Who else hates being addressed as Ms

[Laurajean]

Quote:

 

[DuckLady]

I like being addressed by strangers as Mrs.
Ma'am is fine too. I earned it.

I have friends' kids who are simply not allowed to call adults by their first name so in the spirit of respecting their wishes, we compromise on Ms Terrie.

 

[zoo357]

Quote:
I agree with everyone else....ma'am means "OLD" but I just ignore it when I've been called that unless it's said on the sarcastic side which, when your from near Chicago you tend to be a little on the rough side...I've been told that more then once.
Anyway, no gray hair here (well none that I'll tell about)

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
I agree with everyone else....ma'am means "OLD" but I just ignore it when I've been called that unless it's said on the sarcastic side which, when your from near Chicago you tend to be a little on the rough side...I've been told that more then once.
Anyway, no gray hair here (well none that I'll tell about)

How in the world is ma'am "old"? Its just the opposite of sir!

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
I agree with everyone else....ma'am means "OLD" but I just ignore it when I've been called that unless it's said on the sarcastic side which, when your from near Chicago you tend to be a little on the rough side...I've been told that more then once.
Anyway, no gray hair here (well none that I'll tell about)

How in the world is ma'am "old"? Its just the opposite of sir!

I know I don't ever refer to a young guy as Sir. That sounds equally old to me.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
How in the world is ma'am "old"? Its just the opposite of sir!

I know I don't ever refer to a young guy as Sir. That sounds equally old to me.

That's what I want to know

Why is it old?

 

[dkvart1]

Doesn't bother me one way or the other. DH on the other hand corrects folks all the time, we live in FL so it's like a full time job. He despises the word Sir. He tells everyone his mother didn't name him Sir.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Quote:
I got them when I was 32 or 33. I politely mailed them back in a large envelope with a note to please contact me in 25 years with their offers.
Nothing from them since.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
I know I don't ever refer to a young guy as Sir. That sounds equally old to me.

That's what I want to know

Why is it old?

Well, to clarify, I don't think Ma'am or Sir MEANS old, those were zoo357's words. But I definitely do associate it with old. I think it's because it's traditional terminology that isn't used as much as it used to be in many parts of the country. Around here, we reserve it for the elderly, or for VERY formal occasions, like court. I've been down south and heard it used everywhere to everyone. So maybe it's just a cultural thing; can't say for sure. I just know it makes ME feel old, when someone says it to me. Don't know how to explain it better than that. I don't get mad about it though, I just don't care for it. I would never get mad at anyone who is trying to be respectful.

 

[PineappleMama]

Ma'am always irritates me because I know it's short for Madam... and the Madams known in "The Wild West"... well let's just say I'm not that sort of lady.