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

MaryDreamer

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

Sbernardo7711

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

sisierra

I think it's a turn-on LOL

katscoots

HEY - i am middle aged...38 and I still hate it - but I'm used to it because I work in Law enforcement. P.S. you are only as old as you act...

JennieAL

I think it's a turn-on LOL

It's definitely a turn-on when my husband says it!

MissTattoo

I love it! (I'm 29) It's so polite. I especially love it when southern gentlemen do it!

wvval

It never bothered me, even when I was young.

bhelmreich

My best friend is a Marine. When he got back from basic he started calling me ma'am. I was like wow buddy I am your best friend and not an old lady.

MisterDubs303

I even say ma'am to little girls. Get over the old lady hangup already.

kdeaux1959

Yes Ma'am, I HATE to be called ma'am... LOL>>> Just kidding. (well, I don't like to be called ma'am.. but can't say it happens a lot....

MichaeltheMarine

As a Former Marine and former Southerner, using "ma'am" is a sign of respect.

mtaylor33557

We are teaching my son to say "sir" and "ma'am" to everyone. It's just respectful, so children saying it to me doesn't bother me. It also doesn't bother me if its a sales person or a waiter.

However, My husband and I got a much needed date night a few months ago and went to dinner and then to a movie. I was dressed up cute, probably had a glass of wine with dinner.. feeling like when back when we were dating.... then a teenage boy approached me and called me about saving some seats or something and was all about the yes ma'am and no ma'am... and all I could think was "I'm only 10 years older than you, you should not call me ma'am"

Took the wind right outta my sails.

amymt10

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:

I dont like it when strangers call me honey or sweetie either. I am not your honey or sweetie!!!!! I dont really like ma'am either, it makes me feel old!! I am 35. I prefer Ms.

mrmanmeat

We are teaching my son to say "sir" and "ma'am" to everyone. It's just respectful, so children saying it to me doesn't bother me. It also doesn't bother me if its a sales person or a waiter.

However, My husband and I got a much needed date night a few months ago and went to dinner and then to a movie. I was dressed up cute, probably had a glass of wine with dinner.. feeling like when back when we were dating.... then a teenage boy approached me and called me about saving some seats or something and was all about the yes ma'am and no ma'am... and all I could think was "I'm only 10 years older than you, you should not call me ma'am"

Took the wind right outta my sails.

And what would you have rather he called you? Regardless of age, it's respect. Respect for a female.

I've said Ma'am to a 19 y/o (I'm 28) and a 50 y/o, or a 25 y/o.

Respect knows no age.

mrmanmeat

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:

I dont like it when strangers call me honey or sweetie either. I am not your honey or sweetie!!!!! I dont really like ma'am either, it makes me feel old!! I am 35. I prefer Ms.

I called someone Ms once, she corrected me and told me she was a Mrs. It's been ma'am ever since.

kekl

As a soldier who is training to become an officer (where we ARE called ma'am) I love being called ma'am. Sir and ma'am are a sign of respect.

TheDoctorDana

I like it but then again I also like it when a man opens the door for me and pulls out my chair. I have always taught my children to address grown up the same way.

Dauntlessness

You know, for me, I think its a sign of a good upbringing. Too many kids these days don't give enough respect to adults. I guess feeling a little shocked and old is an okay price to pay for good kids My husband calls his grandfather Sir. I think its so nice. lol

love22step

It shows respect, and I've never had a problem with that! I'd love to see more respect from young people. Besides teaching respect, I wish more parents would teach their children to look people in the eye and give a firm handshake. A limp handshake from a woman is bad enough, but a limp handshake from a teenage or adult male makes me want to puke.

mtaylor33557

We are teaching my son to say "sir" and "ma'am" to everyone. It's just respectful, so children saying it to me doesn't bother me. It also doesn't bother me if its a sales person or a waiter.

However, My husband and I got a much needed date night a few months ago and went to dinner and then to a movie. I was dressed up cute, probably had a glass of wine with dinner.. feeling like when back when we were dating.... then a teenage boy approached me and called me about saving some seats or something and was all about the yes ma'am and no ma'am... and all I could think was "I'm only 10 years older than you, you should not call me ma'am"

Took the wind right outta my sails.

And what would you have rather he called you? Regardless of age, it's respect. Respect for a female.

I've said Ma'am to a 19 y/o (I'm 28) and a 50 y/o, or a 25 y/o.

Respect knows no age.

No, I wasn't saying he shouldn't.. I would hope my son would do the same thing, as he was a very polite young man. If you didn't see the part where we teach our son to always say both sir and ma'am.

I say ma'am as well to adults or to little girls.. it was all in the way he said it.. kind of like he was speaking to his teacher, or a parent.

There's nothing wrong with what he said...

SteffieMark

I was raised primarily in the south and I spent several years training in the martial arts. Besides the fact that I am a Navy Brat and my daddy was an officer for many years. Sir and ma'am are used to show respect. I have called people much younger than myself, sir or ma'am. I am not offended at all by it.