http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/06/18/barbaras-brass-ovaries Comments On: Barbara's Brass Ovaries by Dan Savage en-us Copyright 2009 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:45:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by Karlheinz Arschbomber]]> Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:03:31 -0700 The Stranger
- "Sir" or "Ma'am" is a general term of respect to be used for anyone of a higher rank without any prejudice. Sir or Ma'am trumps all other terms of reference.

- If you have been formally introduced, it is appropriate to refer to a person as "Senator Smith" or "Admiral Jones". Using that form of address before an introduction, and not while trying to discriminate among the same (several Admirals standing together, and you need to get the attention of Admiral Jones), is considered unduly familiar and impolite. Exceptions include the five basic responses (yes sir, no ma'am, aye'aye sir, I will find out ma'am, -direct answer to the question- ma'am) after you have been introduced.

- calling someone by rank alone is equivalent to calling someone an asshole. It means you are smart enough to recognize the person's rank, but unwilling to recognize the person as respectable. "Yes Captain" rather than "Yes sir" is a tacit implication that "I recognize that you outrank me, but you do not deserve to be called sir or ma'am, because that implies that I have some modicum of respect for you". The exception is calling the commanding officer of your ship "captain" (or the commanding officer of your squadron "commodore"), since that is not just a rank but a specific position.

I don't know what happened before this interaction, but I can infer that the General was only trying to be respectful.

-LT L
Posted by LT L]]> Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:42:20 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Chris in Vancouver WA]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:39:08 -0700 The Stranger Posted by shotsix]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:57:47 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Juanico]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:37:44 -0700 The Stranger
As many others have pointed out, his "ma'aming" was clearly intended respectfully (it's good enough for the Queen of England, after all, although I don't know if that is true for all situations), and he also immediately honored her request that he call her "Senator", without seeming knocked off stride at all).

She comes off as more concerned about matters dignitary than about whatever substantive matters of State were at hand. She doesn't seem particularly aggressive about it, nor to be trying tactically to get him off-balance.

"Brass ovaries" seems a little strong. "Unfocused ADHD sufferer" seems more like it.
Posted by fixo]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:15:13 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Julie in Eugene]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:05:20 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Just Say No]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:54:29 -0700 The Stranger Posted by agentsee]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:11:45 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Keyboard Gat]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:10:14 -0700 The Stranger
personally, my opinion of the word "ma'am?" OUTSIDE the military, in the everyday world, it has a somewhat different connotation. i would not want to be called ma'am outside of the military. non-military folks don't muster up as much respect for the word, ESPECIALLY in comparison to SIR.
Posted by onion]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:29:04 -0700 The Stranger
do you mean that women are even MORE

impulsive
prone to violence
demanding of instant action
wanting to get to the bottom line, stop boring us with the lengthy linear description of every detail
excited by risk
need to have hierarchies
like to "do stuff" with buddies instead of "talking and sharing"
and love war

then men?

Such that if women had been in charge the last 40000000 years we'd of had EVEN MORE tribal violaence national violence genocide and domestic violence?

Wow, I'm going to have to go tell this to all my feminist friends. Women are JUST LIKE MEN ONLY MORE SO.

Got it.

a Senator from California (550,000 - 40000000). And the whole point of the Senate is to block the hasty intemperate action of the House.

so instead of microanalyzing 15 words in a meaningless exchange why dont' we just eliminate the entire senate?

We'd be done with the need for 60 votes which is the principal thing preventing us from enacting progressive legislation in every area. It's fundamentally undemocratic as is the Senate itself, and there's no other advanced nation that has such a crusty, nonrepresentative, conservatizing legislative chamber.

Off with your heads, Sirs and Madames!


Posted by PC]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:58:56 -0700 The Stranger
I don't see a huge problem. She asked the general to use a term of address appropriate to the setting -- the Senate. Just because something's military doesn't mean it's suitable everywhere. I doubt she would have raised the issue in a less formal, less official setting.
Posted by Gloria]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:57:33 -0700 The Stranger
..sense...
Posted by humiliation]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:46:07 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Drama Queens of a feather]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:35:47 -0700 The Stranger Posted by JF]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:34:51 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Allyn]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:29:59 -0700 The Stranger Posted by gregory gookins]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:27:53 -0700 The Stranger
Yes, it's how those in the military show respect (god help me, they do it to me on tech support calls). And no, it's not appropriate for the senate, regardless of how much of a pain Boxer is. And yes, a general who's going to the Senate should bloody well know that.
Posted by wench]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:26:05 -0700 The Stranger
We need universal health care ...

Hard to stay focused, isn't it ....
Posted by Ace]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:21:12 -0700 The Stranger
maybe.

If you're a Democratic Party Ass Kisser.
If you're Obama's Credulous Bitch.
If you are an America Hating military disrespecting liberal sack of shit.
Posted by Pretty brilliant, Indeed!]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:13:12 -0700 The Stranger
Right on! Couldn't have said it any better. It's Barbara Boxer's fault for being ignorant about how military officials show respect. Her assumption (born out of ignorance) was that he was condescending to her because she was a female when in fact it was the opposite.

You were fucking WRONG you pushy, power-hungry, uninformed bitch! She made a complete ass of herself.

Posted by Confluence]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:11:43 -0700 The Stranger
Right on! Couldn't have said it any better. It's Barbara Boxer's fault for being ignorant about how military officials show respect. Her assumption (born out of ignorance) was that he was condescending to her because she was a female when in fact it was the opposite.

You were fucking WRONG you pushy, power-hungry, uninformed bitch! She made a complete ass of herself.

Posted by Confluence]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:11:32 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Allyn]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:58:45 -0700 The Stranger
Women have balls too. We just keep them inside where any sane person would. My doctor assures me they -are- bigger then men's.
Posted by Flaminica]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:26:32 -0700 The Stranger