The Arbitrary Sir

[Resist]

Recently, I've been ruminating on something I see a lot, especially here, and especially in Chat. I see the word "Sir" an awful lot.

Stick with me on this.

My feeling is that this word, this title of respect, gets thrown around too often and too easily, and subsequently loses the intended depth of respect. For example, I see subs calling doms they've never spoken to before "Sir", as a sort of default setting. I'm not trying to judge this--I'm simply trying to understand if it genuinely adds to the BDSM experience, or, as I hypothesize, detracts from it. My initial reaction is that "Sir" should be something a sub earns the right to call a dom--not an easy "Yes, I'm submissive," sign.

I understand that some people practice a Gorean lifestyle, or other system of behavior, which requires them to address all doms as Sir at all times. This set of rules carries with it, from what I understand, enough intrinsic meaning to supplement the use of the title and thus prevents the detrimental effects of over-use.

So my query to you: Is "Sir" overused in some situations/contexts to the point at which its meaning is lost? Does it shed true respect and replace it with foreplay? Should we care?


(Note: The same problem occurs with Miss, Ma'am, etc. I simply see Sir more often than most.)

Thoughts?