Quaint old custom or cringeworthy sycophantism?...

[RedRider]

In Scotland kids often call guys 'Mister', as in

'Hey Mister, gie us our baw back before we kneecap ye ya fanny!!'

Seriously though, at Secondary School, all female teachers were called

'Miss'

As a first year, I thought there were a LOT of unmarried teachers in that school until someone explained to me!

I was just about to post, that is the only context I think I've ever called someone 'mister'. Bit more polite about it in Liverpool tho.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I know what @TonyEnjoyD means, but it kinda sounds OK when Americans say it...sounds very respectful, if perhaps a tad military.

My husband is American and was brought up to say Yes Sir and Yes Ma'am (he also served in both the Army and Marines)
It's very respectful.
I use it when meeting an older friends of my in-laws for the first time. It's more prevalent in some states than others I believe - my in-laws come from North Carolina

 

[Fnaar]

My husband is American and was brought up to say Yes Sir and Yes Ma'am (he also served in both the Army and Marines)
It's very respectful.
I use it when meeting an older friends of my in-laws for the first time. It's more prevalent in some states than others I believe - my in-laws come from North Carolina

I appreciate what you're saying here, ma'am.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Buying a round table........ Oh, forget it!

Yep... Go get your coat

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

I don't mind being called Sir now and again, but more than once or twice in a conversation makes me feel a bit awkward and reminds me of the Homer Simpson quote - "Maybe for once, someone will call me "sir" without adding, "You're making a scene.""

 

[ASC1951]

I have always lived in the Home Counties and never I've been called dear down here. But, Master ArDee went to the University of Sheffield, when visiting him in Sheffield, I've often been called dear or love in shops, restaurants and pubs. Perhaps it’s an area of country thing.

It is. 'Dear' or 'love' to generally middle aged and older women was common in the West Midlands where I grew up, but 'love' to men is very much a Yorkshire/Lancashire usage - it threw me a bit when I moved up here.

 

[marknotgeorge]

My first thought when called Sir is 'Don't call me Sir, I work for a living!'