History Main / DontCallMeSir

* In ''Series/{{CSINY}}'', Danny uses this to play a joke on his (unknown to them at the time of course) future wife in her first episode. On Lindsay's first day on the job, Danny tells her Mac likes to be called "Sir." She proceeds to do so a few times in one conversation, and then Mac tells her NOT to call him "Sir." Averted later in the series with Adam, who calls Mac "Sir" frequently. Mac never says a word.

!!Examples

* Meijin-san/Mr. Famous in ''Anime/MegamanNTWarrior'' doesn't like formalities. His catchphrase is "san wa iranai"[[note]]"The 'san' isn't necessary"[[/note]], or in the dub, "Famous. Just Famous."

* In ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' this is implicit with Zen-Oh, the KingOfAllCosmos and the most powerful being in the ''Dragon Ball'' multiverse short of Creator/AkiraToriyama himself. Goku ends up befriending him because he's the only person to date who treats Zen-Oh with any modicum of friendliness, rather than the combination of effusive politeness and pants-wetting terror he gets from practically everyone else in the multiverse. In one episode Goku gives him a cute nickname ("Zen-chan"), which delights him; when his handlers get angry over Goku's impertinence, he tells them "Knock it off or I'll destroy you".

* Tiara of ''VideoGame/LapisReLights'' struggles to get her childhood friend and former servant Rosetta to stop referring to her with polite Japanese and the honorific "-sama". In the English translations, she wants her to stop calling her "Lady Tiara".

* A more casual example, but in ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite,'' while Elizabeth and Booker are beginning to get to know each other, she calls him "Mr. Dewitt" at first, but he plainly asks her to call him Booker instead. This happens again nearly verbatim in the DLC ''BioshockInfinite/BurialAtSea,'' but this time Elizabeth says that she'd rather stick to "Mr. Dewitt,'' hinting at the fact that [[spoiler: she knows that the Booker she's talking to isn't actually Booker, but a version of Comstock who had his memory wiped [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone to forget that he accidentally killed a baby Elizabeth]] and had the Luteces take him to Rapture to start over under a new identity that even he didn't know wasn't real.]]

* ''VideoGame/JediAcademy'': Kyle Katarn insists that both [[PlayerCharacter Jaden]] and Rosh call him Kyle instead of Master, as he says that titles "make my skin crawl." Rosh tries to adapt to this and starts acting so relaxed he's soon found literally leaning on Kyle, which he doesn't appreciate either. [[SarcasmMode There's just no pleasing some people.]] Whereas Jaden seems to have trouble calling him just Kyle right until the end of the game, which is supposed to take place over several years (however long it takes to go from being an Initiate to a Jedi Knight). By the ''Literature/FateOfTheJedi'' books taking place decades later, Kyle actually insists on being called "Master Katarn". This may be related to the fact that he's on the Jedi Council...

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect'':

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', Amy's mother, despite [[spoiler:being a queen]], tells the protagonist that it's alright if he doesn't address her as [[spoiler:"Your Majesty."]]
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', Shiki tries to get the twin {{Meido}} to stop calling him [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseHonorifics "sama"]]. [[TheSocialExpert Kohaku]] complies, [[EmotionlessGirl Hisui]] doesn't.
* Shirou of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' tells Saber not to call him "master", and she complies.
* In ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'', Sae doesn't like being called "[[MaamShock Mrs. Saionji]]", and prefers a FirstNameBasis.
* In ''VisualNovel/TheArcana,'' Asra's route begins with him asking the Apprentice to stop calling him "master," because [[FirstNameBasis he hates it.]]
* ''VisualNovel/GalaxyAngel'': Despíte being their commanding officer, Tact Mayers insists that the whole Angel Wing to call him by name instead of his rank, since he doesn't care much for formalities.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Roy says this to Vaarsuvius at least once.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'', the easygoing Sulley has a brief moment telling ThoseTwoGuys not to call him Mr. Sullivan.

* ''Series/BlakesSeven''. In "Weapon", a [[FantasticCasteSystem Beta-grade]] technician who's fled the Federation with a female Labour-grade gets annoyed when she calls him "sir" -- he's set her free plus he's always [[TheResenter hated having to do that to his superiors]]. This doesn't stop him from bullying her whenever she shows her independence, however.
* Inverted by new captain Victoria "Iron" Gates on ''Series/{{Castle|2009}}''. She insists on being called "sir" over "[[MaamShock Ma'am]]".

