prof-student etiquitte + Potions master stuff (was: Re: Master of This School)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 111851

-
> 
> Aura:
> This is another one of those UK private school culture clash 
things:
> whenever Hermione says "Please sir," to ask a question, I'm 
reminded of
> "may I have some more?" and abused ophans and whatnot. :) To my 
American
> ears, it seems like an unnecesarily subserviant thing for Hermione 
to
> say, so I assume I'm missing some cultural context here? 
> 

Potioncat:
I do think it's a cultural thing.  I say that because I grew up in 
the Southern U.S. where "Ma'am and Sir" were used always when 
speaking to an adult, even to parents.  Movies almost always get it 
wrong.  It's made to be a demeaning, bullying sort of behavior, to 
expect someone to address you that way.  But is wasn't like that at 
all.  Same in the military...sir, ma'am, Captain...are just polite 
terms. 

 Anything can be abused of course. (Mommy, Dearest comes to mind.)