The majority of the civilian population would equate attitude with good manners, which has more to do with ethics than true military attitude. Some conflicts arise between the two interpretations. One of the most common is the custom of addressing officers as "Sir" or "Madam" and never saying the same thing to a non-commissioned officer without being sharply corrected, or even brutally reprimanded for your insolence. This is a real culture shock for many new soldiers coming from the South or other old-fashioned families where it is ingrained from birth to call everyone older than you "Sir" or "Ma'am", regardless of whatever their position. But because we, as an organization, hold ourselves to very high standards, we correct these inconsistencies and deficiencies in a hurry. However, because of this standard of perfection, it is often dismaying for civilians to see us make a mistake and have to realize that we are human beings. Soldiers are seen not as normal people, but as cookie-cutter images of strength. This image has been nourished over the years by a strong feeling of patriotism among the American people. Although they may not achieve perfection, soldiers as a whole adhere to higher standards of behavior than the rest of the population. This is accomplished through the implementation of Army values, regular ethical teaching, and a well-structured hierarchy with a strong sense of uniformity.