Olin Lathrop wrote:
> It's time to drop that patronising "sir" crap.

It is required in his native language to specify, in nearly every
sentence, whether one is in a position of authority over, a peer of, or
subservient to the individual one is speaking with.  By not doing so one
risks offense.

There isn't an english word for peer, so he is erring on the safe side of
honoring you, Olin, so that you won't be offended.  It is a completely
foreign concept to him to not include such honorific, and may take some
time for him to change his habits.  It's not his intention to be
patronising.

I am glad, however, that you are helping him to learn some of the finer
points of english.  In my communications with him I never mentioned this,
and I suppose I should have taken the opportunity as well.

-Adam

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