Parliament guards told no more 'mate'.

Parliament guards told no more 'mate'. :

"'I can't see too much difference between someone being described by the Prime Minister as a good bloke and someone else being described as a mate or being addressed as mate,' he said."

Get the linguists onto this. "Mate" has become a general, all purpose ,non offensive word to communicate with men. The "how's it going" is still very colloquial but "mate" has become the generic term we often use for "sir" and is used to speak with people whom we do not know and who may or may not present as a problem. We consider it, in most circles, to be too pompous to be using "madam" or "sir". There are some places where it will occur and be perfectly normal and acceptable. The environment of Parliament House is not one I am familiar with. I have heard Dads call their sons "mate"..."Come on , mate"; "I think you're tired, mate". "Matie" is now colloquial. I have heard police and rescue people say, "Are you all right there, mate?". It can be comforting. Air stewards would never use mate. Nor would most department store personnel , but some shops use "mate" and men seem to react favourably to it because it is a non threatening , friendly form of address. Other languages use "monsieur" and "madame" and their equivalents and it makes those sorts of social transactions very straight forward. In New Caledonia I was always "madame" and I loved it and it's really great, but call me "madam" in English and I think it's dreadfully overdone and I do not like it. I tolerate it if I have to, I just think , in English, it is largely silly. "Mate" as it is currently used, is very polite, but may not fit the environment of Parliament House. They need to look at the other language usage employed on the daily basis. Are they allowed to say "G'day" or do they have to say Good morning? Do they respond "I'm fine" when asked if they are okay? Do they wish each other a good day ? Have a nice day? Enjoy your day? They need to work out their level of daily politesse.