[masraum]

Originally Posted by john70t

When I grew up, "sir" or "madam" were formal salutations to people I respected. They were honorable titles.

I know that times have changed and people are more sensitive to whatever new identity they have, and I try to be respectful/accommodate especially when it is obvious, but what about a man dressed as a woman who identifies as a man?

The forest can get lost through the trees. Mistakes happen. Freak out at me over anything and then I tend lose any original respect. Some people go out into the world looking for a fight.

With folks that I know well or with folks that I feel I'm pretty safe using them, I'll use sir/ma'am. Around here (very rural Texas), you're pretty safe in most cases using sir/ma'am.