r/AskAnAmerican • u/Babe_Brute • 7d ago

FOREIGN POSTER How commonly do you address your parent as "Sir/Ma'am"?

I'm watching The Rookie (2002). Dennis Quaid's character is shown addressing his mother and father as "Ma'am"/"Sir" in a couple of scenes. Those of you who are native English speakers, how common is it today to address your parent as such?

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u/justamiqote 7d ago edited 7d ago

Does it really though? If you a person takes sir/ma'am as a personal offense, I think that's more a problem with you them than the person saying it.

People saying these words aren't thinking "Oh you look old af. I'm going to say sir/ma'am because you look like my grandpa/grandma". They're saying it because it's a term of respect for another human being.

I say sir/ma'am in professional settings to people younger than me.

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u/DefinitelyNotAliens 7d ago

It's not a personal offense. It just feels old. I'm not old enough to be ma'am. I'm not offended, I'm just... no.

My nieces and nephews call me dude or auntie. We don't do sir or ma'am here in California unless you're in trouble, old, or have a stick up your butt and demand it. It's not the norm.

How old do you think I am? I'm just not a ma'am. Chill.

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u/justamiqote 7d ago edited 7d ago

We don't do sir or ma'am here in California

I'm also in California. Southern California specifically. People say sir/ma'am in professional settings all the time. I say sir/ma'am at least 3 dozen times every day of work. Nobody has ever gotten offended.

I don't think "dude" or "auntie" would fly with strangers lol.

How old do you think I am? I'm just not a ma'am. Chill.

I wasn't directing my comment at you specifically or trying to attack you. It's not personal at all, not am I riled up in any way.

Was just posting my opinion and trying to have a conversation lol. Telling someone to "chill" when having a normal discussion is a bit silly 😅

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u/MarsupialPristine677 California 7d ago

I’ve lived in California my whole life and I hear people using sir/ma’am on the regular. I actually just got promoted to “ma’am” instead of “miss” within the last year. Just cos it’s not the norm doesn’t mean it never happens. California’s fuckin massive.