Originally Posted by
canklecat
Actually, I've always kinda liked being called sweetie, hon and similar casual terms of endearment by waitresses. Heck, it's why I go to the Waffle House and places like that once in awhile. Maybe it's just a Southern thing, part of the casual dining vibe.
Now you see feel just the opposite. I find it highly offensive when someone I don't know refers to me in the familiar. Maybe its because I spend so many years working in the service sector, and at all the establishment I worked for, it was forbidden to address any patron/customer/client in any manner other than formally.
In fact, in nearly 30 years of working in the service industry (as well as in my personal life) I can only recall two occasions when I broke that rule, and in both those instances it was only because each of those individuals asked me to. I also feel its now my turn to get the respect I always gave to my elders growing up -- and still do.
And I don't mind anymore when people call me "sir". If someone believes that's appropriate, why discourage any display of civility?
Its never inappropriate to address someone formally, and as I pointed out above many establishments require it. In interacting with nearly a million people over the years, no one (regardless of age or gender) has ever complained about me being too formal. However, doing the reverse could most certainly get you in a lot of trouble.