I agree with part of what he's saying -- for some reason I've always had a problem with the word "sir." It struck me that people use the word Sir when they are artificially supplicating, or feining respect like "You, sir, are an idiot," or saying Sir to a cop at a traffic stop.
I always thought that was particularly DISrespectful, and my policy to show respect by being forthright with people and speaking respectfully, instead of signally respect where there is none.
In the South, using "sir" and "ma'am" is par for the course. When I lived there, it took some getting used to, particularly because I couldn't help thinking how false it would sound back in California.
I agree. I always address LEOs at traffic stops as "Officer". Of some 15+ traffic stops in my years of driving, I've only landed three tickets. "Sir" just seems like it's begging for trouble.
I always thought that was particularly DISrespectful, and my policy to show respect by being forthright with people and speaking respectfully, instead of signally respect where there is none.