Yes, sir. No, sir. But not always sir.

[Tankeryanker]

Is there a pattern to when the boys say "sir"?

I get that when they are being talked to sternly they say sir, but I am not sure of the rules for the other times they say, sir.

Brady Bunch boys say sir too.

[vitoscotti]

Isn't "yes sir, no sir" more prevalent at the Cleaver dining room table. But, non-existent in the kitchen eating breakfast. Wally & Beaver have to ask permission to breathe at the dining room table. Seems more relaxed at breakfast. No napkin refolded, or permission requests. June is more happy go lucky not as easily offended, but laughs more things off.

[Cx]

Interesting about the "sir" utterances, vis-a-vis the different meals.

As for me, since I was a kid, I've never observed first hand ( in real life ) anybody address their father as "sir", ever.

On TV? Movies? All the time, though in depictions that definitely skew toward the past.

I had heard someone once tell me not long ago that when they were young, they called their father sir. Said father was said to be a hardass though...

[ThisLittlePiggy]

I never called my Dad Sir. He wasn't a knight.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by ThisLittlePiggy

I never called my Dad Sir.

I'm around the age Beaver was, and me neither. And back in that time I never heard any other kid say it, either.

But yes, the dining room meal is a formal affair at the Clever home. The most informal thing I remember is Wally once wanting to toss a roll to Beaver, but Ward stopped him.

[vitoscotti]

How about the YSNS(M) rules at a restaurant? When Ward, Wally, and Beaver all went to a ballgame in their funeral suits they then went to eat afterwards. Does every adult they cross paths with during the long day get the YSNS(M) treatment? Are napkins refolded in restaurants?

[ThisLittlePiggy]

Originally Posted by stevea

I'm around the age Beaver was, and me neither. And back in that time I never heard any other kid say it, either.

But yes, the dining room meal is a formal affair at the Clever home. The most informal thing I remember is Wally once wanting to toss a roll to Beaver, but Ward stopped him.

Formality was not really a thing in my childhood. I'm glad.