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

24567…14

Replies

  • peachNpunkin
    peachNpunkin Posts: 1,010 Member
    I can't stand it. It makes me feel old. I tell people, my mom is ma'am. I am Jenny, Peach, or hey you. But don't call me ma'am.
  • dogacreek
    dogacreek Posts: 289 Member
    I don't mind ma'am, but I really really don't like being called "Sweetie" :grumble:
  • Jesstruhan
    Jesstruhan Posts: 331 Member
    I don't mind it. It is a sign of respect no matter the age. I will teach my kids to say it and yes sir. Not enough kids now days have any respect so when someone says it I am impressed.

    YES! I use to hate it, but now I think it's a sign of respect. The younger people that "ma'am" me are almost always the most respectful and helpful. Besides. When someone says "Yes, ma'am" that means I'm in charge! ;-)
  • peachNpunkin
    peachNpunkin Posts: 1,010 Member
    I was born and raised in the south, My grandmother taught me the proper way to address a female was Ma'am, which I did as a child and I still do to this day. So if there is a 16 year old young lady working the register at Subway, I will address her as Ma'am. I don't think about it. I just do it.

    I travel all over the country now, and in many areas I go, I get weird looks (or maybe that is because of my southern accent, lol, I am not sure).

    I don't think I could train myself to not do it anymore. I mean no disrepect at all.


    I am from the south too, so I totally get it. I just hate it.
  • AccordingtoTodd
    AccordingtoTodd Posts: 197 Member
    sorry peachNpunkin:flowerforyou:
  • Kristy_Elizabeth
    Kristy_Elizabeth Posts: 435
    Maybe it's because I'm from Texas, but it doesn't bother me one bit. My guy, who is from Oregon, laughs, a lot, if that happens though. =D
  • red01angel
    red01angel Posts: 806 Member
    "Honey" or "sweetie" is perfectly fine if it's from someone I have a familiar relationship with (I use it relatively often)...but from strangers, I do feel like it's a bit demeaning.

    As for ma'am: it does make me feel a little old, and I much prefer miss, but I don't particularly mind it because anyone who calls me that is simply trying to be respectful.
  • FitJoani
    FitJoani Posts: 2,173 Member
    I HATE it, but if my residents call me it I am okay with it, because that was just their time...
  • shoegal517
    shoegal517 Posts: 56 Member
    I'm not a fan...I like "miss" because I'm not 100... I also like Madam because I feel like I'm vacationing in Europe :smile:
  • MereExtraordinaire
    MereExtraordinaire Posts: 143 Member
    Yes.

    But I prefer "ma'am" to "sweetie" or "baby", if it's a total stranger.
  • phil4v7
    phil4v7 Posts: 68 Member
    I grew up in Tennessee, so every female is "ma'am". Doesn't matter if they're a sixteen year old cashier at walmart or someone's great grandmother. I don't remember ever getting any complaints about "ma'am", but I did once have a boss who always replied that "sir" was his father.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    I feel you.
    I hate being called 'sir'
    I look about 21 but I am 31 years olf.
    Makes me feel like an old fogie.
    lol i look about 18 and get called sir...seriously ??
  • districtchief
    districtchief Posts: 1
    I think ma'am and sir is a perfect way to address someone whom you do not know. Raised in the Missouri we always called those older as such, now I live in the South and it is just the way it is, but then after the military I do it for anyone that I do not know. I do not say it as a means of addressing you due to your age, I call young or old by those terms. If you feel "old" by being addressed by the term, then perhaps you need to just relax and take it as it was meant.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    I get more annoyed when I'm addressed as "kid". I'm in my 20s and some people swear left, right, up and backwards that I look like I belong in high school. The polite version of that tends to be "miss" and it usually follows the question of can they speak to my guardian or see my ID to validate I'm over 18.

    As long as I'm not referred to as "hey you" or some four letter word that's not in jest I'm alright. I'm just happy people actually can see I'm female.

    LOL!! When I was 26/27 years old, had 2 kids, I worked at a retirement facility. I looked like I was in my late teens, and so many of my residents told me what a "sweet kid" I was...sometime in the last 10 years I have gone from "miss" to "ma'am" <sniff>. I guess this means that I am finally looking near my age! LOL
  • terraskye
    terraskye Posts: 370 Member
    I don't mind being called Ma'am but it sure tripped me bigtime when we moved to Newfoundland and men younger than me called me "My Maid" as a term of endearment instead of Ma'am .

