Why do people call each other "sir"?

[blindswelledrat]

I've never really understood it but I see it all the time on here
"You,Sir, are a fool" or "You,Sir, don't know what you are talking about".
Is this purely an internet phenomena or do people call each other Sir irrelevantly in real life too?
If so, why?

[GreenDog]

Historical reference shirely, from days when folk were a bit more formal. A bit like MPs still calling each other the honourable member for ..... despite the fact they and we all knwo they're all far from honourable.

[Cock Womble]

Never heard it in "real life", but perhaps by Mr Fry on 'QI' or somesuch.

It's just another one of those pretentious internet verbosities designed to make the user appear posher/betterer/cleverer.

N'est pas?

[Sir Cheekalot]

Perhaps this will help Sir resolve his question:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir

(Yes I am aware of the irony involved here with my username....)

[blindswelledrat]

GreenDog said:

shirely, .

And why do people bizarrely change the words "surely" to "shirley" or now even more bizarrely "Shirely"?

[Fish]

Living in the countryside I do come across it and occasionally use it. I have also been called sir a few times..

[GreenDog]

blindswelledrat said:

GreenDog said:

shirely, .

And why do people bizarrely change the words "surely" to "shirley" or now even more bizarrely "Shirely"?

Do try and keep up, all the cool kids are saying it !

[blindswelledrat]

Cock Womble said:

Never heard it in "real life", but perhaps by Mr Fry on 'QI' or somesuch.

It's just another one of those pretentious internet verbosities designed to make the user appear posher/betterer/cleverer.

N'est pas?

Clever

[matt12023]

blindswelledrat said:

GreenDog said:

shirely, .

And why do people bizarrely change the words "surely" to "shirley" or now even more bizarrely "Shirely"?

One presumes you've never seen the film airplane?

[G_T]

I say "sir" a bit in a mocking debate or when I'm addressing a senior.

In either case it's just because it amuses me.

[Don]

If you don't know someone's name the polite thing to call them is Sir or Ma'am.

Using Sir in the contect you describe accentuates the following insult by couching it in a formal, polite address.


Cockwomble.

vs

You, sir, are an utter Cockwomble.

Do you see how effective the formal form of address makes the insult?

Marvellous thing the English language.

[GTIR]

matt12023 said:

blindswelledrat said:

GreenDog said:

shirely, .

And why do people bizarrely change the words "surely" to "shirley" or now even more bizarrely "Shirely"?

One presumes you've never seen the film airplane?

That's a Roger, Roger.

[blindswelledrat]

matt12023 said:

blindswelledrat said:

GreenDog said:

shirely, .

And why do people bizarrely change the words "surely" to "shirley" or now even more bizarrely "Shirely"?

One presumes you've never seen the film airplane?

Of course I have. Ive seen millions of films.
Is it really because someone on a film 25 years ago said it that people are still sayhing it?
It can't still be funny surely?

[blindswelledrat]

G_T said:

I say "sir" a bit in a mocking debate or when I'm addressing a senior.

In either case it's just because it amuses me.

Why though?
Its not funny

[Neil H]

matt12023 said:

blindswelledrat said:

GreenDog said:

shirely, .

And why do people bizarrely change the words "surely" to "shirley" or now even more bizarrely "Shirely"?

One presumes you've never seen the film airplane?

What do Airplanes do?

They go "WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH".

[Cock Womble]

blindswelledrat said:

It can't still be funny surely?

EFA...


...nah, too easy.

[blindswelledrat]

Don said:

You, sir, are an utter Cockwomble.

Do you see how effective the formal form of address makes the insult?

Marvellous thing the English language.

Honestly, not just being argumentative- I think that just sounds weird.
In fact it would distract from the insult because my thought would not be 'he just called me a cock womble' but 'why on earth is he typing "sir" at me'?

[blindswelledrat]

Neil H said:

What do Airplanes do?

They go "WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH".

Oh the sweet irony

[Murray993]

G_T said:

I say "sir" a bit in a mocking debate or when I'm addressing a senior.

In either case it's just because it amuses me.

A mocking debate and a senior. Are you old enough to be on the interweb?

[Cock Womble]

blindswelledrat said:

insult

blindswelledrat said:

'he just called me a cock womble'

Hang on, when did "Cock Womble" become an insult?

I honestly thought it was a term of endearment.