Question for Americans

[thismaz]

So I was watching Supernatural the other night and noticed how Dean and Sam kept calling their Dad 'Sir'. Is that like the norm in the US? Or does it betray their social background? regional origins? Something else? Is it only sons who would do that, or would daughters also call their Dad 'Sir'. Do they call their Mom 'Marm'?

It sounds so weird and formal and distant to my British ears.

Maybe it's me.... Question for British readers - any of you call your Dad 'Sir'? (You don't have to answer if you are a member of the royal family - we'll just assume you do)

Comments

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Um... when I lived in the south as a child, I picked up the "sir" "ma'am" habit for a few months just because my friends did it. So, I think it's regional. Of course, when we moved back to the midwest after a few months, I stopped. My mom said she was relieved because it creeped her out a bit too.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I thought I was joking with the "ma'am" question. *g*

I can imagine it would be a bit freaky, if your child suddenly started calling you ma'am. Although, in other circumstances (and with a particular accent) it is a term I really like - once when I was 24, 25, something like that, I had to phone NASA for work and I accidentally got through to the scientist in charge of the programme. I asked him the question my bosses wanted and he called me "ma'am". He was obviously at least middle aged, from his voice, and I was *so* charmed. No one had ever used such a term towards me, it made me feel special.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

NASA in Florida? That would support the regional theory. I certainly never heard ma'am/sir in the midwest or southwest.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're right - NASA in Florida.

Sharvie, up above, says the Winchesters are from Lawrence. I've just been searching around, looking to find out which Lawrence - Mapquest gives me a choice of 10. But there is one in Alabama and one in Texas.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sharvie_/]

Kansas, I bout fell out of my chair when I saw that cross the screen. It's the home of the Jayhawks! (That's our school mascot. Some people who follow college basketball know about KU - University of Kansas, because our team kicks butt.)

According to local urban legend aka my husband, and a movie or two somewhere, about 14 miles outside of town, in another town called Stull, is an old church which houses one of the seven gates of hell. I shit you not! He doesn't know anything else, or how this legend came about or where the ideology comes from, it was just one of those things you knew growing up in a small town. I'm thinking it's why they chose Lawrence to be their hometown. It might play into the show somehow.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Lawrence, Kansas, huh? - Oh well, that doesn't support Litgal's theory of southern terminology - although it doesn't contradict it either. You are probably both right - there is a regional element to the use of the word 'Sir' and there is a social (military style) element, too.

Good to know that I gave you a laugh, though. As you will have guessed, my knowledge of the US is severely limited.

Thanks for the clarification.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sharvie_/]

I wasn't laughing at you, hun. I meant when I saw my college town's name on the screen when the show premiered. And my knowledge of anything not American is sadly limited, so don't feel bad.

And I got more info from hubby! He says that while his friends didn't call their dads 'sir'. They called his dad 'sir', even though he didn't call anyone 'sir'. For what that is worth. *shrug* I'm from California. Unless someone was signing your paycheck you never heard 'sir'. *lol*

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

No, honest - I meant it - I would have been glad if you had a laugh. Didn't at all feel laughed at, more laughed with. Should have put a smiley face there. Sorry, to give the wrong impression.

*Grin* What a respectable lot you Californians must be - I wouldn't even use 'sir' to the guy signing the check. :-)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sharvie_/]

Ah good. I'm just glad I didn't offend you after only a few days. *lol* I've had issues with people on LJ in the past and now take a direct approach when I think things might have been misunderstood. Nip it in the bud, so to speak. Makes things easier as I tend to dwell. Not to worry. *g*

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am *so* glad you replied to this. I was afraid you might think 'leave it, best not to risk making misunderstanding worse'. You are so right to be direct. I tend to dwell, too. Thank you, again. ::reminds self to read more carefully and use smiley faces more::