an American man came up to me today and ask me for directions,after i help him, he said 'thank you, son' of course i was confused, i'm not his son why did he call me son?
2006-11-15 16:51:05 · 10 answers · asked by ##$SoulStryker$## 7 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
I think it's just short for "Son of dad." Kind of a catch all, you know?
2006-11-15 16:53:30 · answer #1 · answered by E_Soup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has nothing to do with americans........If I'm old enuf to be yer daddy and smart enuf not to be........I will call You "Son" Because of your lack of life experience. It's a term that means respect for what you know and wonder at what you don't know. I'm pushing 60......give me credit..........I've seen more than most 30 yr old. I've killed in hand to hand combat. The man that calls You "Son" gives you respect by calling you that. It means to him that you could become better than or as good as him. The worst it could mean is that you are merely a generation younger than he is. To Us old folks it's not an insult to call someone "son". More like a compliment. Recieve it as such! As a young man I had to learn how to communicate with the next older generation. You hafta do that too. If You can't or won't do that you will not recieve a lot of valuable information. Those who are willing to call you "son" probably know a lot of things that will help you if you bother to ask them.
2006-11-16 01:25:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the same reason that in other parts of the world someone may call you "mate" or a call a pond a "billabong" or call the restroom the "loo" or whatever. Someone might call an old lady "old bag". It's just a term of speech that is characteristic to that locale. There is a word for it but I can't think of what it is.
Bottom line is - not just older American's have funny little names for people or things. That sort of thing is world wide.
2006-11-16 02:14:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok the "american answer" and i mean no disrespect, some of us americans (the older ones) have been around the world a few times, you could actually be our son... Dont take it personally...
Oh no wait, it because they are jesus worshippers, the (older ones) get a holier than thou complex to anyone under 30...
Either way, think how long it took them to get that old, so when you make it you can call someone young'n, or skip, or son, or streak britches, respect the elders, cus you gonna be one someday.
2006-11-16 01:05:28 · answer #4 · answered by OMBlitz 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just a harmless expression..I tend to use some myself time to time but only in a positive way..Like : Babe, Kiddo, Hon , etc...its all good.
2006-11-16 01:04:45 · answer #5 · answered by legendary~cool 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just a figure of speech...like young people calling each other "dude".
2006-11-16 00:56:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's no offense, it's a term of endearment here. Better than being called sob.
2006-11-16 00:53:36 · answer #7 · answered by Mrs. Fuzzy Bottoms 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"son" is a good word. It is warm, affectionate and gentle.
2006-11-16 00:56:10 · answer #8 · answered by King of Hearts 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No clue
2006-11-16 06:30:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just they way they grew up.
2006-11-16 01:42:45 · answer #10 · answered by Judas Rabbi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