Anyone else hate to be called "ma'am"?

MaryDreamer · May 2012

I'm 42 and hate to be called ma'am! I also hated it when I was 35! LOL

Sbernardo7711 · May 2012

I grew up in the North and no one up there says Ma'am, but now i live in the south and everyone says it. I'm still trying to get use to it but when someone calls me Ma'am I respond by saying you don't have to call me that... LOL

MsMargie1116 · May 2012

I do not like to be called ma'am. I realize that it's intended to be respectful but it makes me feel like I'm middle aged (I'm only 28). I'd rather be called "Ms"

Any ladies feel the same way?

Not at all, of course, I'm a native Texan, so it's etched in our genes... If we didn't say yes ma'am or no ma'am, we got in trouble...

Tropical_Turtle · May 2012

I used to cringe at being called Ma'am, but it is a sign of respect and to be honest I wish more kids today knew what respect was. I get tired of listening to these ignorant lil rats (got to love the parents for teaching their kids "right") calling me "lady" or "old broad" or some of the other less kind words. All I know is if I said any of those things, I would be slapped upside the head.

MsMargie1116 · May 2012

I would be offended if I WASN'T addressed as Ma'am! I am 26 and have been called ma'am since I was a small child and have not once been offended by it. Unless someone addressed me as "Hey Grandma", I would not feel old.. I would feel 26!

Disclaimer- I live in Texas and we learn as soon as we start talking to say yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir and no sir.(and please and thank you.. often accompanied by ma'am/sir.) We call it " having manners."

^^^^This!!!

JennieAL · May 2012

Not at all, of course, I'm a native Texan, so it's etched in our genes... If we didn't say yes ma'am or no ma'am, we got in trouble...

I'm from Alabama. It's etched in genes here as well... I just never went along with it. As a child, I thought it sounded ludicrous and just refused to say it. My mom didn't push me to say it either.

I've never enjoyed saying it and don't enjoy hearing it. It's antiquated in my mind. Yes, it's "polite" and "manners" but I've never been one to follow traditions & rules blindly. Sue me.

pangsofbeauty · May 2012

well let's look at pure logic
the REASON people call you sir or ma'am
is because they were taught it's respectful

are they psychic and know you dislike it? no
so unless you've expressed your dislike to this person
being offended is a little over the top

allisonrozsa · May 2012

In the grand scheme of things our 20's may be still younger, but we are no longer children or teenagers, and therefore should not be called "miss". I prefer ma'am and Ms.

ampa916 · May 2012

I call everyone "Sir" "Ma'am" accordingly. I always have an issue when people say "don't call me Ma'am I am NOT old." Of course I respect their wishes, but I was raised to be polite, and being from the south that is how we say it. If you know them on the first name basis but they are obviously older than you then I call them Mr. first name, or Mrs/Ms. First name.

It makes me feel like I am wrong for respecting someone by calling them sir/ma'am and they just take offense. that is just me though.

JennieAL · May 2012

I expect to be "Ma'am"-ed every where I go around here. It's just going to happen. I don't get offended by it.

Just don't expect me to Ma'am you back, that is all. I don't play into it.

pangsofbeauty · May 2012

"Ma'am" has nothing to do with age, except it's really not used for children. Why would it make you feel old for people to be polite to you? That doesn't make any sense.

I believe it does have something to do with age. Ma'am is equivalent to Madame, which I think would at least mean you're old enough to be married. Miss is equivalent to mademoiselle...a younger, unmarried woman, my interpretation anyway. However, I'm not offended by ma'am because I know it is said out of respect. Anyway, I'm way too old to be called miss. I think that would offend me.

It does not have anything to do with age! It is simply a term of respect.

it's true. it has nothing to do with age
i say sir and ma'am to little kids
as do a lot of my family members
(who grew up in different parts of the country)

people's belief in miss, ms., and ma'am being disrepectful or unapplicable to them
is simply that- a belief, a personal idea sculpted out of exposure to varying social rhetoric
one person believes 28 is too old for miss
another person believes 35 is too young for ma'am
it hardly seems reasonable to get upset or offended over someone's idea of a polite term in relation to age
when in fact almost all of the people on this topic who claim to use sir and ma'am
are saying it doesn't refer to age at all but is simply a respectful term