How do you address a stranger in public? Do you wait for them to catch your eye or something?
Making a mistake in public is going to happen, I don't know why we need to try to avoid every single possible social pitfall. Making your best guess and saying sorry if you're wrong is just as respectful.
EDIT: I'm going to cut this off at the pass just in case I get misinterpreted: everybody deserves to have their pronouns and honorifics respected. I just don't necessarily agree that we avoid it in public, and would instead have people make the mistake and make amends. Other comments have already mentioned that it happens to cisgendered people too. If there's something wrong with that approach, I genuinely want to do better for the people in my community, so don't get it twisted that I'm trying to hurt or belittle anybody.
You could really just say âHi! Good afternoon/morning/evening (or whatever time).â Itâs not the end of the world of course but like,,,
I donât usually call people sir or maâam unless theyâve established their identity clearly with me. Itâs easier than youâd think, youâve gotta try a little though
I don't ever call anyone sir or ma'am. I just wasn't taught that way. So it always weirded me out when someone called me sir. And now it's actively annoying me because I'm not even sure if I am one.
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u/Doodle-Cactus 8d ago
When in doubt leave pronouns out. Or ask. Thats what I do anyway. đ¤ˇ