Australian Politics Forum - Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir

George_Orhell Senior Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 445	Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir Reply #15 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 9:26am Another deparately vital topic.
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Amadd

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #16 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 9:55am

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 8:05am:

Amadd wrote on Jul 14^th, 2014 at 11:54pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 14^th, 2014 at 9:02pm:

OK, this is gonna hurt like hell: ian is 100% correct.

I don't like this "sir" business, by the way.

I was at a nice restaurant the other night and the waiters kept calling me "Sir" every five minutes.

I got so fed up with it that I decided not to order the third bottle of wine, and I left and went to the pub instead.

I detest being called "Sir".

Sounds like you would've done zero driving the next day? Wink

That is correct, sir.

Just checking po Wink

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bogarde73

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #17 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 10:35am

I like the standard of politeness followed in American public life particularly. (There's not a whole lot more to like about them culturally unfortunately)
If anyone has watched the PBS NewsHour program or listened to NPR, it will come across how much more polite and civil they are towards each other. In fact I remember once sending them an email asking them to come over and give some lessons to our journalists.

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The Heartless Felon Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 2869 Gender:	Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir Reply #18 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 10:42am Waiters always call male diners "Sir", as in: Waiter! Waiter! Yes sir. Do you have frogs legs? No sir, I always walk this way...
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Annie Anthrax

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #19 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 10:55am

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 7:05am:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 14^th, 2014 at 11:16pm:

Students use 'sir' regularly toward lecturers and tutors.

Really? What uni is that?

We called our male teachers sir at school in the fifties and sixties. They now use their title Mr, Mrs or Miss followed by their first or last name.

I never heard one student use sir at uni, we always used their first name.

Same here. For lecturers, I use "Doctor" or the appropriate equivalent and then the surname in initial written correspondence, but they always sign off with their first name which I use from then onward.

I have never called a tutor anything but their first name and have never heard anyone else do so.

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ian

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #20 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 12:08pm

Annie Anthrax wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 10:55am:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 7:05am:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 14^th, 2014 at 11:16pm:

Students use 'sir' regularly toward lecturers and tutors.

Really? What uni is that?

We called our male teachers sir at school in the fifties and sixties. They now use their title Mr, Mrs or Miss followed by their first or last name.

I never heard one student use sir at uni, we always used their first name.

Same here. For lecturers, I use "Doctor" or the appropriate equivalent and then the surname in initial written correspondence, but they always sign off with their first name which I use from then onward.

I have never called a tutor anything but their first name and have never heard anyone else do so.

This is one reason why this country is in such bad shape, lack of respect.

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Laugh till you cry

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #21 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 1:01pm

ian wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 12:08pm:

Annie Anthrax wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 10:55am:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 7:05am:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 14^th, 2014 at 11:16pm:

Students use 'sir' regularly toward lecturers and tutors.

Really? What uni is that?

We called our male teachers sir at school in the fifties and sixties. They now use their title Mr, Mrs or Miss followed by their first or last name.

I never heard one student use sir at uni, we always used their first name.

Same here. For lecturers, I use "Doctor" or the appropriate equivalent and then the surname in initial written correspondence, but they always sign off with their first name which I use from then onward.

I have never called a tutor anything but their first name and have never heard anyone else do so.

This is one reason why this country is in such bad shape, lack of respect.

Respect is earned not gifted.

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Lord Herbert

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #22 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 1:31pm

ian wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 12:08am:

You wouldn't like the us then, they use it constantly in service industries. Even the coppers use it, the yanks are incredibly courteous.

Correct.

It's why Australian women went crazy for them when they arrived here during WWII.

The women had never been treated with such good manners and courtesy, and the American soldiers actually wanted to have conversations with them ... (Yes! With women!)

It's no surprise that the Aussie men were constantly initiating fights with these polite visitors.

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Laugh till you cry

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #23 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 1:35pm

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 1:31pm:

ian wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 12:08am:

You wouldn't like the us then, they use it constantly in service industries. Even the coppers use it, the yanks are incredibly courteous.

Correct.

It's why Australian women went crazy for them when they arrived here during WWII.

The women had never been treated with such good manners and courtesy, and the American soldiers actually wanted to have conversations with them ... (Yes! With women!)

It's no surprise that the Aussie men were constantly initiating fights with these polite visitors.

That wasn't fighting. It was a mating ritual. Australians were competing with their women for the American men.

