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

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Replies

  • Mina133842
    Mina133842 Posts: 1,573 Member
    ah, I like it.. It’s kind of sexy if it comes from a guy with a southern accent or wearing a military uniform!! :flowerforyou:

    This - TOTALLY this!!! I visit the recruiters often for my job, and my husband was in the Army, it always gives me a little thrill to hear it from the guys. ; )
  • angieroo2
    angieroo2 Posts: 970 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?

    I feel the same way!
  • retriev00
    retriev00 Posts: 227 Member
    I don't like being called Sir.

    I absolutely Detest it when someone call me 'boss'
  • SirZee
    SirZee Posts: 381
    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?

    I suggest then stay away from soldiers lol. We can't help it :)
  • princessage117
    princessage117 Posts: 171 Member
    Ha ha, too funny. I just got back from the grocery store and the cashier and bagger called me ma'am so many times, I am pretty sure it was a record for me. And I hate it, you should have to look over 60 or something to get called that. I prefer miss.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    "I'm only 10 years older than you, you should not call me ma'am"

    Took the wind right outta my sails.

    I'm well over 40 years old, and any adult female is "ma'am", even if I'm older than you. I don't care if you are 18 or 108, you've earned the adult title and, out of respect, it will be offered to you unless we are on a first-name basis or we interact regularly and I know what you preferred form of address is.

    If and when I reach the ripe old age of 100, I hope never to be caught disrespecting an adult woman by calling her "miss" or "girl". That's for youngsters.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    I AM A MA'AM!!!!!!

    I hate being called "Miss" makes me feel like I'm 7 years old and being humored...

    Ma'am, I feel, is more respectful
  • Jenncoc86
    Jenncoc86 Posts: 203 Member
    from young guys its sweet, you realize they have no idea what to call you. From women it feels passive aggressive.
  • KellyMirth
    KellyMirth Posts: 153
    Doesn't bother me in the least, especially when done with an accent :wink:
  • LuckyAng
    LuckyAng Posts: 1,173 Member
    I realized this a long time ago, but at work what's the best thing to say then? Just nothing? I feel like I'm being disrespectful if I don't address you as SOMETHING... and sometimes dude just doesn't cut it.
    May I suggest "homeslice".

    Hahaha! Haven't heard that in a little while :)
  • SkinnieFinnie
    SkinnieFinnie Posts: 145 Member
    I don't mind it. I'm from Texas & we call everyone "Sir, Ma'am or y'all" :flowerforyou:
  • _Bob_
    _Bob_ Posts: 1,487 Member
    I hate it too :tongue:
  • cmwhited6204
    cmwhited6204 Posts: 210 Member
    Not my favorite but then I think at least he has manners compared to so many others. But I also don't like to be called Mrs either.
  • mandrox1
    mandrox1 Posts: 33
    I'm 25 and look pretty young. I get completely livid when someone calls me ma'am.
  • mgmlap
    mgmlap Posts: 1,377 Member
    I have a 16 yr old..and all her friends call me ma'am..doesnt bother me at all..its a sign of respect...besides..I am 43..
  • rebeccasedwards
    rebeccasedwards Posts: 208
    In the South it is a sign of respect. I was raised using it and my children were raised this way. Even in our school the children use it many times. It could be a lot worse like honey or sweetie.
  • fh1951
    fh1951 Posts: 441 Member
    it hasn't ever happened but if it did i'd be offended ;-)
  • TheFitHooker
    TheFitHooker Posts: 3,357 Member
    I'm in the south, Texas to be specific. Ma'am is just what we use in respect. I'm 30 year's old. Today my son got in trouble with me for saying "What" instead of "Ma'am" why? Because I want to teach my son to be respectful of his elders. I'm 21 year's older then he is, so he needs to address me as "Ma'am" and it does not one bit bother me. I like it a lot better then "What?" Or "Hey you." lol

    My cousin who lives in Ohio, moved down here for a year, when she moved back in 3rd grade, she got in trouble at school for saying "Ma'am" to her teacher. Her teacher thought she was being smart alack, but here it's just different then there.
  • melissa_leah
    melissa_leah Posts: 107
    Doesn't make a difference to me
  • cutchro
    cutchro Posts: 396 Member
    I also prefer it to Hun or Babe! Unless it's from someone I am interested in... :blushing:
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,641 Member
    Yeeeeees. I'm 24 and would much rather be called Ms! Ma'am should be for a married woman with children (i have neither a husband or children) and madam sounds like the head of a brothel.
  • territhefrog
    territhefrog Posts: 1,134 Member
    I am with Manda1002.....I used to hate it.....but after serving in the Navy and currently having a son in the Army.....I like it.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    What we guys need is an age-neutral term to refer to females without having to go through a formal interview process and file an application to say "good morning".

