incessant

Hearing "Sir" from a person the same age is tough, especially from a female.

It is amazing how the body seems to progress through the years faster then the mind. I am 24 and still view 20 as 'my age'. Though, in reality the difference is staggering. Everyone guesses 30ish.

Danno

I'm in my 30s and I still carded at all the pubs and grocery stores. Then again, my hero is a 6-year old kid. And when I grow up, I want to be just like Calvin!

I don't think 'Sir' and 'Ma'am' has anything do with age, but rather of respect. I don't know whatever happened to training of manners and grace in schools, but it would'nt be a bad idea to reintroduce it! There was a school in ... where was it... Tennessee? Or Mississippi? That required all the kids to address their teachers with "Sir" and "Ma'am"!

Doug&Julie

I don't mind "Sir", but I would never call a woman "Ma'am"...always "Miss". There is no other option for "Sir", but "Ma'am" is definitely the "older" version of "Miss". So its always "Miss".

...IF I don't know their name...

James86-951

I grew up in the south in military household. Everyone was called sir and maam. It is to show respect. I am 35 and will say sir and maam to people that are obviously younger than I. If I get to know them I stop. (Except for my grandmother, she is ALWAYS maam!)

I studied German when I was in school. They have built in the sir and maam in the rules of the language. I think the English just left it as a courtesy and not an integral part of the language.