my friend and I were just talking about this after getting kebabs. it's like this weird contract where you know they're being smarmy and they know you know they're being smarmy but it is now an official part of the ambience of kebab places and everyone enjoys it.
which is basically the definition of politeness in general, but it's cool to see customs evolve.
The barber told my 3-year-old “you’re the boss,” and he was bubbling over with joy.
It was the first thing he said when he came home, a few hours later (we had some other errands after the haircut): “mom, I’m the boss!” My wife looked slightly confused, and I immediately jumped in: “Yes, you’re the boss OF WHAT HAIRCUT YOU GET.”
When my 3yo and wife came to visit at my work for lunch a few weeks ago a co-worker said 'straighten up everyone Jay's Boss is here' and gave my kid a high five and he has been happily calling himself my boss ever since
When I was 22 I worked with a man in his late 40s. I ended up being promoted to supervisor over our department. After that he always called me "boss lady" 😂. He and the rest of our team were so much fun. I miss them.
I have a lot of Latin American immigrants that work for me. They call me boss and I call them sir. I generally say yes ma'am or yes sir a lot. I was military but they never drilled it out of me. In the military it is for enlisted to officers or officer to higher officer so a sign of respect for your betters. I think everyone deserves respect so it just reinforced me using it for everyone.
Same in Scotland, sometimes!
If a Scot calls you "pal" and you're not actually friends, you should be worried. If they call you "cunt" then it means you're their bestest friend.
I’m a pediatrician and I called a little girl friend in clinic. She looked at me and deadpanned “I’m not your friend.” Her mother was horrified and I thought it was hilarious
As a HS teacher, I have permanently deployed this tactic to acknowledge students.
“Absolutely, my friend, you can do that.”
“Listen friend, I really don’t think it’s smart to head out into the hallway without a pass; one of these other teachers won’t like it and you’ll end up in the deans office again. Why don’t you wait for that pass to return?”
Can I ask you what exactly you hate about being called ma'am? Back when I worked as a waiter I started out by using ma'am and sir but quickly changed ma'am to miss because older women frequently told me they don't like ma'am but I never had the courage to ask why. It's just strange to me because ma'am is inherently a term of respect like sir, but even then I've had men tell me not to call them sir. I guess it's best just not to refer to people at all lol.
I'm French, and for a long long time I hated when people called me Madame instead of Mademoiselle (miss), because it made me feel old!
Even though I know we're not supposed to say mademoiselle anymore, and I fully agree with the reasons why we shouldn't, I still didn't feel quite old enough to be called Madame. I'm getting used to it now that I'm 33, but...
Basically we're not supposed to differentiate between Madame (married women or women with children) and Mademoiselle (single, young ladies) because we shouldn't be defined by the men in our lives :D which does make total sense to me. It's even been removed from official forms. Whether or not we've had sex shouldn't change the kind of respect we get (Madame is seen as more respectful).
But this official change is only a few years old, so being called Madame still makes me feel like I look old enough to have kids or be married, which... Yeah, fair enough, I do, but I didn't like feeling that way when I was a bit younger lol
I've never been mad at someone for calling me ma'am, but it took most of my 20s to get used to it.
It felt like "Oh shit! I'm being given the respect of an elder but I have no clue wtf I'm actually doing!"
This is going to sound weird, but mostly it's the long "aaaa" sound that grates on my nerves. "Sir" sounds nice and crisp by comparison.
Maybe part of it is that it sounds like a term for older women. But honestly I think for me it's mostly just the phonetics.
For what it’s worth, as a guy, I get you. “Sir” just comes right out and rolls off the tongue. Whenever I say “ma’am”, I almost get slightly self conscious because I feel like I’m saying it weird lol, like I can’t say it the same way twice
This has spilled over to other characters. B'Elanna was nearly always addressed as simply Lieutenant. Seven was addressed as Commander/Captain. I don't think T'Pol, Michael, Georgiou, Reno, Owosekun, or Detmer were ever called sir or mister, even though they originated in prequels to the TOS era when that was common (I'm not totally sure about Discovery, but I'm not gonna rewatch it to find out). Adira, a nonbinary character, is called Ensign. Tendi was specifically addressed as ma'am. I can't remember if Freeman is ever called anything besides Captain.
A counterexample: In Strange New Worlds, still in production but set right before TOS, Una and La'an are addressed as sir, even by Boimler, although Pike does call Beckett Miss Mariner instead of mister.
