I suspect that there is significant overlap between the two backgrounds.
Alexander addressing Worf as "Sir"
- Thread starter Ragitsu
- Start date
I suspect that there is significant overlap between the two backgrounds.
I wouldn't. I don't believe in monarchic titles. That's why you won't find me calling Patrick Stewart "Sir" either. (nothing against him as a person, I don't know him personally, I'm just somewhat anti-Monarchy and don't believe in titles like that)
But I am somewhat familiar with calling unknown people or customers "Sir" and "Madam/Miss/Ms"
Ok, real world example - if I had to introduce someone it would be as Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Sir or Dame Whatchamacallit. Whatever their preferred prefix.
The convention is, in conversation to address them by their title and first name, so Sir Brian (or whatever), not as "Sir".
To be honest, I'd be somewhat unlikely to use Sir Brian in conversation either, Brian would have to do, but I absolutely would substitute Sir for Mr.
I'm a republican too (not in the American sense) but have little issue with granting titles as recognition of excellence. Hereditary titles are another thing altogether.
A lot of it depends on the attitude of the person you're addressing. Some people of high status prefer to have their title or honorific used. Others are like Lucy Pevensie in the Dawn Treader movie:
LUCY: "Welcome aboard."
GAYLE (curtsies): "Your majesty."
LUCY: "Call me Lucy."
LUCY: "Welcome aboard."
GAYLE (curtsies): "Your majesty."
LUCY: "Call me Lucy."
If that title was given for saving lives or something, I wouldn't have any problem with it either. But not many of those titles are granted for saving lives.
I've known a number of people from the deep American South who address people as "sir" or "ma'am" as basic everyday expressions of politeness. They would feel quite improper not using those terms.
To me it sounds overly formal coming from anyone without a Southern accent, especially if I'm the one being addressed as "sir." Personally, I use "sir" or "ma'am" only with somebody who's obviously significantly older than me, and whose name I don't know.
Kor
To me it sounds overly formal coming from anyone without a Southern accent, especially if I'm the one being addressed as "sir." Personally, I use "sir" or "ma'am" only with somebody who's obviously significantly older than me, and whose name I don't know.
Kor
I see it as a matter of respect. And I like treating people with respect.
As I said as an address to strangers or customers I'm somewhat familiar with it and don't see anything wrong with it.
But a child to a parent? That just sounds weird.
Again, it varies by culture. Lots of people think Americans in general are crazy because we still use feet, pounds, and miles. But for us, it's perfectly normal.
Oh I understand and accept that. I was just explaining my POV, being an European and a Dirty Hippie(tm) and all. I would already be weirded out if my (future) kids called me "father" instead of "daddy", but that was often the norm in Germany until the 1950s, especially in rural places.
Plus the whole "it happens in America" is really problematic with both TNG and Worf. Worf was raised by Space Russians, and TNG was both very touchy-feely and seemed like it tried to present itself as having a more international feel than TOS had (of course that seemed to be the intent, I think, the reality is something else again...)
Whenever I hear "Sir Brian," it makes me think of A.A. Milne's classic children's poem "Bad Sir Brian Botany."
I do with my dad sometimes, even at 37. My daughter likes to call me "Father" for fun. Certainly I have seen a wide variety of addresses working in mental health and retail so really doesn't strike me as terribly odd, even if a bit unusual.
No, I get that. It's just one of those quirks.
I don't know why but I found this to be really funny. My type of humor.
For the average Joe to address male adults (in general) as "Sir" or for children to acknowledge their Dads as "Sir"?
Similar threads
