Poll: Ladies and Gentlemen or Sirs and Ma'ams

[RogueLeader]

vote only unless you need to explain.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

The question is, is this how to speak to an audience or how to address a superior?

[RogueLeader]

To me, it is the same in either case.

[SarDragon]

I see it differently. As I stated in the other thread, there's a difference between large, public groups (the ladies and gentlemen arena), and smaller, private groups (where sirs might be appropriate). IMHO, ma'ams is NEVER appropriate.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

So, Rogue, do you mean when speaking to your CO that you can call him gentleman? If is a female call her lady?

To me that sounds kind of disrespectful, "Yes Lady."

In a large group whereas your speaking to an audience, I would say it would be ladies and gentlemen, but when talking to an officer it should always be Sir or Ma'am. It's just proper custom and courtesy.

[SarDragon]

OK, you're straying from the original Q, here.

The plural of "Sir" is "Gentlemen" while the plural of "Ma'am" is "Ladies." Of course, a mixed-company group would be "Ladies and Gentlemen." In a group with several more-senior (to you) female officers and a single more-senior male, it would be appropriate to say, "Sir/Ladies" and vice versa for a group of males and a single senior female.

The point of contention - are the terms Sirs and Ma'ams ever appropriate for use?

As I stated in the first thread:

IMHO, the differences in use are situational. Gentlemen would be used to broadly address a larger group, say in auditorium or similar venue, while sirs would be used to directly address a smaller group in your immediate presence, like Radar used to do.

This looks like another case of trying to pick fly poop out of pepper. I think there a lot more important things to spend time on than solving this insignificant semantic dilemma.

YMMV.

[SARTAC Medic]

I second the more important things....

[RogueLeader]

This is only about the plural.  If a single person: Sir or Ma'am.  More than two of a gender: Gentlemen or Ladies.  YMMV

[FlyTiger77]

This looks like another case of trying to pick fly poop out of pepper. I think there a lot more important things to spend time on than solving this insignificant semantic dilemma.

My position on this is obvious and the only reason I brought it up initially is that, in my world, it speaks to one's professional credibility. Now, as to the significance or lack thereof I shall leave for others to decide; however, in my own defense I will note that this discussion has spawned not just one but TWO threads now that haven't come even close to devolving into a uniform thread. For that I believe I deserve some credit!

Of course, even on that topic, YMMV.

v/r

As an aside, methinks I would prefer my pepper to be poopless, but I must agree that it would be much easier to throw the pepper out and start over than to sift it.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

OK, with knowing you are only talking of the plural form, I retract. I took to understanding it was all around. Maybe a little more clarity please. Thank you.

[Short Field]

This should help provide clarity then:

http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=11212.0

The last post to that thread was a week ago.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Thank you Sir, I didn't know that conversation went on. I definitely concur with the first post of said conversation.