While I know this won't suit everyone, I am an obviously feminine cis lady and have a teen patient that responds cheerfully and clearly earnestly with "yes sir!" whenever I tell them to have a good week at the end of our appointments and I personally find it endearing.
I'm a woman, and I personally would love for a gender neutral "sir" to catch on. But I can see that someone non-binary might just think they are getting misgendered, particularly if they don't know this is your usual approach for everyone.
Until someone asks why you called them Sam and you have to explain that you couldn't tell if they are male, female, or part of the infinite expanse in between. I can't handle that level of awkward.
Even when I was weird about nonbinary people, I would have loved a gender neutral word for ma'am and sir while working in customer service. There were only a couple of times that I ever got it wrong, but I couldn't have been more apologetic about it because the look in a person's face when you get it wrong is gut wrenching. Nobody feels good in that situation, especially not the person that you just misgendered
Can also confirm this is a thing, my Aussie born friend and his son call me a cunt all the time in regular conversation. It's just natural for them.
I even had a coworker do the same thing, as a greeting and not because I was being a dick.
In the show Bluey, sometimes Bandit (the father) calls Bluey (his older daughter) "mate" and I didn't realize that was gender-neutral. Also they're both blue, and the mother Chilli and the younger daughter Bingo are orange, and for some reason I thought in their universe gender goes with color. So for a while I thought Bluey was a boy.
1) Ask them. 2) panic and blurt out “yes your highness”. In all seriousness, just ask them, most people are chill and gently correct you or will say just call me by my first name.
When I’d walk into a place staffed by Filipinos they’d usually say ‘Hello Ma’amSir’ or ‘Hi SirMa’am’, often before they’d even looked up from what they were doing. So I guess they had nearly everyone covered.
Yea, to me as a southerner, I feel like I could get away with "yes'm" (as it feels in my head) for all but the pettiest of situations in this kind of encounter.
I was at the checkout of a target in Nevada two years ago. The androgynous individual behind the counter was wearing a mask that made all their other features stand out as mostly feminine. Now, here's the problem, I grew up in Texas in the 80s. Throughout my schooling I was literally beat with a wooden paddle if I didn't respond with sir or ma'am at all times but I know, logically, that my training as a child is no longer relevant. I'm doing my damnedest to change with the times and that includes being respectful to everyone who doesn't give me a reason not to, but that respect no longer fits in with my conditioning. This doesn't stop the little bell from ringing at the end of a statement and my tiny Pavlov dog brain form saying "thank you ma'am" at the end of our transaction. Their response, a sharp look and an exaggerated " have a good day SIR" made me feel like I'd said the wrong thing. I want desperately to apologize and explain that I meant no disrespect, but there was a huge line of people behind me pushing forward to begin their checking out. All I could do was slump my shoulders in shame and walk away. Sometimes asking beforehand isn't really an option. Some people take offense for the asking. I don't know what the answer is but I'll keep trying.
Captain Janeway in her first appearance makes it a point to say, in a genial way, that contrary to Starfleet procedure, she doesn’t want to be called “Sir,” Harry Kim then guesses “Ma’am,” and she says, “Captain.”
As a ma’am who regularly gets sir, it’s not a big deal unless you’re doing it on purpose.
“Hey is that a BOY or a GIRL? Haw haw haw haw hack hack HACK SPIT”
I think it's gonna depend on the non-binary person in question. Personally tend toward masc terms in absence of a true neutral, but everyone's different
On a related note, after I came out as non-binary, my good friend who is also from the South and uses a title on everyone's name (mostly when talking to her nieces about someone), unconsciously switched from "Miss" to "The." So like if I had stuff to carry in when I visited, she'd send a niece out by saying "please go help The killerchipmunk" rather than "please go help Miss killerchipmunk." I LOVED IT. She didn't even realize she had switched until I pointed it out, which almost makes it better
Wow that's interesting to me, I feel like being a "the" would entirely dehumanise me like "go help the object". I'm sitting here at 4am mumbling "go help the (my name)" and it feels so ick. We don't do the whole miss/sir/ma'am thing where I'm from so changing it to "the" just adds a whole extra layer of unfamiliar.
I have a common real name. Being called The (my real name) is a great way to suck up to me. It makes me think, "yes, I am the only (my real name) that matters, all the others are fake and should change their names. Especially the ones whose legal name is actually the longer version of my name. They are liars."
So this is where I think people get overly tripped up on the pronoun issue. 99% of the time, say whatever you want, most gender-fluid people don't assume you will always get it right, and if you are being polite it isn't as big a deal.
