Answer 8

I say Sir, Ma'am, Miss but I don't get carried away with it.
Don't want to sound like Marine recruit...."sir yes sir!"
Barristas, fast food employee, bus driver.
Might call anybody sir or ma'am etc.
but again...I don't get carried away with it.
But they are usually part of those everyday, basically meaningless interactions throughout the day.
doesn't hurt to be civil.
But excessive sir or ma'am sounds phoney and manipulative.
Like Eddie Haskell
___
Eddie Haskell from "Leave It To Beaver".
quote
The character of Eddie Haskell, played in the original series by Ken Osmond became a cultural reference, recognized as an archetype for the behind-your-back rebel. Eddie was the kind of friend parents such as Ward and June Cleaver wish their children would limit association with, but need to have to gain learning experiences. Even today, the phrase "Eddie Haskell" is known to refer to an insincere brownnoser.

Eddie was known for his neat grooming hiding his shallow and sneaky character. Typically, Eddie would greet his friends' parents with overdone good manners and often a compliment such as "That's a lovely dress you're wearing, Mrs. Cleaver." Eddie's two-faced style was also typified by his efforts to curry favor by trying to talk to adults at the level he thought they would respect, such as referring to their children as Theodore (Beaver's much-disliked given name) and Wallace, even though the parents called them Beaver and Wally.
unquote
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Haskell

Answer 9

I don't work in retail. I don't have a boss. I have a wall covered with licenses and degrees. I make a good income solving peoples' problems. I choose which problems I am willing to solve, and which ones I prefer golf to solving. My clients don't have the option of ignoring their problems, but I do. Nobody can fire me, no matter what I do or say.

I call my clients "Sir" or "Ma'am" until they invite me to be more familiar with them.

No rule says you have to, though. I suggest you think about it, because your lack of courtesy tells people a lot about you.

Answer 10

I do but only if I don't know the person. Like if I am in a store and someone in front of me leaves one of their bags at the register by accident. I will say "Excuse me sir/ma'am you forget this one" or something like that. If you work in retail at the register then its polite to say "Sir or Ma'am" Like "Good day sir" or such. Or just say "good day" or something.
I don't like having people call me "Ma'am" but if they don't know me and it's in a store then I don't have any problem with it cause I know they are just being polite.