being called Ma'am

razia210 · Aug 27, 2007, 10:05 AM

How many woman here hate it when a stranger calls them ma'am personally I hate
this word.I am 40 years old but when someone says ma'am it just sounds like it is for someone much older.I would prefer to br called madam instead.what about the rest of you?

momgirl · May 15, 2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razia210

How many woman here hate it when a stranger calls them ma'am personally I hate
this word.I am 40 years old but when someone says ma'am it just sounds like it is for someone much older.I would prefer to br called madam instead.what about the rest of you?

I can understand if you are an Eastern United States resident that it sounds old to you. I'm in Texas and a large amount of the population says Yes Sir and Yes Ma'am as regular part of life. I'm so habitual with it I even say to my dog, "NO MA'AM!" She stops. It's a sign of respect. Nobody is calling you old. That's when they help you out of cars and hold doors for you...

southerngalps · May 27, 2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homegirl 50

I was taught to call adult women ma'am and adult men sir. I taught my daughter the same way. It is a sigh of respecting their position. It is the same as addressing a person in authority as Mr. or Ma'am or whatever title they may hold. It has nothing to do with insult.
If you want to talk insult, I find it offensive for adults to allow their young children to call other adults by their first name. It is rude, but I'm not going to have a cow about it.
It's all about manners and etiquette, and we as a people seem to be sorely lacking in both.

Good point! I am from the South and we addressed any adult with Mrs. or Ms. or Mr. before their first name. Now, I live in California, and they don't do that. So when I visit my hometown and call my friends parents by their first name, they kind of have a shocked expression. I need to start doing that again. Thanks for the reminder!

snowalps · Jul 18, 2008, 11:11 AM

i don't know about the rest but i personally prefer calling people by their names and yes i do hate it when people say mam to girls or ladies..i think its kinda under estimating your own position when you call out that word to someone! Don't knwo why but it seems so to me! :-)



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