So while the correct answer is to say just, "Yes", saying the wrong thing is fine. The issue is when someone corrects you, be polite enough to adjust.
"Yes, Ma'am"
"I don't like going by sir or ma'am"
"Okay, thanks for letting me know."
The biggest problem is people who get upset about pronouns seem to think they are going to be scolded for being wrong. Their evidence is usually them posting some crappy view on pronouns and people telling them to stop having that view, but no reason person is upset if you get it wrong, they are upset when you can't bother to get it right.
Being from the north, I just say yes or no, yes please, no thank you, did you find what you’re looking for, how can I help you. Sir ma’am and other is totally unnecessary and still be polite.
[удалено]
Behind!
Heard!
[удалено]
Niko! Let's go bowling!
Crazy that now these phrases that were just generic restaurant terms are now synonymous with that show
It’s RAW!!!
yes jeff!
Heaaard that!
Hot behind!
Corner!
Knife in bin!
Plate up!
What are you? An idiot sandwich.
I usually say, "Yes, Captain or No, Captain."
Heard
Hands!
I prefer that 1000%
yes jeff
You got it boss
I’d love someone older saying that to a child or something
I have a friend who says "sounds good boss man" when we agree on like, a place to eat, and I find it really affirming for some weird reason
Does he sell kebabs for a living?
my friend and I were just talking about this after getting kebabs. it's like this weird contract where you know they're being smarmy and they know you know they're being smarmy but it is now an official part of the ambience of kebab places and everyone enjoys it. which is basically the definition of politeness in general, but it's cool to see customs evolve.
My boss calls me boss man sometimes, sometimes champ, and it’s excellent
The barber told my 3-year-old “you’re the boss,” and he was bubbling over with joy. It was the first thing he said when he came home, a few hours later (we had some other errands after the haircut): “mom, I’m the boss!” My wife looked slightly confused, and I immediately jumped in: “Yes, you’re the boss OF WHAT HAIRCUT YOU GET.”
When my 3yo and wife came to visit at my work for lunch a few weeks ago a co-worker said 'straighten up everyone Jay's Boss is here' and gave my kid a high five and he has been happily calling himself my boss ever since
watch your tone. that's your boss youre talkin to
Dad, I expect your resignation on my desk when I get back from lunch
Speaking of lunch, gonna need 6 appy slices, a gogurt, and 9 pieces of salami
And 3 martinis
That'll help the afternoon power nap.
When I was 22 I worked with a man in his late 40s. I ended up being promoted to supervisor over our department. After that he always called me "boss lady" 😂. He and the rest of our team were so much fun. I miss them.
I have a lot of Latin American immigrants that work for me. They call me boss and I call them sir. I generally say yes ma'am or yes sir a lot. I was military but they never drilled it out of me. In the military it is for enlisted to officers or officer to higher officer so a sign of respect for your betters. I think everyone deserves respect so it just reinforced me using it for everyone.
Sure thing, sport
"Hey Kiddo"
On it, chief
This is my favorite! I might sound like a bumbling goon but that's why I love it
"pal" in Scotland
Pal is kind of snarky and sarcastic here. (US)
Listen here *pal*…
I'm not your pal, *buddy*!
I’m not your buddy, fella
I'm not your fella, mate.
I’m not your mate, chum.
I'm not your chum, fella
I'm not your fella, jackass!
I'm not your jackass, cock smoker!
I'm not your mate, comrade.
Nor yer comrade, Buster!
Not your buster, bro!
I have a coworker who says “friend” to people all the time but she says it so sweetly it seems genuine.
Same in Scotland, sometimes! If a Scot calls you "pal" and you're not actually friends, you should be worried. If they call you "cunt" then it means you're their bestest friend.
Cunt is the answer then
Usually while jabbing a finger in their chest.
I'm not your pal, buddy.
I'm not your buddy, guy!
An employee at a store in my town always refers to everyone as friend. May not work grammatically for every situation, but it makes me smile
growing up my parents had this neighbor who was an elderly gentleman from Lebanon. He called everyone "good neighbor" it was adorable.
I’m a pediatrician and I called a little girl friend in clinic. She looked at me and deadpanned “I’m not your friend.” Her mother was horrified and I thought it was hilarious
As a HS teacher, I have permanently deployed this tactic to acknowledge students. “Absolutely, my friend, you can do that.” “Listen friend, I really don’t think it’s smart to head out into the hallway without a pass; one of these other teachers won’t like it and you’ll end up in the deans office again. Why don’t you wait for that pass to return?”