* ''Series/CowboyBebop2021''. In "Dog Star Swing", Jet gets confused over whether to call a {{dominatrix}} "Ma'am", "Miss" or [[AmbiguousGender "Sir"]]. Spike quickly apologises for his "vanilla-bean friend", saying the correct term of address is "Mistress".
* On ''Series/{{CSINY}}'', Danny uses this to play a joke on his (unknown to them at the time of course) future wife in her first episode. On Lindsay's first day on the job, Danny tells her Mac likes to be called "Sir." She proceeds to do so a few times in one conversation, and then Mac tells her NOT to call him "Sir." Averted later in the series with Adam, who calls Mac "Sir" frequently. Mac never says a word.
* At the beginning of ''Series/DesignatedSurvivor'' newly-minted FLOTUS Alex Kirkman tries to get Seth to call her by her first name; but he politely declines, pointing out that she is now the First Lady of the United States and that such familiarity is simply unacceptable.

** The Doctor. It's usually a sign of great distress when he doesn't mind people calling him "Sir." The [[TheNthDoctor Tenth Doctor]] also dislikes being saluted. The only reason he lets the UNIT commander of the episode do it is that they seem to get a buzz out of it.
** Averted in "The Invasion of Time" when the Doctor, currently Lord President of Gallifrey, tells the Sontaran commander that he's addressed as sir. The Sontaran is not amused and shoots him with his AgonyBeam.
--->'''Commander Stor:''' I call no one sir except my battalion leader.
--->'''Doctor:''' ''(grimacing in pain)'' That must mean many thousand sirs.
--->'''Commander Stor:''' Thousands. The glorious Sontaran army reckons its numbers in [[CloneArmy hundreds of millions]].
** Rose tries to convince the members of UNIT to stop saluting her during [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E11TurnLeft "Turn Left"]].

* ''Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond''. Being MildlyMilitary at best, Ian Fleming tells the young officer assigned to him in France not to salute him or call him "Sir." It takes a few reminders to get it right. Then Fleming gets into Admiral Darlan's headquarters using a Rolls Royce they've acquired, [[BavarianFireDrill pretending to be on a mission from Winston Churchill]]. As the young officer opens the car door for him, Fleming whispers testily, "Salute me, you idiot!" as they're supposed to be an official delegation.

** Sandor Clegane doesn't like being called "Ser." Unlike many examples, it's actually correct, as he is not a knight (though many assume he is, what with being the personal bodyguard of the Crown Prince). Beyond that, Sandor doesn't think much of knights -- after all, his [[CainAndAbel brother]] is one.
*** This variant also comes up a few times with Ned Stark's retinue in the first season. Although they're the equivalent they aren't actually knights (knighthood is part of the Faith of the Seven which never caught on in the North) and they hold "official" knights in barely-concealed disdain.

** In the 1st season episode ("''Sightings''") a former enlisted service member takes offense being called sir by Harm.
** Another example is in "''Dog Rober: Part 1''" when Harm goes to Admiral Boone's place to inform him that the [=SecNav=] wants to have him as his troubleshooter.
--->'''Boone''': Don't sir me. I'm retired.
* Myth/KingArthur in ''Series/{{Kaamelott}}'', Livre V: "''Don't call me sire.''" He is no longer the King of Britain, after all. Of course, being SurroundedByIdiots, they keep forgetting.
** He still makes a point about this upon his return ten years later in TheMovie, ''Film/KaamelottPremierVolet''.

** In "The Phoenix", ComicBook/LexLuthor told Nigel not to call him "Sir" anymore since he no longer had a façade to keep.
** Also, when Franchise/{{Superman}} reclaimed his birthright as "Lord Kal-El" and became the ruler of New Krypton to prevent Lord Nor from ruling it and using its power to take over and enslave the human race, there was a scene where several Kryptonians were bowing to him and he told them it would no longer be needed.

