I’ve reached the age when I’m addressed as “sir.” Ok, I reached that age a number of years ago. I’ve just reached the realization that I should be called sir and that’s why I’m addressing this topic.
Many people my age are offended by the use of a formal greeting. It’s not offensive to me so I don’t take offense. And I’m not defensive when someone insists that I address him with a degree of distance. It’s not a question of age; it’s an invitation of affiliation. As an adult, I decide the degree of intimacy and the proximity that people may have to my heart. I invite people to address me by my first name and insist others address me by my surname. That’s not rude; it’s respect. I respect the distance of strangers until I’m invited in. And I respect the closeness of my comrades by distinguishing that he or she is someone to me and not just anyone at all.
