One of the many difficulties I had in the Army (I lasted 4 months and 9 days) was that I kept forgetting to call officers “sir”. It’s not like I’d call them by their first names or anything, but beginning or ending every sentence with “sir” never became a reflex, like it ought to have been. It was particularly a problem in any context where we were having any sort of “conversation”, rather than a purely soldier/officer exchange.
Then again, I’ve always had trouble acknowledging authority. I’m not generally hostile to it, just oblivious; I’m respectful of expertise, but not often of rank.
fritzoid - I’ve never been in the military, but I’m like you. I’m respectful of expertise, but not so much pure rank. Not hostile, I just realize we’re all God’s creation. I wasn’t great at calling people “Mister” or “Missus” if other people called them by their first names, but I don’t ever remember getting in trouble for it. Thankfully, all my bosses preferred to be called by their first names, and some of them are/were millionaires.
Related note: In the Army, you’re not supposed to call NCO’s “Sir”, so in Basic Training it was less “Yes, Sir!”/”No Sir!” than “Yes, Drill Sergeant!”/”No, Drill Sergeant!” Of course, recruits would make the mistake from time to time, and my favorite DI retort to that was
“DON’T CALL ME ‘SIR’, I WORK FOR A LIVING!!!”
That always comes to mind whenever somebody calls ME “sir.” :-)
Edcole1961 almost 14 years ago
Never employ a chauffeur without eyes.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 14 years ago
One of the many difficulties I had in the Army (I lasted 4 months and 9 days) was that I kept forgetting to call officers “sir”. It’s not like I’d call them by their first names or anything, but beginning or ending every sentence with “sir” never became a reflex, like it ought to have been. It was particularly a problem in any context where we were having any sort of “conversation”, rather than a purely soldier/officer exchange.
Then again, I’ve always had trouble acknowledging authority. I’m not generally hostile to it, just oblivious; I’m respectful of expertise, but not often of rank.
jpozenel almost 14 years ago
Just call him “Barney”. See how that goes over.
Smiley Rmom almost 14 years ago
fritzoid - I’ve never been in the military, but I’m like you. I’m respectful of expertise, but not so much pure rank. Not hostile, I just realize we’re all God’s creation. I wasn’t great at calling people “Mister” or “Missus” if other people called them by their first names, but I don’t ever remember getting in trouble for it. Thankfully, all my bosses preferred to be called by their first names, and some of them are/were millionaires.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Related note: In the Army, you’re not supposed to call NCO’s “Sir”, so in Basic Training it was less “Yes, Sir!”/”No Sir!” than “Yes, Drill Sergeant!”/”No, Drill Sergeant!” Of course, recruits would make the mistake from time to time, and my favorite DI retort to that was
“DON’T CALL ME ‘SIR’, I WORK FOR A LIVING!!!”
That always comes to mind whenever somebody calls ME “sir.” :-)