Who else hates being addressed as Ms

[PaulaJoAnne]

Remember the high ranking military official that called a congress woman (I think) Ma'am? She ripped him up and down! All because he was not only being respectful, but he was doing what his military career requires!

I am a Mrs, and prefer that, if I am being addressed in a term other then just my first name.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
I hate being called Ma'am. It makes me feel old. Probably the same reason for her, I know a lot of women don't like it. Having said that, I would never give a guy a hard time for it, it is traditionally respectful, but I do *silently* cringe.

She was a generally unpleasant person who was apparently having a particularly bad day-- not unusual for her. Professionaly she was great to work with. It was just her attitude that stunk.

Yeah, I can't see giving a guy a hard time who's being courteous, that's silly. If it's a stranger I just ignore it, and if it's someone I will be continuing to deal with, like someone I hired for yard work or something, I just say "Please, just Laura is fine".

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:

I was raised to say Ma'am... to any woman who is

#1 older than me.
#2 not related to me regardless of age, as long as they look old enough to be married.

And was taught to refer to any young unmarried girl, related to me or not, as Miss.


So if I ever refer to any of you young ladies as Ma'am or Miss, I mean no disrespect. Just my Southern backwoods upbringing.

 

[sourland]

Quote:

I was raised to say Ma'am... to any woman who is

#1 older than me.
#2 not related to me regardless of age, as long as they look old enough to be married.

And was taught to refer to any young unmarried girl, related to me or not, as Miss.


So if I ever refer to any of you young ladies as Ma'am or Miss, I mean no disrespect. Just my Southern backwoods upbringing.

Must be the "country" thing. This is exactly how I was raised--and I grew up way before you and in a different part of this country.

 

[MeatKing]

Quote:

I was raised to say Ma'am... to any woman who is

#1 older than me.
#2 not related to me regardless of age, as long as they look old enough to be married.

And was taught to refer to any young unmarried girl, related to me or not, as Miss.


So if I ever refer to any of you young ladies as Ma'am or Miss, I mean no disrespect. Just my Southern backwoods upbringing.

Ohh, Now I feel less old. I wear a wedding ring, and am always toting around kids. That has got to by why I always get the Ma'am now

Thank you mfb

 

[ranchhand]

Call me whatever you want. If I have a problem with it, I'll ask you nicely to not do that. I've never had to do that, because it's really not that important to me. Far bigger things to deal with. To me, the attitude and degree of respect is much more significant.

 

[Laurajean]

I have a couple customers; one is a doctor, and everyone refers to her as Dr. So & So, which I think is a little odd because I'm not dealing with her for anything medical. I just call her by her first name and she seems fine with it. Just seems kinda silly to walk around insisting you be called "Doctor"; maybe that's just me. I have another customer who is a Professor, and his last name is Nickerson and he lives in an English Tudor style home. I have to try SO HARD to resist the urge to speak in a British accent when he answers. I really want to say, "Well, if it isn't PROFESSOR Nickerson! And how DO you DO?" (It's funny in my head).

The hardest one is a client that is a Catholic Convent, and I have to call them all by these long names "Sister Ann Mary Catherine Frances", Sister Mary Elizabeth Andrew" etc. It's a mouthful in the middle of a busy workday, and I often screw it up.

Personally, I just like being called Laura. Didn't care for Mrs. when I was married, although it was never offensive of course. Ms. sounds too feminist or old maidish, and Ma'am just sounds old. I guess I'm too casual for titles.

OH, But you know what I REALLY hate? When some young girl half my age in a store rings me up at the register and calls me "Sweetie" or "Honey". That one really irks me. If they're older than me, fine, but younger... NO.

 

[EweSheep]

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Never had a problem with that at all. Its a sign of respect.

 

[ranchhand]

I think the worst for me was AARP sending me subscription papers - when I was 45! Now THAT was an insult!

 

[sourland]

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And, now, with this perfect "lead in" how do you all feel when you are asked if you want the senior discount?

Hurriedly, Sourland locks the door to the computer room.