I’m from New York and we don’t say sir and Ma’am

Southern culture: Play it by ear. The professors will be used to it due to the demographics of the students, but some professors will be very against the usage.

Using it to respect wait staff and minimum wage employees is in good taste.

Northern culture:
"Ma'am" is sometimes considered very disrespectful in northern society, even in proper interviews. It can be viewed as antiquated or a sign of a "small world view."

"Sir" is typically respectful, but not to everyone.

Everything in context.

I’m an active from New England... you don’t have to use sir/ma’am when you’re down here. Honestly, you might pick it up, along with the word y’all, after being on campus for a while. But ultimately, if you’re just a nice/polite person it doesn’t make a difference whether you say it or not

This is so dumb. I grew up in New York as well and a LOT of us said Ma'am and Sir You don't have to be southern to have manners so stop generalizing an entire area of people.

I come from a long family line in Massachusetts and if I responded to an adult with what or huh, I would have gotten in so much trouble. I'd probably still get balled out if I spoke to an older adult like that, and I'm an adult myself now. Manners are everywhere.

yes i’m from north too and no one ever uses it up here so when i visited i totally loved the use of ma’am but also it feels so unnatural when i say it. i was wondering the same thing!

Consensus:

- Continue using sir/ma’am if you’re already using it
- And if it’s not really used where you’re from, don’t feel the need to force it when you’re in Alabama... just be a decent, nice person