Hello Sir

Friday 14 September 2007 | Labels: , | |

In my business travels, I am called Sir a lot - from flight attendants, taxi drivers, hotel and restaurant workers, airport employees (minus the custom guards who I always call Sir or Ma'am).

"Hello Sir", "Thank you Sir", "Take care Sir".

While this may be just common courtesy and may not mean much, I feel being called Sir is undeserving for me. Sure, I am playing the part of the businessman and they the servers. Sure, it's a sign of respect, but I feel undeserving of that respect, because I've done nothing to earn it. I mean just because I'm dressed up and able to pay (with company money) for these services... does that makes me entitled to be called Sir? I don't think so.

Some people may like being called Sir, but me... being called Sir by others, especially older people is weird. In Korean culture, it's important and common to show respect to those that are older then you. And certainly, I try to call people Sir when I can.

Just the other day, as I was being dropped off at home by a taxi driver, I was going to say "Thank you, good night Sir".
But then he said "Thank you Sir" first.
So I just left it at "Thank you, good night", thinking "darn it, he got to it first..." I thought it would be forced and awkward when two people are calling each other Sir.

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous says:

    you should write more! :) i look forward to seeing what you'll write about next. it always sounds like you give quite a lot of thought into what you write. and yes, i echo your sentiments about being called "sir". i feel awkward too. but, i must admit, it does feel good to be called "sir, but at the same time, i get that weird feeling every time it happens.

  2. hm park says:

    Yes Sir. Thank you Sir. =)

  3. Anonymous says:

    har dee har har... ... sir! :)

  4. giz lau says:

    ppl call me sir ALL the time :) hahaa. and you're right. i totally don't deserve it.