Question about British/American difference...

[Melody]

> Kimberly Davison Asked:
> > > I have noticed at least twice on separate occasions where
> > > someone mentions how odd it would be for a British child to use
> > > the term "sir"...  I had no idea this was uncommon in England,
> > >could anyone elaborate on this a bit?  Is it considered rude?  Or
> > > disrespectful?  In America it is a term of respect, and I had no
> > > idea it was different over the pond!  :-)

I didn't know that either.  To me, ma'am and sir are almost compulsive
speech and meant in deep respect.  Hmm, now I feel a little bad about
having Sneaky always speak so "American."  She is, after all, a
British house elf.  Sorry Pip.


Gail B. then pointed out:
>While we're on the subject of addressing people, I was  wondering
>about this...never in all my years of schooling (in the U.S.) had any
>of my teachers addressed me by my last name: "You, Bohacek...".  It
>was always by my first name.   But I've noticed in the books people
>are always calling each other this way, "Potter", "Weasley" etc.  Is
>this another British difference?

Ok, this is my Texas (the sport-crazy masculine state) viewpoint, but
here the boys *are* called by their last name and the girls by their
first.  Kind of like team players with their last names on the back of
their jerseys.  I just always assumed that is why Potterverse does it
too.  Guess that was an extremely short-sighted assumption on my part,
but to me, American's do the last name thing too.

Anyway, that is my American viewpoint, so I guess I really did not
help either of you on your British quest.  Sorry about that.  Thanks
for letting me give it though.  :)


Melody