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>>I was required to refer to all adults as sir or >>ma’am, aside from my own parents. >> >>I vividly recall some of the teachers in school giving >>kids a death stare and saying “yes, what?” if >>someone neglected to put a sir or ma’am on the end >>of it. >> >>That is something I have had to unlearn so to speak, >>as many people nowadays get offended if you use it! I >>am sure kids today are very frustrated, with half of >>adults requiring it and the other half biting your >>head off if you do. > >Hi James, > >Yes I know what you mean by the 'death stare'! lf you >omitted a Sir or Ma'am when answering a teacher or >other adult, especially if they were in a position of >power or authority. > >I found, speaking for myself and my siblings and >cousins, that it was something that came naturally to >me (us) and it was difficult not to address adults as >Sir or Ma'am! Even today I habitually use this form >of address! And it was not just the threat of >'painful consequences' - a SPANKING - if after a >number of warnings, I still forgot to use this form of >address when addressing my elders and betters, that >made me mindful of this. But an ingrained sense of >respect and it being the right thing to do. > >It is confusing for young folks today. I know some >families where it is in certain circumstances required >or encouraged though nothing like to the same extent >when I was growing up. Even in the South attitudes >have become much more casual and relaxed.

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