Respect and general good manners seem to be declining throughout our society as a whole. It seems to be yet another result of the cultural revolution in the 1960s. That being said, my parents who lived through them pounded manners into me as a requirement of the extended family's expectations and necessary to be a gentleman. My own son, now 19, was raised the same. He has taken more grief for behaving politely than I have though we have both had females fuss at us. The general position we have taken is to treat every female like a lady until she proves otherwise.

Sir/Ma'am is a term of respect, I agree. Being a somewhat cranky Sr NCO in the Army I have had to learn to be polite and proper to those who may not merit it. Sir/Ma'am is reserved for those who I truly respect. Others get called by their rank and name. Respect comes hard from soldiers of all ranks and is not given lightly. As a side note, according to the EO types we have, the old saying "don't call me sir, I work for a living" is not allowed now. Evidently it offends officers by implying that they don't work as hard as the NCOs.

YMOS,
Tony