** Captain Janeway of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' mentions in a conversation early in the pilot episode "Caretaker" that standard Starfleet protocol is to call superior officers "sir" regardless of gender, but she herself prefers "Captain". "Ma'am" will do in a crunch (and Paris does so throughout the series in crunch time). (Starting with ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Starfleet officers of superior rank are addressed as "sir" regardless of their gender. Presumably the idea is that the patriarchal meaning of the word had changed over the centuries to become gender-neutral, although male characters will occasionally "sir" female characters who are being especially authoritative with just enough extra inflection to indicate that the gender-specific overtones are not quite dead.)
*** Of course, when it came her turn to play with Q, she had to invoke ARareSentence:
----> '''Janeway:''' Please don't call me "madam Captain".
** ''Next Gen'' also used the "I work(ed) for a living" variation when someone "sirs" Worf's adoptive father, a retired Starfleet CPO.
** Inverted by Troi: she is promoted to the rank of Commander while Data is off-ship, and when Data returns, she jokes that he has to call her "Sir" now.
** Chief O'Brien on ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' is like this as well; in fact, in one episode, a dying ensign notes that his situation has to be getting worse because O'Brien didn't correct him about calling him "sir". That said, O'Brien is a senior NCO rather than an officer, so this is actually an incorrect form of address and possibly even against regulations. Which means that following the strict chain of command, Nog, who is a cadet with a battlefield promotion to Ensign, outranks him... [[EnsignNewbie technically.]] (It would be a very brave and very foolish newly-minted ensign who started giving orders to a veteran Chief Petty Officer.) He follows the standard tradition of using ranks as titles though, and he's laid back enough about it to claim that he did so so he wouldn't have to wear fancy uniforms and go to boring meetings.
--->'''O'Brien:''' You know, I just realized, when he gets back from the academy, I'm going to have to call him "sir".
** And Garak doesn't like being called "Mister Garak".
--->'''Garak:''' Just plain, simple Garak.
** It's also played with in the episode "The Storyteller," when [[WideEyedIdealist Julian]] [[EnsignNewbie Bashir]] tells Miles not only to not call him sir but to [[FirstNameBasis call him Julian]]. Miles has been in Starfleet too long to be impressed by this, and he looks a bit smug when Julian mutters that the formal address will do fine at the end of the episode. They end up transitioning naturally to FirstNameBasis when they become friends a few seasons later.
** In "Playing God", Trill initiate-for-joining Arjin addresses Jadzia Dax as "Ma'am", which Jadzia promptly rejects, insisting that Arjin call her by her first name.
** "In the Hands of the Prophets" has [[CommandingCoolness Commander Sisko]] use a variation when [[SinisterMinister Vedek Winn]] first addresses him as "Emissary":
--->'''Sisko:''' I wish you wouldn't call me that. I'm "Commander Sisko", or "Benjamin", if you'd like.
** In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' [[GrandFinale finale episode]] "All Good Things", Geordi addresses the (now retired) Picard as "Captain" and asks if he would prefer "Ambassador" or perhaps "[[TheyCallMeMisterTibbs Mr. Picard]]". Picard replies that he now prefers just "[[FirstNameBasis Jean-Luc]]". Geordi decides that he couldn't get used to that, and he and Data quickly default back to "Captain". (A later scene shows that whatever his current position, Picard is clearly still inclined to respond to "Captain Picard"... even when it's not meant for him.)

* Played a bit for laughs in ''Series/TheWestWing'' with Donna Moss and incoming First Lady Helen Santos.
-->'''Helen:''' Did you just "ma'am" me???\\

* In ''VideoGame/PotionPermit'', Collin always seems to forget Xiao's name and calls him "Mr. Secretary" instead, to the latter's frustration.

* Inverted by new captain Victoria "Iron" Gates on ''Series/{{Castle}}''. She insists on being called "sir" over "[[MaamShock Ma'am]]".

* ''Manga/TimeStopBrave'': After Kuzuno Sekai rescues her people, Princess Sayuki Takegawa calls him "Kuzuno-dono" or "Kuzuno-sama". He tells her the honorifics are not necessary. In turn, she gives him permission to call her only by her name.

* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', in the miserable mill. The boss insists that everyone call him Sir, to the point where neither we nor the protagonists know his name. PlayedForLaughs in book the thirteenth. The leader of the island, [[Literature/MobyDick Ishmael, asks everyone to "call me Ish."]]
-->'''[[SecretDiary Ishmael's Diary]]''': P.S. Why won't anyone call me Ish?

* Often said by Non-Commissioned Members of the Canadian Armed Forces when mistakenly referred to as sir: "Don't call me sir; [[TakeThat I work for a living]]."
** The same goes for Non-Commissioned Officers of the U.S. Armed Forces.

