North vs South

[tunatartare]

No that would be Mommie Dearest.

[SororChic6]

I live in Brooklyn. I was raised to be polite but as a child, I answered "what" to adults. It does not seem like such a big deal to me. Also, if you take the train every morning at 8AM, you tend to see people forgetting their manners. I've seen everything on the train, from people burping to letting out body fluids. (Not too fun!) Aside from train horror stories, we are not all without manners.

[macallan25]

I've been to New York several times.......and I can't think of one trip when I was not floored at how rude and dickheadish those people are. Its almost comical.

[shinerbock]

Just because there are rude people everywhere doesn't mean there isn't a regional difference.

[Emory Kappa]

Though I'm a born and bred Southerner, my midwestern mom didn't have me call people ma'am and sir. She did teach me to be respectful, though without the extra verbiage. And important things like "do not walk and eat at the same time, it's rude."

Now that I'll be raising a child in New England, I find I'm already adding "Miss" to my friends' names. As in "Say hello to Miss Laurie!" Not that he can say much more than "Ah DAH!" and "Deesh" right now. I hope this won't make his friends think he's weird.

Several years ago when we were visiting my family, my dear Yankee husband said "I wish we could move South when we have kids. Everyone, even children, are so much more polite, and that's kinda nice."

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Just because there are rude people everywhere doesn't mean there isn't a regional difference.

"Regional difference in what" is the question.

If we're talking about different cultures that make politeness, crassness, and rudeness vary in delivery and interpretation, I agree. If we're talking about Southern culture being generally more polite than Northern culture, I strongly disagree.

[Phimuteach]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

What's wrong with answering "what?" I never heard of this.

In general, the polite way to answer is "Yes" or something to that effect. "What" is perceived as rude/defensive to many people.

I grew up in the south and moved up to the midwest when I was an adolescent. I also went to college down south my first couple years and transferred back to the midwest. I think in general, there is a difference in politeness with strangers between the north and south. When we moved to Ohio, my family was surprised when we went to grocery stores and the clerks didn't greet us and such.

Midwesterners can be very friendly/polite people, but more so with people we know, in my experience.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

What's wrong with answering "what?" I never heard of this.

It's rude. A child should respond "yes?" and if they don't hear what an adult says, say something like "excuse me?"

My mother never let us say "nevermind" to an adult either because it's dismissive. Children should always have respect and deference for adults.

To this day I speak to my elders in a respectful manner.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Children should always have respect and deference for adults.

Literally? Not just parents or other family members? That idea has always made me uncomfortable. I know as many fucked up old people as young people. I believe that everyone should earn respect, regardless of age. You shouldn't be rude either, but going out your way to be polite and respectful just because someone is older than you doesn't make a lot of sense. According to this kind of thinking, we all should be extra polite to Tom Earp.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

Literally? Not just parents or other family members? That idea has always made me uncomfortable. I know as many fucked up old people as young people. I believe that everyone should earn respect, regardless of age. You shouldn't be rude either, but going out your way to be polite and respectful just because someone is older than you doesn't make a lot of sense. According to this kind of thinking, we all should be extra polite to Tom Earp.

Not bow down to people, just default to being respectful. There's no reason that kids shouldn't also be respectful to their friends. Respect doesn't equal worship.


What does one gain waiting to see if someone is worthy of being addressed most politely?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

Literally?

Yes.

Children are not equipped to distinguish "real adult" from "fake adult." Unless an adult is being abusive, children should always show respect even if the adult appears to be an idiot. Some children are taught to be respectful as long as the adult is catering to them because the world obviously revolves around them. However, children should not be allowed to be disrespectful because they are not getting their way.

[OOhsoflyDELTA#9]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

What's wrong with answering "what?" I never heard of this.

What is considered rude coming from a child to an adult..I said(was required to say) "yes ma'am/sir"..coming up...at the very least "yes"...."what" would get you popped in the mouth...its a respect thing, respect your elders...maybe its regional maybe its cultural...but I can't stand it when I hear a child speak that way to an adult...my daughter is always like around them because she can't believe how they act...she tells them I would be in BIG trouble for that...

ETA: I asked the original question from a regional standpoint because my friends says that "everyone" or all her friends in Syracuse acts the same way...she calls me prissy and I believe I'm far from that..

[JeffersonStKKG]

I call so many women "ma'am" that some people feel that I'm "respecting the elderly"---even those younger than me..hahaha. But yes, "ma'am/sir" are quite respectful. As far as "mommie dearest", my parents are Mama and Daddy.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by OOhsoflyDELTA#9

What is considered rude coming from a child to an adult..I said(was required to say) "yes ma'am/sir"..coming up...at the very least "yes"...."what" would get you popped in the mouth...its a respect thing, respect your elders...maybe its regional maybe its cultural...but I can't stand it when I hear a child speak that way to an adult...my daughter is always like around them because she can't believe how they act...she tells them I would be in BIG trouble for that...

ETA: I asked the original question from a regional standpoint because my friends says that "everyone" or all her friends in Syracuse acts the same way...she calls me prissy and I believe I'm far from that..

Somebody who thinks there is something wrong from drinking beer out of the bottle is a priss.