Post #1595330
2025-12-27 21:34 UTC
@dazzlepansy @zeborah @considermycat
I can see how "mate" would be a handy word if it's used by everyone like that and is not likely to offend, like calling someone "Buddy" or similar might do here.
One thing I should probably point out is that in the US (at least the part I'm from), using sir or ma'am isn't thought of as "bowing and scraping" or being subservient at all--it's just a polite form of address for someone whose name you don't know (except that some women don't like to be called ma'am because they consider it to be a term used for older women, so think you're implying that they are old!).
Replies (1)
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@dazzlepansy@glammr.us 2025-12-28 14:22
@leadore @zeborah @considermycat Ah, you may be right that it doesn't carry class implications in some places — there are a lot of regions of the US I'm not closely familiar with. Here's a litmus test, though: when you sit down in a restaurant and the waiter says, "Hello, ma'am," do you reply, "Hello, sir"?