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Lord Herbert Gold Member Offline Posts: 34441 Gender:	Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir Reply #24 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 1:38pm Laugh till you cry wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 1:01pm: Respect is earned not gifted. Wrong. Respectful behaviour and attitude is the default position of the true gentleman. If this is later found not to be warranted, then this courtesy is abandoned as not being deserved.
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Amadd Gold Member Offline Mo Posts: 6217	Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir Reply #25 - Jul 15^th, 2014 at 11:29pm Correct That's why the yanks are always looking for new and unusual countries to invade.
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The Heartless Felon Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 2869 Gender:	Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir Reply #26 - Jul 16^th, 2014 at 6:33am Amadd wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 11:29pm: Correct That's why the yanks are always looking for new and unusual countries to invade. The American Marines who invaded Grenada are known as Grenadines...
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Lord Herbert

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #27 - Jul 16^th, 2014 at 8:10am

Amadd wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 11:29pm:

Correct

That's why the yanks are always looking for new and unusual countries to invade.

We're speaking English today instead of German or Japanese only because America gave up its youth to defeat a genocidal tyranny in Europe and a barbarian cult of Bushido in the Asia-Pacific region.

Every migrant to Australia owes it to the Americans that this country is today a free society of First World standards.

I've always found the ANZAC Day 'celebrations' to be so very bloody Irish for the ludicrous paradox that it is, when in fact a more rational day of celebration would be for Australians and the countries of Europe to reserve a day each year in thanks of the Americans without whom we would all have been conquered by some very nasty people indeed.

This faddish resentment towards the US is churlish in the extreme for its lack of gratitude and its spiteful petulance.

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Amadd

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #28 - Jul 16^th, 2014 at 8:27am

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 16^th, 2014 at 8:10am:

Amadd wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 11:29pm:

Correct

That's why the yanks are always looking for new and unusual countries to invade.

We're speaking English today instead of German or Japanese only because America gave up its youth to defeat a genocidal tyranny in Europe and a barbarian cult of Bushido in the Asia-Pacific region.

Every migrant to Australia owes it to the Americans that this country is today a free society of First World standards.

I've always found the ANZAC Day 'celebrations' to be so very bloody Irish for the ludicrous paradox that it is, when in fact a more rational day of celebration would be for Australians and the countries of Europe to reserve a day each year in thanks of the Americans without whom we would all have been conquered by some very nasty people indeed.

This faddish resentment towards the US is churlish in the extreme for its lack of gratitude and its spiteful petulance.

Yes indeed. We can certainly be thankful that America entered WW2.

Barely any of those people are alive today. And of those who are, and having seen the horrors of war, I'll bet they'd advocate all governments to do their utmost to keep out of them.

I'd imagine a lot of the WW2 veterans would be a bit disappointed at the eagerness to wage war that some governments have shown.

The WMD fiasco lost me, and lest we forget that one. Not to mention the gulf of Tonkin lie.

Just because I'm greatful for the actions of one generation or government, it doesn't mean that I can't be disappointed or disgusted in the next..and visa versa.

A lot of people have died for the right to freedom...have some respect please.

And btw, where I'm currently situated, there is more WW2 history than you poke a stick at.
Just a few blocks from here, 143 US soldiers perished when the Japs poured petrol over them in an air raid shelter. Those who came running out on fire were clubbed to death, stabbed and beheaded. Only 11 escaped.
There's also many WW2 wrecks that I've dived close to here and many other memorials that makes one feel very privileged at the life I'm able to enjoy today.

It also makes me very angry when it appears to me that some governments are far too headstrong and willing to throw people's lives at a problem where there may be other avenues.

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« Last Edit: Jul 16^th, 2014 at 8:57am by Amadd »

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Prime Minister for Canyons

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Re: Let us hope the Americanism of calling people sir
Reply #29 - Jul 16^th, 2014 at 9:19am

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 16^th, 2014 at 8:10am:

Amadd wrote on Jul 15^th, 2014 at 11:29pm:

Correct

That's why the yanks are always looking for new and unusual countries to invade.

We're speaking English today instead of German or Japanese only because America gave up its youth to defeat a genocidal tyranny in Europe and a barbarian cult of Bushido in the Asia-Pacific region.

Every migrant to Australia owes it to the Americans that this country is today a free society of First World standards.

I've always found the ANZAC Day 'celebrations' to be so very bloody Irish for the ludicrous paradox that it is, when in fact a more rational day of celebration would be for Australians and the countries of Europe to reserve a day each year in thanks of the Americans without whom we would all have been conquered by some very nasty people indeed.

This faddish resentment towards the US is churlish in the extreme for its lack of gratitude and its spiteful petulance.

We already give thanks to the Americans by watching their poo WW2 movies, in which they won the war single handedly.

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