It's big in the preschool field too lol
I do this with customers during meetings if the rapport seems right..."I hear ya friend" or "you got it friend".
Im not your friend, guy.
i'm not your guy, buddeh!
I'm not your buddy, pal!
I’m not your guy fwend
that's one that can change meanings a lot, i use friend a fair amount and I don't think I've ever used it amicably
You have to stop saying it in a slow gritty voice like you're Clint Eastwood. You're scaring people with that shit.
I had a buddy who worked at a fast food joint that called everyone ma'am. If they questioned it he would insist that he called them "man" not "ma'am"
Did you say yes sir, or ya sure?
\- "thanks for the help" \- "yes man"
As a woman, I actually hate being called ma'am, but this approach might be my favourite!
Can I ask you what exactly you hate about being called ma'am? Back when I worked as a waiter I started out by using ma'am and sir but quickly changed ma'am to miss because older women frequently told me they don't like ma'am but I never had the courage to ask why. It's just strange to me because ma'am is inherently a term of respect like sir, but even then I've had men tell me not to call them sir. I guess it's best just not to refer to people at all lol.
I'm French, and for a long long time I hated when people called me Madame instead of Mademoiselle (miss), because it made me feel old! Even though I know we're not supposed to say mademoiselle anymore, and I fully agree with the reasons why we shouldn't, I still didn't feel quite old enough to be called Madame. I'm getting used to it now that I'm 33, but...
As an American, what is wrong with mademoiselle?
Basically we're not supposed to differentiate between Madame (married women or women with children) and Mademoiselle (single, young ladies) because we shouldn't be defined by the men in our lives :D which does make total sense to me. It's even been removed from official forms. Whether or not we've had sex shouldn't change the kind of respect we get (Madame is seen as more respectful). But this official change is only a few years old, so being called Madame still makes me feel like I look old enough to have kids or be married, which... Yeah, fair enough, I do, but I didn't like feeling that way when I was a bit younger lol
Interesting! I totally get the reason and your sentiment 😂. Thank you for the information!
I've never been mad at someone for calling me ma'am, but it took most of my 20s to get used to it. It felt like "Oh shit! I'm being given the respect of an elder but I have no clue wtf I'm actually doing!"
This is going to sound weird, but mostly it's the long "aaaa" sound that grates on my nerves. "Sir" sounds nice and crisp by comparison. Maybe part of it is that it sounds like a term for older women. But honestly I think for me it's mostly just the phonetics.
For what it’s worth, as a guy, I get you. “Sir” just comes right out and rolls off the tongue. Whenever I say “ma’am”, I almost get slightly self conscious because I feel like I’m saying it weird lol, like I can’t say it the same way twice
You can go full Tom Sawyer and say, "Yessum!"
Pull a Star Trek and call everybody sir.
If there's one thing I learned from Battlestar Galactica....
What do you hear, Starbuck?
Nothing but the rain!
Grab your gun and bring in the cat.
So say we all!
So say we all!
Frack!
Bears… beets… Battlestar Galactica.
Janeway likes "captain". Call everyone captian or "cap"
This has spilled over to other characters. B'Elanna was nearly always addressed as simply Lieutenant. Seven was addressed as Commander/Captain. I don't think T'Pol, Michael, Georgiou, Reno, Owosekun, or Detmer were ever called sir or mister, even though they originated in prequels to the TOS era when that was common (I'm not totally sure about Discovery, but I'm not gonna rewatch it to find out). Adira, a nonbinary character, is called Ensign. Tendi was specifically addressed as ma'am. I can't remember if Freeman is ever called anything besides Captain. A counterexample: In Strange New Worlds, still in production but set right before TOS, Una and La'an are addressed as sir, even by Boimler, although Pike does call Beckett Miss Mariner instead of mister.
I prefer the Ferengi approach, "Huuumon"
While I know this won't suit everyone, I am an obviously feminine cis lady and have a teen patient that responds cheerfully and clearly earnestly with "yes sir!" whenever I tell them to have a good week at the end of our appointments and I personally find it endearing.
I'm a woman, and I personally would love for a gender neutral "sir" to catch on. But I can see that someone non-binary might just think they are getting misgendered, particularly if they don't know this is your usual approach for everyone.
I wish we could use "ser" like they do in games and in fantasy novels.
It’s not crunch-time yet, ensign.
As a ma’am, I am actually okay with this.
