What?

[Robinrs]

The OP is from GA and Sir is quite common in the South. However, I don't think an 11 year that doesn't say Sir is rude. He didn't hear what was being said and said What? I think that gets the point across that he didn't hear what was being said. Most of my friends here in the South are transplants (as I am) and Sir is not a common response for my group.

I would've said "excuse me," and my kids would've said "what." I've never heard anyone say "sir" when they didn't hear what was said, not once in my entire life. Maybe it's a regional thing? Ds12 has the most annoying habit of saying "what," regarless of if he heard you or not. We've learned not to repeat ourselves for at least 5 seconds.

Yep, regional.

Coming from the North to the South I felt like a martian. But even in NY if a child said WHAT to an adult I considered it rude. "Excuse me" is way more appropriate.

The one time I said WHAT to my Mom was the LAST time I said that to ANY adult....

 

[JessicaR]

That isnt something you would here around here. As others have said, excuse me, or what did you say, is more likely.

 

[FireDancer]

I don't think not saying sir or madam is rude in a situation like this. I usually won't say huh or what if I don't hear something because it just doesn't sound right to me. I say something like "I'm sorry I didn't hear you", "can you repeat that", or even "excuse me" but not what or huh. The only time I say sir at all is when speaking to the police.

I still find it weird to call my friend's parents by their first names even though I am now in my 30's. Unless they insist on it, which some do, I stick with Mr. and Mrs. <blank> but I don't think others have to do that, it is just how I roll.

 

[cats mom]

I work for a dentist and just over heard an 11 year old respond to the Doctors question with "What?"
What happened to "Sir?"

Responding "What?" if the child missed what the Dr said doesn't seem rude to me at all, but I'm from the oh so laid back West Coast.

I'm afraid my DD11 might have gone with "say what?"
A few too many Hannah Montana episodes perhaps.

Maybe we should work on "excuse me?" when she gets home from school.

 

[RitaE]

The only time I ever here a Sir or Ma'am around here is at the McDonald's drive thru (which makes me feel ancient) and when a kid is in big trouble and acting like a whipped puppy dog trying to avoid punishment. "Yes Ma'am. I'm sorry Ma'am."

A Dentist would get "What?" or perhaps a "Huh???"

 

[castmemberb4]

It was Sir or Ma'am in our house as it was with my husband, our daughter, our niece and our nephew. My mother's mantra was; "Yes ma'am, No ma'am, thank you ma'am, please. We were even taught to say I beg your pardon. Huh to an adult was a big no-no in our house. My mother was born and raised in Kentucky and my dad was in the military. I now work for the Army, so my day is filled with yes sir and no sir.

You Mother sounds exactly like mine a true lady.

The OP is from GA and Sir is quite common in the South. However, I don't think an 11 year that doesn't say Sir is rude. He didn't hear what was being said and said What? I think that gets the point across that he didn't hear what was being said. Most of my friends here in the South are transplants (as I am) and Sir is not a common response for my group.

Maybe it was the tone since I heard it all the way up at the front desk

Yep, regional.

Coming from the North to the South I felt like a martian. But even in NY if a child said WHAT to an adult I considered it rude. "Excuse me" is way more appropriate.

The one time I said WHAT to my Mom was the LAST time I said that to ANY adult....

My Mother could excuse me saying what to her but not to another adult especially some one of respect like a Dr, teacher, preacher.....

Thanks Ya'll
I'm headed back to the theme park board where the happy people are

 

[brockash]

The answer wasn't "what/Sir"
It was the kids response when he didn't understand what the Dr had said to him. Wheather it was a question the Dr was asking or he was just speaking to the child "what" is never the proper response for a child to use toward an adult, when they miss what ever the adult just said.
I was taught "Sir?" is correct.
I don't suppose anyone uses "I beg your pardon" anymore either.

Just because you were taught it, doesn't mean everyone was or should be. I never used sir, and I've never taught my kids to. I've only had 1 child call me ma'am and it drove me completely nuts. Honestly, when I hear kids use sir/ma'am; I feel like they're scared of me and every other adult in their life, and I don't think that's right.

 

[RitaE]

You Mother sounds exactly like mine a true lady.

Ah, I couldn't tell you whether her Mom is a true lady or not but from the time I've spent in the South I do know that many of them are absolute experts at hiding all their nastiness and spite behind those pretty polite words.

Bless their hearts.

 

[doxdogy]

Actually my mother was a lady and it is bless your pea picking heart.

Ah, I couldn't tell you whether her Mom is a true lady or not but from the time I've spent in the South I do know that many of them are absolute experts at hiding all their nastiness and spite behind those pretty polite words.

Bless their hearts.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

No one uses "sir' here.

And if you did, you'd get looked at funny.

I always say "excuse me", "what" or "pardon".

My kids say "what" or "I'm sorry, could you repeat that."

I've always said "I'm sorry", not followed by Sir...not sure anyone says that anymore lol.

 

[mamacatnv]

Is this thread for real? Really? Wow.

If it is real, my response:
I'm from the West Coast - Sir is not common, can often be taken as being sarcastic even.
The only time I have been referred to as Ma'am here locally was by the local juvenile delinquent parolee's who are looking for sponsor employers to hire them.

I will say this tho, on our limited travels to Texas, Florida and Louisianna, I did enjoy the respect and politeness that was used by just about everyone we encountered. The teens in Texas were by far the most polite group of young adults I have ever run across.

 

[disneydreamer98]

Must be a regional thing. My children are very polite and I get complimented all the time on their behavior and manners and I would not see it as disrespectful if they said "what" to our dentist or anyone else for that matter if they didn't understand or didn't initially hear what was said.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I would have answered with a "what?" as well. The only thing I have ever been taught was in Catholic school, nuns always said it was rude to say "HUH?"

 

[marcyinPA]

The correct response in my circle is, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you."

Same here. I'm sure both of my kids say "What?" though. People in "these parts" don't use Sir or Ma'am though...unless you are from the south originally.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I'm from Wisconsin, and I have never heard anyone say "sir."

 

[kaytieeldr]

My kids say "what" or "I'm sorry, could you repeat that."

Respectfully, I never say I'm sorry unless it's a situation over which I have control. I would say, "Excuse me, could you repeat that?" or "Excuse me, I didn't hear what you said" (or, more likely, try to fake my way through ). Even at this ripe old age, I don't ever recall being taught that the single word, "Sir?" or "Ma'am?" was the correct response when one did not understand what had been said.

 

[CathrynRose]

The answer wasn't "what/Sir"
It was the kids response when he didn't understand what the Dr had said to him. Wheather it was a question the Dr was asking or he was just speaking to the child "what" is never the proper response for a child to use toward an adult, when they miss what ever the adult just said.
I was taught "Sir?" is correct.
I don't suppose anyone uses "I beg your pardon" anymore either.

Not everyone is from the South.

It is here.

And I usually go "I'm sorry - what?" and then do the lean in, with one eye squinched like it must make me hear better, or something.

 

[Ember]

Seeing this thread made me remember my mum's sing-song voice saying, "Don't say 'what,' say 'pardon!" I never respond with a "What?" It's always "Pardon me?" Thanks for the memory!

 

[punkin]

Huh? What?



I have never used Sir? or Ma'am? in my life. I generally say "excuse me" or "I'm sorry"

 

[Magic Mom]

I teach my kids to say "excuse me." instead of what? or huh? but if one of them answered their dentist with "what" it wouldn't bother me a bit unless they said it with a snotty tone. If that is the worst thing a kid does then they are doing OK.