Have a nice day sir

[Mike Gallo]

Lately I have experienced a new phenomenom in my life.
People younger than me and older than me refer to me as sir.

I will give two examples from yesterday. I usually wear a suit most days to work and the days I do not wear a suit I will wear a dress shirt and dress slacks. I turn 40 in three months, so I must appear "old".

Yesterday morning as I left my local Wa-Wa I waited to hold the door for a man in his early sixties. He thanked me and said "have a nice day sir".

Later on in the day I went to a local supermarket for lunch. I had a conversation with a woman in her mid fifties. We parted ways and as she left she told me to "have a nice day sir"

At what age does a man become a sir?

[Paul B.]

Using words like "sir" is just being polite, which has little to do with age.

[ThaSaltCracka]

I'll say "sir" to any random person, and it has nothing to do with age. I've also had people say it to me, and I am 25.

[doubLe a tom]

im 20 and people call me sir all the time.

[ClassicBob]

I'm 23, am called sir all the time, and call those both younger and older than me sir.

[solids]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm 23, am called sir all the time, and call those both younger and older than me sir.

[/ QUOTE ]

[AbreuTime]

I am 23, and call all males older than 13 sir, if they are not morons. I'm amused when I say it to a 17 year old cashier and he doesn't know how to react.

[Jim14Qc]

[ QUOTE ]
I am 23, and call all males older than 13 sir, if they are not morons. I'm amused when I say it to a 17 year old cashier and he doesn't know how to react.

[/ QUOTE ]

When I worked as a cashier (between ages 14 and 18) I was being called semi-regularly sir by people 50+. Was always funny/weird.

[sightless]

I say sir to any random male

[RobTheDuck]

GRUNCH

Mike,

When I moved to Texas (from Maine) at age 11, I found it hilarious that my fellow classmates called our teachers "sir" and "ma'am."

Within a few months I was doing the same. In Texas at least, it is nothing more than a sign of respect. So when you hold the door for someone - whether they are older or younger than you - I think them calling you 'sir' is nothing more than a respectful way of saying thanks.

Now, I could be way off base here since we're in the north.

My 2 sense.