Is it normol i say sir alot , its a habit im trying to brake .

I use to go too marshal srts training for a number of years I think about 12 years . I have been to diffrent marshal arts in diffrent Dojos. they always make us bow and say " Sir " or "Mam " . However Sir is cosidered ok for both genders of athoerity . I still have the habit of sometimes bowing or saying no "sir " or Yes "Sir ". Or Hello Sir " . I hate this habit becuase everytime I slip and say "Sir " outside the Dojo poeple look at me strangley. The adults love it and think im very respectful but all the kids my age and somtimes younger look at me and say " Whats your problem " to this I promptly apoligize for my odd behavoir and poeple complain so I try not to do it as much , but it still kindve happens .

Is It Normal?
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Comments ( 51 ) Sort: best | oldest
  • You know, I say sir alot and I don't think you should stop :) In fact, I think we need more people saying sir, as that type of politeness has been forgotten in today's society :)

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  • Well Sir, who cares what people think?

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    • Don't tase me bro, I mean sir.

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      • Honestly, I think it's a good practice. I do the same because I just think it's more respectful. Also, when I say thank you I expect people to say You're Welcome instead of No Problem. That's just stupid. Keep up the good manners. It's a good thing. Cheers

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        • I am always polite and address folks like Janet Napolitano and Janet Reno as sir.

          And in the spirit of using good manners I would like to thank you for your reply to my comment. My utmost thanks to you kind sir!

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  • I called a woman sir in america.. Oh well

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  • My parents have a family rule in that us kids must always respond to all adults with "yes sir/no sir or yes ma'am/no ma'am". My dad is in the air force and he is big time strict on us. Last year I tried to get my parents to ease up on the sir and ma'am requirement but that only got me grounded in addition to a slap across the mouth for smarting off. So you are not the only one who says "yes sir and no sir or yes ma'am and no ma'am" because I can tell you that me and my 4 brothers do too. Actually most military families are big on their kids having really good manners.

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  • I work in hospitality and I have to serve people everyday, so I always call them 'Sir, Miss' And now it has actually used in my everyday speech, if I bump into someone by accident I always have to say 'Sorry Sir!' So yeah I would say it's normal and polite.

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  • its normal to say sir ...but around kids eh maybe ease off it a bit... you'll give them a wierd impression but thats a good habit to say sir imo because its out of respect and habit :)

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    • Thats kindve the piotn and you dont just stop a trained process whenever you want you poeple act like its a switch its a trianed bahavior .

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  • its a form of manners and respect that most people (americans at least) these days lack

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  • I say "hey miss" to women i don't know if i need to speak to them.

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  • Saying sir is a good and polite habit to have; it shows that you are respectful towards your elders. Saying sir to a female is not acceptable/proper though. Females should be addressed as mam or madam. Though madam is much less common and might get you some strange looks depending where you live I suppose.

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  • I knew exactly which user this was based entirely on the writing.

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  • Well sir, you should probably work on your spelling skills. Lol but seriously, the only time when it's really appropriate to say "ma'am" or "sir" is in a formal setting or with someone much older.

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  • Sounds like good manners to me.

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  • Well, just because it is okay, and respectful to say it on occasion, doesn't mean you should punctuate every remark with it. e.g.. "Yes sir, thank you sir, good bye sir." Maybe just saying it once at the beginning of your conversation, i.e. "Sir, could I ask you a question?" would be construed as normal.

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  • Yes, you should probably slam on the "brakes" because it sounds like your habit has gotten a little out of hand. Try to just say "Sir" to men who are several years older than you. :)

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    • I do . I say it every male older than me . poeple think its odd though . I say it to a police, to a marine, a teacher , the principal the man at my dojo ECS. poeple always look at me odd though .

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  • It's normal and nice. Ignore their rudeness towards respect. I'm actually the opposite for the most part, though. I have the curious habit of calling adults who are much older than me by their first names:/

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    • I never know adults first name . I try to stop becuase poeple my age give me funny looks and so I been trying to brake it . Although adults like it .

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      • I've gotten strange reactions too, but only one person flipped out on me and that was a relative. In a less casual and more professional setting I'll use (Miss, Mrs, and Mr) but only for instructors. It's been ingrained into you buy your training. Surely, they would understand if you explained to them, but then again you shouldn't have to justify your training. If you can't stop it then try to ignore your peers. It may look strange to them, but remember that politeness is always better than rudeness.

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        • I know I explain that and they ususally just reply with something like saying im a idiot or im just wierd, and I aucutlly wish mroe people would be polite like me I try my best to have manners but no one does anymore I stopped alot of habits like that becuase poeple tend to give me funny looks .

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          • You really need better friends...

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            • you might have a piont . this isnt all poeple I know though but this is the genrel reaction from anyone my age and some poeple I do know .

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