I hope this goes here, it seems to be the right place. Plus, I'm not sure if it's an aspie thing or just me.
The one thing I've never been able to understand is why it's more polite to answer 'yes please', rather than 'yes'. I understand saying "Please could I.." is polite, but if they have asked you anyway, they must be willing to accept 'yes' as an answer.
Example:
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
Since they are asking, I feel it should be fine to just say 'yes'. They asked you, so clearly they are willing to make a cup of tea. But for some reason, my parents insist I say 'yes please', even though I'm not asking them to do something, just answering their question.
Anyone else experience this?
(Both my parents are NT as far as I can tell, btw)
It's arbitrary, just like all the rules of politesse are arbitrary.
Generally if in English someone says ' would you like a cup of tea? ' the polite answer is 'yes please' or 'no thankyou'.
You say 'yes please' to imply you were pleased to be asked. You say 'no thankyou' because although you are turning down the offer you are thanking the person for their offer.
i've been scold by my grandma about this. though my grandma thuaght my elder sister and i correct manners by the time we were 4 and 5 respectfully.my younger brother hasn't had such training.it yes please or no thank you around her, or just please and thank you.i forget and get scolded, that and not saying 'have a nice day and 'thank you very much' too.
*shugs* my family.
my parents never did that, but i had teachers and friends parents and my step dad ALL over my case for how i speak.
i always refused to say "mam'" and "sir" becuase my synethesia Hates those words they feel "grimey" to me like drippy sewage covered socks.
i say "sorry" all the time now becuase i dont know what elseim supposed to do sometimes.
i almost never say please, and i never know when or why to say "thank you" or how to do it right so i hate to do it.
Funny, I never thought much about this but you do have a point...I guess even though the person offering the cup of tea obviously is willing to give you the tea, it sounds humbler and less greedy to add a "please" to the "yes"...
Here's one thing I don't quite understand: why it is necessary to say someone's name if it is just the two of you talking and there is no chance of confusion about who is being addressed? "Hi couldbecousin." "Hi." Why do I have to say the other person's name every time? I know it sounds "nicer," but sometimes I guess I just get stubborn.
i say it becuase i like names.. and have echolalia so i like to repeat things, sometimes i say peoples names too much, like when i talk to umi i say his name in almost every sentence even though its usually just me and him, and i often refferto him by his name instaid "you" and myself with my name insatid of "me/i"
i say it becuase i like names.. and have echolalia so i like to repeat things, sometimes i say peoples names too much, like when i talk to umi i say his name in almost every sentence even though its usually just me and him, and i often refferto him by his name instaid "you" and myself with my name insatid of "me/i"
I like saying names too. Sometime when I was a kid I formed a weird philosophical bent along the lines that "I am because I have been named"; I think, equating myself with the biblical stories of adam naming the animals--Right, wrong or indifferent. I have serious trouble remembering faces to names and using names (and post-its!) also shortens that learning curve.
Not many people in my family use each others' names. Don't know why. I don't really recall ever hearing my name other than when being introduced or called to meals. I remind myself of the dog that thinks his name is "no". 
The people I seem to take to most quickly when out-and-about are the ones who use my name a lot.
I've found as long as you smile brightly at someone, a gently said "hey...you!" will suffice in the polite department when you can't remember a name. I was so happy to get old enough to be able to drop the Sir/ma'm thing--I hate that too! (Except when in the childhood home that is...mamma still livin' and all).
i always refused to say "mam'" and "sir" becuase my synethesia Hates those words they feel "grimey" to me like drippy sewage covered socks.
Though I dont have any negative syn myself, I've heard enough reports of how bad it can be, especially since it's involuntary. I hope you get by without having to use those words too much.
A few of you have made good points about the case thanks 
I don't really have time to quote everyone, but rest assured I have read everybody's posts 
It seems mostly, however, to be an unneeded thing. Just words that are considered to be 'polite' even though most people say them without even thinking about it (Such as myself).
Now I've learned when to add those little things (though i'm still not comfortable with "yes sir/ma'am") and don't really think about it. I find it's best to just do it. Makes things easier. It's just something that people expect and you get weird looks when you don't.
I'd feel really silly saying "sir" and "ma'am" unless the other person had a real title (it wouldn't be very often I would expect to meet such important people).
But I make a point of saying "please" and "thank you" as it's polite.
All niceties go out the window when talking to me, hehehehe. I refer to most people as "Dude" even if they're female, if offered something my response is either a "Yes" or a roughly-affirmative grunt coupled with a nod. I often refer to my elders as "Old man/Lady" if they're significantly older than me. I guess I'm one of those "No manners at all" Brits, hehehehehe.
To this same token, as an Atheist, I've always found it funny the way that Christians pray to their god. They believe that they're talking to the supreme ruler over the entire universe, someone who can make you completely cease to exist with less effort than it takes to fart. Yet, when they ask for something, they just give commands, like "god help me", "God, give me this", "God, kill him", etc. I would think that if someone were going to address the supreme overlord, they might be a little more humble, or even polite, like maybe saying "please" and "thank you" or something else to that extent.
To this same token, as an Atheist, I've always found it funny the way that Christians pray to their god. They believe that they're talking to the supreme ruler over the entire universe, someone who can make you completely cease to exist with less effort than it takes to fart. Yet, when they ask for something, they just give commands, like "god help me", "God, give me this", "God, kill him", "God bless that", etc. I would think that if someone were going to address the supreme overlord, they might be a little more humble, or even polite, like maybe saying "please" and "thank you" or something else to that extent.
To this same token, as an Atheist, I've always found it funny the way that Christians pray to their god. They believe that they're talking to the supreme ruler over the entire universe, someone who can make you completely cease to exist with less effort than it takes to fart. Yet, when they ask for something, they just give commands, like "god help me", "God, give me this", "God, kill him", "God bless that", etc. I would think that if someone were going to address the supreme overlord, they might be a little more humble, or even polite, like maybe saying "please" and "thank you" or something else to that extent.
Please don't stop saying "yes please" and "no thank you."
Here in jacksonville there is much hatred for one another.
It all started with stopping the ma'am and sir.
Then went the please and thank you.
Then yes and no were replaced with yeh and nah.
Then there was no respect for yourself.
Then no respect for anyone or anything.
Then went the conscience.
Now people kill each other and don't care.
They blame everyone else.
I'm old enough to remember a better time.
A time of innocense(sp?) that can never be replaced.
A time when you didn't have to lock your doors.
A time when you could safely take a walk at night to feel the cool breeze.
A time when everyone took care of each other.
A time when you lovingly critized one another.
A time when you could speak your mind.
Now you can not do ANY of that.
There is nothing but distrust of everyone.
You can not critisize because it might "offend" someone.
Never mind if you are actually right.
I'm saddened and miss/crave the "yes ma'ams" and "no sirs."
Please don't stop!
I love you.
Annie
I have to say, that was absolutely beautiful!
By the way, innocence
(I only know this because my browser has a spell check )
I never say "may I" but instead say "could I".