* Creator/MichaelGambon has been knighted but famously ''hates'' being referred to by it, to the point that of [[BerserkButton threatening violence against anyone who does]].

* In a flashback of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', Yoruichi suggests that Soifon call her "Yoruichi-san" rather than "Commander," but Soifon suggests "Yoruichi-sama" instead.

* ''WesternAnimation/BudgieTheLittleHelicopter'' loves this trope. Lionel doesn't take too kindly to being called "Captain", and has to remind Chuck every time he calls him this. Budgie even called Lionel this once, much to Lionel's surprise.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** Sonic dislikes being referred to formally or being given titles. Examples include insisting that Shahra call him by his name instead of "Master", stopping the Knights of the Round Table bowing to him once it is revealed [[spoiler: that he is the genuine King Arthur]] and stopping people such as [[{{Moe}} Cream]] and [[GratuitousPrincess Elise]] calling him Mr.

** In the ''Fairy Girls'' spinoff, Wendy asks Sumire, a new recruit to the guild [[spoiler:who's actually a traitor]] not to call her "Wendy-sempai," since the guild doesn't have a SenpaiKohai system. Wendy is respectful of the older members but doesn't treat them as her sempai.

* In the omake for the ''Manga/{{Saki}}'' doujin, ''[[http://dynasty-scans.com/chapters/neutral_position#32 Neutral Position]]'' '''(Doujin is not safe for work, although the omake is)''', Mairu Shirouzu tries to get her best friend Himeko Tsuruta (who calls her by her position as ClubPresident) to call her something less formal. Himeko tries "[[LastNameBasis Shirouzu]]-[[SenpaiKohai senpai]]", which Mairu says is "too stiff," and then "[[FirstNameBasis Mairu]]-[[UsefulNotes/JapaneseHonorifics san]]", prompting Mairu to say "don't use -san". Himeko then blushes and stammers before saying Mairu's first name without honorifics, which Mairu finds cute.

* Meijin-san/Mr. Famous in ''Anime/MegamanNTWarrior'' doesn't like formalities. His CatchPhrase is "san wa iranai"[[note]]"The 'san' isn't necessary"[[/note]], or in the dub, "Famous. Just Famous."

* ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle'': Princess Sakura has been trying to talk Syaoran out of calling her "Your Highness" (and using {{Keigo}} in general) ever since they were little kids -- to no avail.

* [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Yuuri]] of ''LightNovel/KyoKaraMaoh'' repeatedly asks characters, especially Conrad, to address him as Yuuri rather than the kingly title of 'Your Majesty'.

* ''LightNovel/HarukaNogizakasSecret'': [[{{Ojou}} Haruka Nogizaka]]'s fans became upset that she allowed [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Ayase Yuuto]] to call her by her given name ''and'' without honorifics.

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'':

* ''LightNovel/FateRequiem'': Longinus was a ParentalSubstitute for Erice Utsumi and taught her how to fight. In the present, he tells her to just call him by his name when she tries to use honorifics.

** General James Ironwood plays it straight by telling Professor Ozpin to drop the formalities when they're talking. They're old friends, after all.

This trope also pops up in works that involve the military whenever a non-commissioned officer (usually a [[DrillSergeantNasty Sergeant]]) is referred to as "sir" as the title is typically reserved for commissioned officers. There are a couple of stock responses from the NCO. One is "Don't call me Sir, [[TakeThat I work for a living]].[[note]]Or alternately, (usually in the U.K.) "I work for my money."[[/note]] Another is, "Don't call me Sir, my parents were married." Roughly 90% of the time this pops up it's when DrillSergeantNasty is introducing the [[NewMeat fresh-off-the-street recruits]] to their [[TrainingFromHell basic training]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', Megatron, the BigBad, is constantly referred to by Inferno, a soldier with a worker ant beast mode, as "The ''Queen''". Megatron is suitably angry with this term and attempts to force Inferno to stop using it. Eventually Inferno settles on "The Royalty".

** In the ''Fairy Girls'' spinoff, Wendy asks Sumire, a new recruit to the guild [[spoiler:who's actually a traitor]] not to call her "Wendy-sempai," since the guild doesn't have a SempaiKohai system. Wendy is respectful of the older members but doesn't treat them as her sempai.