It is always surprising to me how often the boys, especially Beaver, say "yes sir" to Ward. My older brother did to our father, and I have a friend who did to his, but I sure never did say it. :D

I am wondering how many (if any) of you say or said "yes sir" to your fathers. Maybe it is a thing of the past, or a regional thing.

I've never said "yes sir" to my father...or anyone else, for that matter!

Sometimes at work I will try to be like Eddie and sweetly say "yes sir" to an annoying customer! :lol:

Never in my life have I said that to my father and I never will.

I never have either!

Once in a while I found myself saying yes sir to my father but most of the time it was yes daddy. I'm 32 yrs. old and it's still yes daddy.:lol: My husband laughs at me too.:lol:

I have never said it either, and don't plan to! :D

I am 50, and although I am part of the "Leave it to Beaver" generation, I never said "yes, sir" to my father. I always referred to him as simply "Dad."

I am almost as old as 1954 boomer and I never said it either, although it was pretty common in that era! :D

I go to karate in you have to say "yes sir" to the instructor.

Originally posted by Mayfieldgirl
I go to karate in you have to say "yes sir" to the instructor.
Don't people object to saying it? I would. :D

I guess I just don't see the problem, it just shows respect. It's really no big deal.

I'd object too Tony!!


I guess the reason is that I don't call even the folks that I respect "sir"...so to be forced to do it..well, it would just rub me the wrong way!

Originally posted by HaskellGirl
I'd object too Tony!!


I guess the reason is that I don't call even the folks that I respect "sir"...so to be forced to do it..well, it would just rub me the wrong way!

I guess we are not "respectful," HaskellGirl. :lol:

I have a friend who says it to his father all the time and it seems really weird!

I don't remember having to call my dad "sir." The first times I recall being required to call anyone sir was in junior high school and the coaches there. At the football team's first meeting they gave us the 'law' and said failing to address them as "Coach ____" or saying 'yes' or 'no' without the 'sir' would mean extra laps, extra pushups, or other 'extras.' Sorry to get off topic, but most of those coaches were still in their 20's trying to establish themselves as winners and disciplinarians-- something like that-- so calling them "sir" was rather minor compared to their kicking us, "demonstrating" drills where they knocked us flat, et al.

But confomity and respect for authority was more the way of things for those who lived through the depression and WWII-- individuality was a luxary few could afford, having to stand in lines to get food, or for a small chance of landing a job, then being rushed thourgh training to fight the enemy. Men like Ward often did pass this conditioning on to their children. And it played a significant role in the extremes of the "generation gap" a few years later than LITB; particularly in the area of "when Uncle Sam calls, you go", not debating the 'morality' of fighting a guerilla war in SE Asia.

tdr most of my coaches in Middle School and High School were disciplinarians but they didn't make us call them "sir" and they certainly didn't do anything like kick us! :eek:

Originally posted by Tonyd
Don't people object to saying it? I would. :D


Nobody does, and we have to show respect for them and it shows focus.

Originally posted by Tonyd
tdr most of my coaches in Middle School and High School were disciplinarians but they didn't make us call them "sir" and they certainly didn't do anything like kick us! :eek:

This was the early and mid 70's, the era I'm talking about. It's most probable that your days in school were later; perhaps quite recent. I'm not at all surprised that school officials these days probably keep a tighter rein on coaches and their propensity to be abusive, but I still would have thought they demanded airs of respect, like saying "Yes sir" or "No sir."

I still haven't seen the movie Friday Night Lights, but it may be significant to note that the coach I most had a running feud with came from the program at Odessa Permian HS, and 3 others were from that same area where high school and college football is-- perhaps even more so, was-- really rough and taken hyperseriously.

Yes my days are more recent as I just graduated this year. :D I didn't play football either, just track and swimming.

I have a relative who plays HS football in Texas, and he claims the coaches are really rough and demanding. Maybe contact sports are different, or maybe it is just Texas! :lol:

I forgot to add that while we did not call them sir, we did show them respect and usually called them "Mr. ____" or "Coach_____"