Replies to post #90334 on LEE KRAMER'S ROOM: With Views

[dukeb]

I'm assuming that you've called customer service from your bank, your wireless provider, an online store. Some of those folks provide you with their name, but others don't.

When asked a yes/no question by such a person I respond with "Yes, sir," "no sir," "yes, ma'am," or "no ma'am."

How would you reply if they didn't provide their name?

[236T568]

With the male friends that I know very well, I use the phrase "Hey Boy" when I first talk to them. Another way of saying "Hi (and their first name)". They are very comfortable with this.

I think calling adult men and women "ma'am" and "sir" is more common in some parts of the country than in others. It's definitely Southern if you use them with your parents. And naturally they're also proper ways to address superiors in the military, or on the police force and the like.

But personally, I've never called anyone "sir" or "ma'am". Much less "young lady" or "young man".

[BullNBear52]

It's definitely Southern if you use them with your parents

Well my grandmother and my dad were as Yankee as they come since they were both from Massachusetts. I learned that saying yeah didn't cut it. My dad was in the Army and I understand the sir part since he had 3 boys to deal with after my mom passed away.

My grandmother was born in the late 1800s and she insisted that when we walked to the store I walk on the curb side and I'd have to switch sides if we crossed a street. I finally asked her why and she said if a horse jumps the curb you'd get killed first.

Something that stuck with me all my life.