Anonymous wrote:For people who are offended or would prefer it not be used, what do you use instead. Like, if you saw something fall out of a woman’s purse as you were behind her on the sidewalk (an occasion where I might say “excuse me, miss/madam/sir I think you dropped something”) what would you say to get the person’s attention?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Excuse me ma’am is considered rude.

Excuse me miss is preferred.

Yes ma’am is not considered rude.

Not true for me. I am over 40. Please do not call me “miss” in any situation. It is condescending.

I agree, but so many women have a weird attitude toward aging. My MIL in her mid 60’s is obsessed with aging and trying to look young. Most women like that are fooling no one.

And do you know why? Because at a certain age we are ignored, invisible and dismissed That's why. If you are an older man you are "distinguished" and sir can be used if you are young and old. I'm not a miss but, I am not a Ma'am.

I was "ma'am-ed" in the south as soon as I took a professional position, which was in my 20s. It just meant that I was no longer a young girl. If I'm ignored, invisible, or dismissed, I speak up to make sure that stops.

I'm the pp. You missed my point entirely. Of course, most women can speak up but, I'm talking about why most women prefer not to be called Ma'am. And it is because older women in our society are ignored, dismissed and treated as invisible. And being called Ma'am means you are old and therefore are will be treated as such. And I am not talking about a personal situation I am talking about our society..

one example although many: Who makes clothes for older women that are fashionable and with the times It is all youth oriented. Now do you get it?

Anonymous wrote:So what do you want to be called in situations where interaction is just passing such as with wait staff in a restaurant or the clerk at the courthouse? Someplace where use of first name is not appropriate and no one knows your last name?

Anonymous wrote:All of you who don't say ma'am or sir- what do you say when the person in front of you drops her keys? "Hey you!" ? I don't know her name. Sometimes I say "excuse me, you dropped your keys" but that doesn't get their attention the same way.

Anonymous wrote:I prefer it.

I am a non-White immigrant and Ma'am and Sir were always a sign of respect and politeness. It had nothing to do with age. Get these words back in common usage because we need some way to make our public discourse polite.

I had never heard so much usage of bad words and cussing in public until I came to America. Why is everyone so rude? Even the POTUS words and insinuations are untrue, mean and frankly from the gutter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Excuse me ma’am is considered rude.

Excuse me miss is preferred.

Yes ma’am is not considered rude.

Not true for me. I am over 40. Please do not call me “miss” in any situation. It is condescending.

I agree, but so many women have a weird attitude toward aging. My MIL in her mid 60’s is obsessed with aging and trying to look young. Most women like that are fooling no one.

And do you know why? Because at a certain age we are ignored, invisible and dismissed That's why. If you are an older man you are "distinguished" and sir can be used if you are young and old. I'm not a miss but, I am not a Ma'am.

I was "ma'am-ed" in the south as soon as I took a professional position, which was in my 20s. It just meant that I was no longer a young girl. If I'm ignored, invisible, or dismissed, I speak up to make sure that stops.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in the south, Ma'am was used as a term of respect. While I didn't have to call my parents Sir or Ma'am, it was expected in both formal situations (professional, educational, etc.) and as a polite form of address for general, anonymous encounters. Aside from not being used for children, age really had nothing to do with it. My parents are in their 70's and still address teenagers working the counter at McDonalds or bagging groceries as Sir or Ma'am.

You know this has racist undertones, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in the south, Ma'am was used as a term of respect. While I didn't have to call my parents Sir or Ma'am, it was expected in both formal situations (professional, educational, etc.) and as a polite form of address for general, anonymous encounters. Aside from not being used for children, age really had nothing to do with it. My parents are in their 70's and still address teenagers working the counter at McDonalds or bagging groceries as Sir or Ma'am.

You know this has racist undertones, right?

Anonymous wrote:All of you who don't say ma'am or sir- what do you say when the person in front of you drops her keys? "Hey you!" ? I don't know her name. Sometimes I say "excuse me, you dropped your keys" but that doesn't get their attention the same way.

Anonymous wrote:Growing up in the south, Ma'am was used as a term of respect. While I didn't have to call my parents Sir or Ma'am, it was expected in both formal situations (professional, educational, etc.) and as a polite form of address for general, anonymous encounters. Aside from not being used for children, age really had nothing to do with it. My parents are in their 70's and still address teenagers working the counter at McDonalds or bagging groceries as Sir or Ma'am.