There are times when Sir and all the other honorifics do seem to be overused.

Then again, there are times when I've been in chat and have never seen it.

I was raised using Sir/Ma'am as a default when addressing others, not only those older but as a polite way to converse. I still use it regularly in everyday life when I'm talking with people, whether they be police officers, clerks, waitresses, or the check out girl at WalMart.

I was brought into the lifestyle at a time when Sir/Ma'am was the default title for all Dominants and all submissives were expected and required to use these terms. If and when someone had earned the respect of the community the title of Master was given and would be used. Granted, this was well before the days of the internet.

More recently I am of the mindset that I must earn the respect of the submissive before being addressed with any sort of honorific. If a submissive chooses to address me as Sir, so be it, but I do not expect it nor do I demand it. The only submissive allowed to address me as Master is my own girl, as she is the only one who I Master.