    I mean, just LOOK at this thread. Look at the range of opinions, and understand that most of the men who will use these titles ARE NOT MIND READERS and cannot possibly know what offends you. And since, if any of us ever actually DO meet in person it will be probably once in our lifetimes, I simply do not have the mental capacity to remember the faces of the hundreds of thousands of people I talk to once to remember a preference that I will probably never have to recall again.

    So, in the name of male humanity, I have a question of female humanity.

    Can y'all please come up with ONE PERSONAL PRONOUN that means "absolute stranger of the feminine persuasion whom I have just met and know nothing about but must for some reason now address in a respectful fashion without making comment on nor expressing interest in their age or marital status because both are irrelevant to the conversation I am about to undertake."

    I thought it was "ma'am" for adults, "miss" for children, with some wiggle room for us older male adults to talk to younger female adults. Obviously according to the majority on this thread, I (and every other guy trying to be polite and respectful to strangers that I know) is wrong in a large number of cases. But I don't have a better alternative.
  • barney50501Missy
    barney50501Missy Posts: 79
    better than "hey b*tch". :tongue:
  • marz42
    marz42 Posts: 223 Member
    I'm 44 and I don't mind ma'am or miss. Either is fine, and I get both about equally. I *don't* like being called "young lady" ...as a much younger male clerk in a shoe store did (repeatedly) the other day. Blech. Maybe he was trying to charm me into buying shoes but it backfired. It just felt condescending and fake. I might look a bit younger than 44, but I really don't think I look younger than this mid 20s clerk was. I don't like honey or sweetie, sweetie seems worse than honey somehow.
    Exception for people a lot older than me though, I think there is a bit of a generational thing there with honey and sweetie.
  • mcjmommy
    mcjmommy Posts: 148 Member
    I don't mind ma'am, being called Mrs. R___d makes me cringe and feel like my mother-in-law! I know it's good to teach respect and I expect it of my own kids, but I'm almost 40 and still don't feel like Mrs. R___d.
  • angryguy77
    angryguy77 Posts: 836 Member
    What we guys need is an age-neutral term to refer to females without having to go through a formal interview process and file an application to say "good morning".

    I mean, just LOOK at this thread. Look at the range of opinions, and understand that most of the men who will use these titles ARE NOT MIND READERS and cannot possibly know what offends you. And since, if any of us ever actually DO meet in person it will be probably once in our lifetimes, I simply do not have the mental capacity to remember the faces of the hundreds of thousands of people I talk to once to remember a preference that I will probably never have to recall again.

    So, in the name of male humanity, I have a question of female humanity.

    Can y'all please come up with ONE PERSONAL PRONOUN that means "absolute stranger of the feminine persuasion whom I have just met and know nothing about but must for some reason now address in a respectful fashion without making comment on nor expressing interest in their age or marital status because both are irrelevant to the conversation I am about to undertake."

    I thought it was "ma'am" for adults, "miss" for children, with some wiggle room for us older male adults to talk to younger female adults. Obviously according to the majority on this thread, I (and every other guy trying to be polite and respectful to strangers that I know) is wrong in a large number of cases. But I don't have a better alternative.


    Sizzle Chest.

    Women love to be called that
  • Schraudt814
    Schraudt814 Posts: 496 Member
    It's not my favorite because I associate it with calling ladies older than me "ma'am" as a child. But as it is a sign of respect and respect seems to be SO hard to come by, I try not to complain about it. Ultimately it's manners that drives it rather than a dig at my age!
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    better than "hey b*tch". :tongue:

    ^^^^ Since my attempts at being polite seem to be offending so many people, maybe I'll try this. At least I'll get a predictable outcome. :laugh:
  • marz42
    marz42 Posts: 223 Member
    I think ma'am is the best default term, even if it does make some feel old. Miss does sort of imply a younger woman, and a single status. I'm okay with either though.
    What we guys need is an age-neutral term to refer to females without having to go through a formal interview process and file an application to say "good morning".

    I mean, just LOOK at this thread. Look at the range of opinions, and understand that most of the men who will use these titles ARE NOT MIND READERS and cannot possibly know what offends you. And since, if any of us ever actually DO meet in person it will be probably once in our lifetimes, I simply do not have the mental capacity to remember the faces of the hundreds of thousands of people I talk to once to remember a preference that I will probably never have to recall again.

    So, in the name of male humanity, I have a question of female humanity.

    Can y'all please come up with ONE PERSONAL PRONOUN that means "absolute stranger of the feminine persuasion whom I have just met and know nothing about but must for some reason now address in a respectful fashion without making comment on nor expressing interest in their age or marital status because both are irrelevant to the conversation I am about to undertake."

    I thought it was "ma'am" for adults, "miss" for children, with some wiggle room for us older male adults to talk to younger female adults. Obviously according to the majority on this thread, I (and every other guy trying to be polite and respectful to strangers that I know) is wrong in a large number of cases. But I don't have a better alternative.

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