I was sitting in the vet’s office with Ally da Pup on my lap. A man was trying to fill out a new patient application while the nurse helped him. He did not speak English very well and it was taking a long time. She and I knew each other from previous visits and we exchanged a smile. The man kept going up to the desk with new questions.
Nurse: “Sir, I will be happy to answer all of your questions but first I must help this young lady.”
Me: “And don’t I just love YOU for calling me a young lady?”
Nurse: “Well it’s true!”
We both laughed. Not two minutes later, a girl in her early 20’s walked in and sat next to Ally and I. She fumbled in her purse and then looked at me.
Girl: “Ma’am, do you have a pen I could borrow?”
I said no because I was so pissed that she called me Ma’am. When did I become a Ma’am? I’m a Young Lady, damn it!
Sigh. Well it was good while it lasted anyway.
ugh, I hate ma’am too. it sounds like a nickname for ‘mammary’…
An intern called me ma’am yesterday.
I’m probably younger than this intern and he effing called me ma’am.
WTF??
Am I really old enough to be a ma’am??
How old is the cut-off age for “miss”?
What a nice pleasant post young lady!! Keep them coming girl.
In customer service, a lot of service givers substitute “Ma’am” for “bitch” because if they say “bitch” you can get them fired. So I’ve always hated being Ma’am.
Shit, I hate it when younger folks call me “Sir.” Then I came to realize that it’s is common down south. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
After I got over the initial shock of looking old enough to be called Ma’am, I took some solace in the fact that no one yet talks loudly to me, as though they expect me to be hard of hearing.
I say ma’am and sir in England all the time and people think I’m a freak!
Dawn – I never thought of that! LOL.
Heather B. – Although it’s a sign of respect, it still really annoys me all the same
The Retropolitan – Welcome! Oh and that age would be about 100 or so
Leave – Why thank you!
Serra – Very valid point!
Bud – It IS common in The South. Still annoying all the same
Annie – There is NO WAY IN HELL you look like a Ma’am! I’ve met you and I know.
Oh and if they shouted at me, I think I would punch them…
Mrs. Mogul – OY!!!
I’ve been called ma’am a few times and I REALLY don’t like it. I don’t look like a ma’am. I know I sound insistent here, but I really, really don’t!
Unfortunately I am taken back to when I was first called “Sir” aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh
I would be very offended if someone called me m’am. But since I’m a man, that would suggest some non-age related issue.
Yeah, the ma’am thing bothered me until living in Georgia for three years. Then I just sucked it up and dealt with it. I still hate saying it to people though. Unless I’m down south, I dont’ use it. And if I’m down there and don’t use it, I’m a rude Yankee. So I try to respect.
As an offendER – I can’t help it… it was taught right alongside “mama” and “dada”. As an offendEE – it does feel pretty weird to be called “maam”… Makes me question whether I look like Mad Madam Mim. But I agree 100% with MappyB in that it depends entirely on geography.
I hate it, but it has to be. I’ve lived in the South all my life and will never get used to it.
Just to clarify… I grew up in The South and I got used to being called Ma’am by everyone. No biggie. But when I moved to The East Coast, I found it was more of an age thing than a polite thing. Nuff said
Never call a lady ma’am unless maybe she looks like your Grandma. Make that, GREAT-Grandma.
No, sir! Ma’am is a title of respect, like saying “Ma’am, do you wear skirts because your thighs are fat?” See how that works?
Ma’am, sir, and all that is just polite. It is a bit archaic as far as language goes, but it is only meant to be polite.
Don’t sweat it. Anyone who calls you Ma’am, you just call “kid” and watch them get pissed that you don’t view them as older.
I used to really hate being called sir. I have learned to live with it. The gray in my goatee forces me to.
Well, I dunno..down here in Texas, Ma`am is sorta a sign of respect…for all the ladies.