    My Newfoundlander hubby was laughing his *kitten* off when I told him I thought they were flirting with me /facepalm :blushing:
  • bcampbell54
    bcampbell54 Posts: 932 Member
    I hate it. I've always hated it
  • glittermouse
    glittermouse Posts: 582 Member
    I LOVE being called ma'am. (I'm 27, btw). My parents taught me to call everyone 'sir' or 'ma'am' and drilled in my head that using those terms is a sign of respect. So, when I hear others call me 'ma'am' I'm actually happy to hear it.
  • SeekingBacon
    SeekingBacon Posts: 6 Member
    I do not like it one bit! I am 30 and I feel like "whoa what the hell!" when i hear those words. lol Oh well maybe there just trying to be polite but still it makes me cringe.
  • ashlafer
    ashlafer Posts: 42 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:

    I'm ok with "honey" or "sweetie" if it's from somebody I'm close with (i.e. one of my best friends). I hate it when strangers use it. It's really belittling.
  • crista_b
    crista_b Posts: 1,192 Member
    I hate it unless the person has a southern accent. Then it's kind of hot. :laugh:
  • amber_gem
    amber_gem Posts: 23 Member
    Doesn't bother me but I grew up in TX. Only time it did bother me was a very young co-worker used to call me ma'am all the time because she really thought I was old compared to her.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    Ugh I hate it too even if I know its only respectful way of saying it regardless of any age. I will accept that if the one who calls me that are either subordinates or they're younger than me.
  • jiggy_gibby
    jiggy_gibby Posts: 197
    I like Ma'am. I am not offended at all because it shows respect.

    Do not call me "Bro", "Cuzzo", "Dawg" or "Girl" in my classroom. And I have been called far worse by some foul mouthed teenagers.

    At the Doctor's office, do not call me "honey", "sweetpea" or "dear". The young nurses do and I go to a female doctor!! I said please write this on my chart in all all caps - do not call me anything other than "Mrs. Last Name" or "Ma'am."

    And finally, Mr. Waiter at my favorite restaurant do not call me "Love" every five seconds. I am not your love and it is not endearing.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    I grew up in Tennessee, so every female is "ma'am". Doesn't matter if they're a sixteen year old cashier at walmart or someone's great grandmother. I don't remember ever getting any complaints about "ma'am", but I did once have a boss who always replied that "sir" was his father.

    LOL!! Several years ago I encountered a friend's husband at the barber shop, and greeted him with "hi Mr K" and he looked at me and said "Mr K is my dad...I'm Rodney"...Rodney was in his 80's at the time! :D

    I've been married for 11 years, and it took me most of those to not look around for my MIL when someone said "mrs Braun..."
  • jenny95662
    jenny95662 Posts: 997 Member
    I used to, then I married a soldier. Now I kind of like it heh. Well, from everyone except him LOL

    i married a sailor and everyone always calls me ma'am lol i hate it but i have gotten use to it i have been called ma'am since i was 23 when we married lmao
  • sailorsiren13
    sailorsiren13 Posts: 460
    I'm a Ks Princess who was raised to say "Sir or Ma'am" or i received a slap upside the head. When i had my kids i decided to raise them the same way but without the slaps. Now when i'm around my friends kids and they are so disrespectful to people i'm shocked. I'm proud that my children are always complimented on their manners even when they are in trouble. :laugh: It also comes in handy going from base to base since their daddy is a southern sailor and we never know who we are going to be introduced to at a moment's notice. so nope sir or ma'am never bothers me.
  • _Christine_
    _Christine_ Posts: 1,385 Member
    Heaven's, don't come to Texas.

    I say ma'am almost as much as I say y'all. :smile:
  • aspen_matthews
    aspen_matthews Posts: 94
    I'm an Army brat and I work for the Air Force. Completely used to it. It is nice to be called miss, though :-)
  • tabulator32
    tabulator32 Posts: 701 Member
    I used to like when people called me "sir." Now that I'm over 40, it bugs me.

    :laugh:
  • ZombieSlayer
    ZombieSlayer Posts: 369 Member
    Don't call me ma'am. I work for a living.

Categories