but I'm a skate rat, I call everyone dude..

hehe, my boss HATES that...
I come from a seafaring family. My grandfather had a fleet of clipper ship type fishing smacks back in the day.
As a result, when I refer to someone in general, I tend to call them Capt'n.
Or skipper.
Drove up on a family in civilian clothes bogged to the doors in their car in beach sand one day.
Parked on solid spot, hopped out and went for the winch. Big guy got out of the car.
I had the hook in my hand, and was heading his way, when I casually said " Looks like you could use a hand, Capt'n."
He drew himself up, and informed me in no uncertain terms that he was not a a Captain, he was a Lt. Colonel!!
I stood there with the hook in my hand. Cell phones were not around yet. He had at least an hour's walk to find a phone.
I could see his wife and kid sweating in the car. Kid looked scared.
I think if it had been just him, I would have hooked the cable back up and left.
But, I could not leave that kid.
So, I said, " Well, Mr. Lt. Colonel, Sir. I can pull you out, or I can stand here saluting you. But I can't do both. Which is it going to be?"
He calmed down after that.
I tried for a long time to break that habit, but it was no use. I still use Capt'n.