Anonymous wrote:Getting carded started happening in my mid 30s.

Ma'am is starting now (early 40s).

Yes, it means you are starting to look older

Stopped happening

Getting carded started happening in my mid 30s.

Ma'am is starting now (early 40s).

Yes, it means you are starting to look older

I hate that the word ma'am is in our vernacular. It is slang for madam, and sounds like a drawl. To be honest, I'd rather hear madam.

I think you're paranoid. It's a manners thing.

BTW, my DH laughs at me b/c I may refer to a waiter (who is obviously still in his teens) as "sir."

But what else am I going to say? Hey you?

Southern young people call everyone ma'am or sir. It's how they were raised.

Anonymous wrote:You'd feel positively ancient in the UK. I'm called 'madame' by everyone.

You're right--that would make me feel like an old whore .

You'd feel positively ancient in the UK. I'm called 'madame' by everyone.

I'll take ma'am over honey, sweetie, darling, etc. any day.

No. It doesn't mean you look old. It means you carry yourself with enough maturity and dignity that you are no longer thought of as a childish "sweetie," "hun," or "darlin" which signifies a lack of respect.

I do not think it means you look old. I think people believe it is a politeness thing.

You look older than whoever is calling you that. It is what it is but it also doesn't really matter. Older people who get botox and face lifts still look older despite the plastic surgery. Could you imagine anyone calling Joan Rivers, Miss? Or Bruce Jenner, if he were a woman, anything other than Ma'am?

Anonymous wrote:Funny - I've been feeling the same way myself. When I was younger (20s), being called "ma'am" every so often never bothered me. But for the past years, I absolutely hate it. It also coincides with the time I started feeling old. It's probably more psychological than anything...

Yes! This exactly. So I'm trying to figure out if it's a shift in my awareness of age-related stuff, or a shift in my appearance. I mean I am after all approaching middle age and parenthood has definitely taken its toll I think.

I'm 26 and am called sweetie, hun, darling, miss, etc. in my profession. I'd much rather be called ma'am. At least that is a sign of respect rather than being called hun by someone you're trying to give medical advice too.

Funny - I've been feeling the same way myself. When I was younger (20s), being called "ma'am" every so often never bothered me. But for the past years, I absolutely hate it. It also coincides with the time I started feeling old. It's probably more psychological than anything...

Just turned 35, have started wearing glasses and now am sensitive to sales people calling me ma'am. I am used to 'miss'. Am I just paranoid or does this mean I'm starting to look old?