This is not respectful or even acceptable

[Miss Maple Leaf]

Only women worry about a term of respect being age-related. Have you ever heard of a man objecting to being called "sir?"

Just sayin'.

Men have it easy though. They just have "sir". It's a one-age-fits-all term of respect. If they had two they had to worry about like women, they'd bitch just as much as we do.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

I don't mind being called ma'am. I remember the first time someone called me that, though...I was in my early 20s and a girl who was probably in middle school came to the door to do some kind of fundraising. I didn't take it out on her but I was like...WHAT did she just call me??

[RetailWorkhorse]

Have you ever heard of a man objecting to being called "sir?"

Yeah and he got NASTY about it, too.

I told him I didn't know him but I COULD call him "Ma'am" and he got even angrier. Thank Gods he was a dillweed Tourist or I'd have had to deal with him a LOT.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Have you ever heard of a man objecting to being called "sir?"

It happened in this thread.

I posted this cartoon in response.

[MoonCat]

I give up. I think from now on I'll just call everybody "chucklehead".

[Mytical]

I will always think Sir and Mr. Mytical are things people call my father..but I am at least not a jerk about it .

[BeenThereDoneThat]

People are just so touchy...I mean, I am certainly too sensitive in some cases but as long as people are nice I can deal with it

[Geek King]

Yeah and he got NASTY about it, too.

I told him I didn't know him but I COULD call him "Ma'am" and he got even angrier. Thank Gods he was a dillweed Tourist or I'd have had to deal with him a LOT.

You could always try "Meister" or "Goodman". Meister was generally used for a craftsman, later a ranking member of a guild. Goodman was the generic address for any respectable working man when you didn't know better.

Besides, pulling out the old terms usually stuns an SC until you're out of range.

[RetailWorkhorse]

If that guy had been a Working Class man then I wouldn't have had to deal with him. He seemed to think he was better than me because I worked in a Tourist Town and he had the money to spend in said Tourist Town.

Jokes on him, though. I knew where all the good spots were and I didn't share (here's a secret: it's NOWHERE NEAR TOURIST TOWN!).

[kokopuff3]

I was raised to call older people either Miss/Mr. and their first name (for adults I knew outside of the family)..Miss Denise for example, or by their title and surname..(I'm of Jamaican heritage, btw)..Now, for myself, I don't mind being called sweetie or hon..but if someone called my mother or grandmother that, I would take umbrage because I would feel they're not showing the proper respect..