Miss Manners: Here's why sir' and ma'am' aren't appropriate anymore
A dignified, easy-to-say gender-neutral English honorific is needed to avoid assuming people's gender and to show polite respect without causing distress.
Miss Manners: I'm trying not to look like a weirdo when he hands me his phone
Preserve comfort and boundaries with polite, proactive actions: intercept passed phones or set device-free rules, RSVP when invited, and choose compatible travel companions.