Use of the word ma'am

[Anonymous]

11:57 - agreed. It tells me they are from the south. Though I know it is a sign of manners, I don't know if I like it when used on me.

[Anonymous]

I was born and raised in Minnesota by parents who were also born and raised here - not the least bit southern - and we were still raised that calling people sir or ma'am was respectful.

[Anonymous]

8:34- I've only seen Southerners give cross eyed looks.

[Anonymous]

I think that some people are missing the fact that demonstrating respect, courtesy, and kindness are demonstrations of personal strength, not weakness. When I open the door for someone, give up my seat, let someone pass or go ahead, or address people respectfully, I am doing two different things The first being that I am demonstrating that I respect them as equals, but also that I have no fear.

I am demonstrating that my life is good and that I have no need to hurry or to get there first. I am always confident that I will arrive at my destination in due time and that I will always receive exactly what I need and want. I have no need to compete with anyone to get through the door first. No -- far from it, my seat at the table has already been set and reserved for me. In regard to addressing people in a respectful manner -- why would I not do so? Treating others in a respectful manner in no way diminishes my stature as a person. I'm not competing with anyone on some hierarchy scale of human importance. I know who I am and my demonstration of respect to others in no diminishes my value as a person.

Too often people make the mistake of misinterpreting kindness as weakness. Stop being afraid -- have the courage, confidence, and personal strength to demonstrated kindness and courtesy to others.

[Anonymous]

Around 30 I noticed that if I wore casual clothing I got "miss" but career clothes got a "ma'am". Now at 34 and with a child, it's always "ma'am". As with PPs, I have mixed feelings: nice to have some respect but it makes me feel older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that some people are missing the fact that demonstrating respect, courtesy, and kindness are demonstrations of personal strength, not weakness. When I open the door for someone, give up my seat, let someone pass or go ahead, or address people respectfully, I am doing two different things The first being that I am demonstrating that I respect them as equals, but also that I have no fear.

I am demonstrating that my life is good and that I have no need to hurry or to get there first. I am always confident that I will arrive at my destination in due time and that I will always receive exactly what I need and want. I have no need to compete with anyone to get through the door first. No -- far from it, my seat at the table has already been set and reserved for me. In regard to addressing people in a respectful manner -- why would I not do so? Treating others in a respectful manner in no way diminishes my stature as a person. I'm not competing with anyone on some hierarchy scale of human importance. I know who I am and my demonstration of respect to others in no diminishes my value as a person.

Too often people make the mistake of misinterpreting kindness as weakness. Stop being afraid -- have the courage, confidence, and personal strength to demonstrated kindness and courtesy to others.

I tried to read this, but the only thing I got was a deafening, resonating, and somewhat sinister "Oommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!" with a faint whiff of patchouli.

"Ma'am" sounds dorky, not respectful.

[Anonymous]

I tried to read this, but the only thing I got was a deafening, resonating, and somewhat sinister "Oommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!" with a faint whiff of patchouli.

"Ma'am" sounds dorky, not respectful.


May I respectfully suggest that you enroll in a remedial reading class at your local night school help improve your reading skills. You should also consider seeing an Otolaryngologist for that chronic ringing in your ears (tinnitus). Thankfully, your reading skills can be improved and your tinnitus is also a manageable problem.

The faint odor of patchouli should be much more worrisome to you. You may not be aware of this fact that Patchouli is used as an antidote for venomous snakebites. I suspect unbeknownst yourself that your family may already be liberally applying it to themselves as a precautionary measure when they plan to be in your presence.

Check the medicine cabinet for patchouli and try a good quality moisturizer for your scaly skin.

[Anonymous]

I think it's respectful and I wish we as a society were a little more polite and formal these days. I think the issue with feeling old because someone calls you ma'am or madame is delusional we are getting old and should be happy and proud about it. Aging is not bad it's all in your perspective.

[Anonymous]

Cuts like a knife. The other day I was on the elevator and heard the lobby door open, so I held the door. This young cute guy walks in (maybe 25-28). I thought hmmm, cute, and stood a little taller. He looked at me and just said "thanks, ma'am". I almost cried. I'm 38 and didn't think I looked it. Until then.

[Anonymous]

"My DDs say ma'am to me and sir to their dad. We taught them to do it because it's just what came naturally to us."

Huh?

[Anonymous]

I sometimes get called ma'am and I'm 25 and look young for my age. I don't think it's always an indication of age (although it makes me feel old anyway).

[Anonymous]

I've always seen it as a sign of respect, maybe because I grew up in the midwest and worked in retail stores where we were encouraged to call customers ma'am or sir. I've always thought that "Miss" sounds kind of weird and stilted. I'm 39 and assume that if someone calls me ma'am, they're being polite, not saying "you're old!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"My DDs say ma'am to me and sir to their dad. We taught them to do it because it's just what came naturally to us."

Huh?

First time posting on this thread. Just what is confusing to you about what PP said? Some families have a tradition of showing respect for elders in this way. No big mystery.

It's interesting to me that people who grew up here find "ma'am" folksy or dorky. It doesn't have that connotation for me at all. When children of friends call me by my first name, it sounds presumptuous and disrespectful.

I've seen two recent movies/tv shows where people meeting the Queen of England for the first time were told "first time, it's Your Majesty, then it's ma'am like ham." I wonder if she thinks Madam is so much classier because she lives in London sometimes like the PPs.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in New England to parents from New England and I was taught to use ma'am and sir to elders I did not know as a sign of respect when addressing them (otherwise Mr. or Mrs. Their Name if I knew them). I am now 39 and still use ma'am and sir for people of equal or older age. We are teaching our young children to use these too - otherwise how would you address a stranger? "Excuse me ........"? "Hey You"?

It does make me feel old when I am addressed as ma'am, but i don't mind it b/d i think it's polite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These days, if anyone younger than me (I'm also 35) called me that, I might drop dead from shock that they had been taught manners. I wouldn't care about the fact that it means I am older.

This.