I have been in a couple of retail environments lately where male retail assistants have called me “bud” because they don’t know my name. Now I know I live in the south and for some it just comes naturally but for some reason when they call me “bud” it irks me. My grandmother called me “bud” on occasion but that’s my grandmother, she could call me whatever she liked, she earned that right. In a retail environment I would rather be called “sir” not that I am snobby but to me it makes sense to address strangers as sir and to be a little more formal. Perhaps it’s a generational as well as a cultural thing but I think the word “bud” is for a buddy or someone you know.

Also I hate the term “big guy”, yes I know I am a larger sized person but that one also makes me cringe. If you know me call me Tony or T-Bird, either is fine but if you don’t know me or any other person, start off with “sir” it’s a matter of respect that will be returned in kind.