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

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Replies

  • I say "sir" and "miss."
  • neva4saken
    neva4saken Posts: 300 Member
    Honestly, I think it's based on your perception. Anyone with a military background is going to say it to you out of respect. I teach my children to say it and I even sir and ma'am them. It's not just said to people over a certain age it's said out of respect and everyone no matter the age deserves that.
  • turkeyhunter60
    turkeyhunter60 Posts: 319 Member
    sign of respect. I was just brought up that way. Sorry to offend.
  • metaphoria
    metaphoria Posts: 1,432 Member
    Ma'am makes me feel old, and it's cute when elderly people call me miss, but smirking men calling me princess, darlin, honey, sweetie, etc. makes me want to punch them in their condescending kissers. At this point, I'd rather be made to feel old than violent.
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    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?

    If this is all you have in life to complain about you must be one of the luckiest people on the earth. Congratulations.
  • DLSlim
    DLSlim Posts: 92 Member
    I will call everyone Sir, Ma'am, or Miss (if appropriate). It's out of respect; I don't mean any harm. I will never change.
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    The first time it happened to me it made me feel incredibly old, however; I would rather be called ma'am than some of the other things I could be called.
  • Lift_This_
    Lift_This_ Posts: 2,756 Member
    The first time it happened to me it made me feel incredibly old, however; I would rather be called ma'am than some of the other things I could be called.

    better than btich or skank....lol....love you!!! but you might prefer btich.
  • Cliffslosinit
    Cliffslosinit Posts: 5,044 Member
    When my moobs are gone this WILL STOP!
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    I don't mind ma'am because I think it has alot to do with your culture (southerners like it, for example). I am not senstive about my age so I think that helps...you are always an "old fogie" to SOMEONE.

    What I HATE though is "honey" or "sweetie" or any other term of endearment. I know it is a cultural thing too but I just feel so...violated? when someone I don't know refers to me in a familiar, intimate way like that. :sick:

    DON'T CALL ME YOUR HONEY WOMAN!! :mad:

    THIS^
  • mrslcoop
    mrslcoop Posts: 317 Member
    I used to hate it until I lived in the South for 3 years and that was something I picked up while down there. Now everyone is ma'am or sir. And honestly, I kind of like it (I'm also in my late 20s).
  • Liftnlove
    Liftnlove Posts: 235
    No...I'm from Texas. After age 6, every female is a ma'am. It ain't botherin' me none. :smokin:


    ...and honestly, if that's the worst thing people are calling you, you must be doing something right!! hehehe
  • mindyc2011
    mindyc2011 Posts: 17 Member
    I don't think it is offensive, I don't think it is because someone thinks you are old. I think it shows respect. My 13 year old and 5 year old call people ma'am and sir out of respect. If they know someone a little, they might say miss and use the womans first name instead.
  • seena511
    seena511 Posts: 685 Member
    kind of a tangent, but when i did interpretation, the spanish speakers would always call me "senorita." i'm married so i should be a "senora," though of course they really didn't have a way of knowing that. it made me feel kind of like a teenager, lol but it was cute too.
  • I think that these title should be looked at as they are intended.

    If I offend anyone by calling them Sir or Ma'am, let me apoligize in advanced. It is the way I was raised (along with opening doors, carrying bags and offering assitence). It is the way my children were raised. I will call my wife or daughter Ma'am if they are correcting me on something I deserved being corrected on. I reserve the titles of MS, MISS or MRS if I am hitting a seriuos point or correcting them.

    In public you will be called Ma'am by me, sorry, but our happenstance meeting is not going to change what has been ingrained into me for many a decade. IT IS a pure sign of respect by me.
  • When my moobs are gone this WILL STOP!




    LMAO!
  • SakuraRose13
    SakuraRose13 Posts: 621 Member
    Well I got called ma'am and I looked at the person like what ?Im 29 I just figure they were trying to be respectful ,its better than when a person my age or younger calls me sweetie,honey as if Im younger.That's insulting to me atleast ,I have children and Im married.Only people who can call me sweetie honey are individuals that are atleast 20 yrs older than me.My mother my grandma ederly so on.
  • I didn't realize so many people were bothered by Ma'am or sir. *shrugs shoulders* Maybe its a cultural thing. Being raised in the south and my father having a military background it was just considered polite. I agree with the poster that said I would rather be called Ma'am then "Hey you!" - lol. I've been called ma'am on and off since I was probably 20. Just never bothered me.
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    The first time it happened to me it made me feel incredibly old, however; I would rather be called ma'am than some of the other things I could be called.

    better than btich or skank....lol....love you!!! but you might prefer btich.

    I would prefer btich not skank, skank makes me sound dirty lol *kitten* maybe but it depends on the person and the situation really ;)
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    I hate it too!

    At work, we have to call the customers sir or madam/ma'am when approaching them (sales/retail) It bugs the hell out of me.
  • jenns1964
    jenns1964 Posts: 384 Member
    I've been called worse!
  • Sweets1954
    Sweets1954 Posts: 507 Member
    I'm 59 and still not real fond of being called ma'm. I worked at a military base and kind of got use to it as the airmen all were very respectful. I remember my mother telling me she felt very old when people ma'med her.
  • sally_jeffswife
    sally_jeffswife Posts: 766 Member
    What I don't like is when someone "younger" than me calls me honey. If it's an older lady or someone elderly I think its cute and don't mind at all but when its a younger person I think its kinda irritating.
  • caspergirl7
    caspergirl7 Posts: 590 Member
    Typically in the south its not because that someone thinks your old.. I say ma'am & sir to everyone even if they are younger than me.. Its just a sign of respect..
  • I'm also from the south so I was raised to call all of my elders Ma'am or Sir ..no biggie really.... but now when I get called ma'am Im like "Damn I'm someones elder".......All in all though Its better than HUN or DEAR.. those are terms of endearment so if you dont know me then it comes off as condesending and rude!
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,861 Member
    I will respond to any greeting in the same spirit in which it was sent. Honey, darlin, sweetie, sir... I don't overthink it. People who use these use them on everyone.
  • I don't like it. But have gotten used to it. I hate it more when it is from people that know me, as they can call me by my name.
  • Sometimes I 'No ma'am,' my dog to correct her. That's how much of a habit it is for those us raised in the south.
  • Southernb3lle
    Southernb3lle Posts: 862 Member
    Only when I'm surrounded by college kids and they refer to me as so. :laugh: LOL
  • Southernb3lle
    Southernb3lle Posts: 862 Member
    I'm also from the south so I was raised to call all of my elders Ma'am or Sir ..no biggie really.... but now when I get called ma'am Im like "Damn I'm someones elder".......All in all though Its better than HUN or DEAR.. those are terms of endearment so if you dont know me then it comes off as condesending and rude!

    Here too. True Southerner.