When to Tip or Remove Ones' Hat

[Big Mikey]

My thanks to all who have contributed to the section on appropriate greetings but if we could, please return the thread to its' original topic.

[Jack Daw]

If "sir" is not used as a polite form of address, what do people in your area say instead?


Same here. I would be in deep trouble if I took a familiar or casual tone with an adult. It was always "yes sir" and "yes ma'am" to my elders. And we were never allowed to address our elders by their first name unless they were a family friend, in which case it was always preceded by "mister" or "miss". For example, the correct response to my father's friend would be "yes sir, Mister John".

Nowadays it seems that people actually get offended at being called sir or ma'am, because it makes them feel old.

I still maintain a bit of this by expecteing my nieces and nephews to refer to me as, "Uncle Steve," rather than just Steve. But, I certainly understand others who choose not to continue this practice.