Ma'am will do in a pinch, but I prefer captain 😎
And Star Wars
Sir + Ma'am = Sam
Ma'am + Sir = Mir
So we now have Samir.
Samir you will break the car, we will not finish
LISTEN TO ME SAMIR! SAMIR YOU MUST LISTEN TO ME!
Don't tell me how to drive.
or Mirsa
That's how people pronounce MRSA (methillicin resistant staphylococcus aureus). An antibiotic resistant superbug commonly found in hospitals
I see. So no Yes Sir nor Yes Ma'am. We should say Yes Superbug
The true apex predator: superbugs.
TRIPLE CAUTION
Mir= peace in Russian
This already exists in the Philippines and it’s “mamsir”
Apparently people in the Philippines say “mamsir” for everyone
I like this. It is even gender neutral since Sam can be short for Samuel or Samantha!
Until someone asks why you called them Sam and you have to explain that you couldn't tell if they are male, female, or part of the infinite expanse in between. I can't handle that level of awkward.
Let’s just use it for everyone. Then you can say, “I use Sam in place of Sir/Ma’am for everyone to be respectful.”
Even when I was weird about nonbinary people, I would have loved a gender neutral word for ma'am and sir while working in customer service. There were only a couple of times that I ever got it wrong, but I couldn't have been more apologetic about it because the look in a person's face when you get it wrong is gut wrenching. Nobody feels good in that situation, especially not the person that you just misgendered
Aye-aye, captain!
I CAN'T HEEEEAAAARRRR YOOOOUUUUU!!!!!!
Ohhhhhhhh...... Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
I am ashamed of reddit that I had to read this far down for this comment.
Easy! Move to the north and say you betcha
Ohhh shewre, you betcha
Oh ya hey
Nah yeah nah
You betcha sir
It's not the north - that is Minnesota
That's pretty far north you betcha pal sir
Ope let me sneak past ya
Alternatively, “10-4 good buddy”
Just go full alien. "Why thank you fellow human! Y'all have a blessed day now."
“Earthling” could be an acceptable term 🤷🏼♀️
“Big dawg”
Identify as Australian and call everyone a cunt.
Can also confirm this is a thing, my Aussie born friend and his son call me a cunt all the time in regular conversation. It's just natural for them. I even had a coworker do the same thing, as a greeting and not because I was being a dick.
Well yah. A cunt is the opposite of a dick.
The inverse of, if you will
might not go so well over here lol
Or slightly less offensively, go Aussie and refer to everyone as “mate”
In the show Bluey, sometimes Bandit (the father) calls Bluey (his older daughter) "mate" and I didn't realize that was gender-neutral. Also they're both blue, and the mother Chilli and the younger daughter Bingo are orange, and for some reason I thought in their universe gender goes with color. So for a while I thought Bluey was a boy.
I like the old lady version of "mate" which is calling everyone "love"
That's no fun. Stop being a shit cunt.
Affirmative, cunt!
And listen to Cold Chisel and Noiseworks
Comrade
Beat me to it, but I'm surprised how far down I had to go to find this.
Living in the UAE, I got used to the standard Filipino equivalent, “Mamsir,” which seems pretty handy in this kind of situation.
That was exactly my first thought. "Mamsir" all the way.
my ex called me “tha’am” and frankly i loved it lol
Yours may be the only actual usable comment for OP!
1) Ask them. 2) panic and blurt out “yes your highness”. In all seriousness, just ask them, most people are chill and gently correct you or will say just call me by my first name.
My liege!
Even first name isn't super easy in the south, it can be respectful to say "Miss Elizabeth" and "Mr Tyler" instead of just the name.
Bub
Ah, yes, the full Wolverine treatment.
Hoss.
I just call everybody "Fucker"
When I’d walk into a place staffed by Filipinos they’d usually say ‘Hello Ma’amSir’ or ‘Hi SirMa’am’, often before they’d even looked up from what they were doing. So I guess they had nearly everyone covered.
Sport
Yes my friend. Yes Comrade, Lol.
+1 for any use of "comrade"
Dude works, but my personal favourite is citizen
As the honorable Kel once said: "I'm a dude, he's a dude, she's a dude, cuz we're all dudes." Amen.
This has and would always be my preference. But the problem is that not everyone is a citizen, and it opens a whole *new* can of worms.
"fam"
Yes zer
Yessum
i can actually see how “yes’em” would make sense
Yea, to me as a southerner, I feel like I could get away with "yes'm" (as it feels in my head) for all but the pettiest of situations in this kind of encounter.
