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

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

Is that like the norm in the US?
No way in hell! *lol*
Or does it betray their social background?
Yes, as in, it isn't so much done to illustrate where they grew up (region or otherwise) but how they grew up.

It's to show how much they are not like other kids. They weren't raised normally. Most parents want their kids to grow up, get a good education, have a good life. While we know their dad wants them to be happy, we've already seen how he reacted to Sam's education. With a lot of families it is almost expected that you will go to college, even if you don't want to. This dad wanted them to be hunters, like him. They were raised to be demon killers, skilled warriors. And I think (at least my opinion) is that the 'sir' is to show he expected them to treat him like a commander and not a father.

The only time I've heard 'sir' used in a "normal" fashion was with a suitor. Other than that it's used in military type families, much like Sam and Dean. Where the emphasis is on structure and discipline. *shiver*

[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.