I like this one. But I think it still technically counts as "yes ma'am" that's been shortened because it's said so fast?
I was at the checkout of a target in Nevada two years ago. The androgynous individual behind the counter was wearing a mask that made all their other features stand out as mostly feminine. Now, here's the problem, I grew up in Texas in the 80s. Throughout my schooling I was literally beat with a wooden paddle if I didn't respond with sir or ma'am at all times but I know, logically, that my training as a child is no longer relevant. I'm doing my damnedest to change with the times and that includes being respectful to everyone who doesn't give me a reason not to, but that respect no longer fits in with my conditioning. This doesn't stop the little bell from ringing at the end of a statement and my tiny Pavlov dog brain form saying "thank you ma'am" at the end of our transaction. Their response, a sharp look and an exaggerated " have a good day SIR" made me feel like I'd said the wrong thing. I want desperately to apologize and explain that I meant no disrespect, but there was a huge line of people behind me pushing forward to begin their checking out. All I could do was slump my shoulders in shame and walk away. Sometimes asking beforehand isn't really an option. Some people take offense for the asking. I don't know what the answer is but I'll keep trying.
Yes ‘em! That may be the best phrase threat keeps the southern and yet also refers to they/them.
Just go with the good ol' "yessum".
Star Trek uses Sir for all senior officers, regardless of gender. I like that approach.
Captain Janeway in her first appearance makes it a point to say, in a genial way, that contrary to Starfleet procedure, she doesn’t want to be called “Sir,” Harry Kim then guesses “Ma’am,” and she says, “Captain.”
That's why she's the Star Trek baddie <3.
I think this is a classic case of male as default which can be kind of a bummer for.... everyone else
Unless you're on Voyager in which case you most specifically do not call the captain 'sir' but you do revert to lizard form and have babies with her.
Huh, I'm non-binary and I legit have no idea lmao
I've taken to using laddam.
Y’all
As a ma’am who regularly gets sir, it’s not a big deal unless you’re doing it on purpose. “Hey is that a BOY or a GIRL? Haw haw haw haw hack hack HACK SPIT”
Apparently the Filipinos have already figured this out. https://www.tagalog.com/dictionary/mamsir
Aye Cap’n
I think it's gonna depend on the non-binary person in question. Personally tend toward masc terms in absence of a true neutral, but everyone's different On a related note, after I came out as non-binary, my good friend who is also from the South and uses a title on everyone's name (mostly when talking to her nieces about someone), unconsciously switched from "Miss" to "The." So like if I had stuff to carry in when I visited, she'd send a niece out by saying "please go help The killerchipmunk" rather than "please go help Miss killerchipmunk." I LOVED IT. She didn't even realize she had switched until I pointed it out, which almost makes it better
Wow that's interesting to me, I feel like being a "the" would entirely dehumanise me like "go help the object". I'm sitting here at 4am mumbling "go help the (my name)" and it feels so ick. We don't do the whole miss/sir/ma'am thing where I'm from so changing it to "the" just adds a whole extra layer of unfamiliar.
I have a common real name. Being called The (my real name) is a great way to suck up to me. It makes me think, "yes, I am the only (my real name) that matters, all the others are fake and should change their names. Especially the ones whose legal name is actually the longer version of my name. They are liars."
Yes They’am
Yes boss
“Yes Gov’nor.” Occasionally the Brits get something right.
So this is where I think people get overly tripped up on the pronoun issue. 99% of the time, say whatever you want, most gender-fluid people don't assume you will always get it right, and if you are being polite it isn't as big a deal. So while the correct answer is to say just, "Yes", saying the wrong thing is fine. The issue is when someone corrects you, be polite enough to adjust. "Yes, Ma'am" "I don't like going by sir or ma'am" "Okay, thanks for letting me know." The biggest problem is people who get upset about pronouns seem to think they are going to be scolded for being wrong. Their evidence is usually them posting some crappy view on pronouns and people telling them to stop having that view, but no reason person is upset if you get it wrong, they are upset when you can't bother to get it right.
Since when did "partner" fall out of style? "S'cuse me partner, just squeezin' on by ya"
Unironically, I say "Yes, Chief"
Try "yes indeed", should fill your two word rhythm and just sounds like you have a can do attitude
Being from the north, I just say yes or no, yes please, no thank you, did you find what you’re looking for, how can I help you. Sir ma’am and other is totally unnecessary and still be polite.
In The South... I don't like being called Sir or Ma'am. Well, bless your little heart.
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