Being called Ma'am is respectful, but I don't like it.

when i first came to the USA i was insulted to be called that for where i come from it is short for madam and a madam is not someone i choose to be !I have since learned it to be a form of respect in the south but i still dont like it!

I live in a military town so everyone here is ma'am or sir! LOL!! It's something that I'm still getting used to cos' from where I come from, these terms are not used at all. But do as the Romans do, right? I know here they use it as a sign of respect. So, I'm ok with calling people that or for people to call me that.

I can honestly say I have never been called that, but it makes me shiver the same way as being called Mother! I know its daft but I have never liked being called mother and get really ratty over it! I'm mum plain and simple!

I don't really like being called "ma'am" either. I have a different reason then you do though. I think it just sounds "old" and it makes me feel a lot older then my age. It reminds me of a name that someone would have called my Grandma (may she rest in peace). :)

I live in the South. I live in the heart of the South. I don't mind be calling ma'am when I am at a store or a place where I am a customer. Like a cashier saying, "here's your change, ma'am." It's a polite way to address a stranger. I sometimes don't like it when some one I know calls me that. Unless said in jest. Like I might tell my boyfriend to do something and he'll let out a 'yes ma'am'. But that's more like a 'yes, dear, whatever you say'. You really shouldn't be offended by it. People who do are being polite. Calling you a Miss assumes you are not married and many people could get offended by that. Using the word ma'am does not imply you are old, it's just a respective thing.

I hate it it makes me feel older then I am lol. we got a new elementary principle last year that tried to make some of the kids call her that. I mean suspending 2nd and 3rd graders for not calling her that well needless to say some parents had a little talk with the board and this year we have a new principle. why would anyone want to be called that unless of course you are elderly and are use to it.

It's definitely used as more of a casual term now. I tend to use it while working or if I'm out and talking to someone I don't know. What bothers me about it, which is silly by the way, is it makes me feel old! I'm still pretty young, but now I have highschool kids calling me Ma'am. It's sad just thinking about it. :o)

LOL omg I cant stand being called "ma'am" and I personally take it as an insult really..not a major one but an insult all the same....when I'm in my flippin 80's I wont want to be called ma'am LOL..when ppl say it to me I usually say "ooh please dont call me that, my name is ____ so just call me that cause I'm not old enough to be a ma'am yet" LOL

haha when i was younger and went on holiday with family to america, my mother was always really chuffed that people were calling her ma'am, because we don't really have that here. i remember here shouting to me across the supermarket 'he called me ma'am!', in that way that only mothers do, with no regards for the embarassment she's causing. when you go to a supermarket here, and the person on the till hands you your change you won't get 'here you go ma'am, have a nice day', all you will get is 'E-are' which is colloquial for 'Here you are' and occassionally 'Ta'. The fact that someone speaks to you in a proper centence is politie enough but adding ma'am is a bonus. So i think females who arn't used to that would find it quite endearing, and maybe it's not such a special thing to those who are used to it, you know? (Hope that doesn't make me sound like a chauvenist :s lol)

Why would you bother yourself being called as Ma'am just simply pay him/her back with that sweet smile you have and he/she will then care to ask your name and be better the second time that person addresses you will be with your nickname or first name... I don't care if somebody will call me Mr. or Sir but obviously will be mad if they will call me Miss or Ma'am...

Well, I am 48 years old now. I have to admit the first time a young person said yes maam to me, it threw me off guard. I felt sort of "old". But I find it respectable, it doesn't bother me. I guess b/c more and more, there is such little respect shown to anyone anymore. And when I see someone say yes maam/sir, no maam/sir, they have gone out of thier way to show respect. I admire that. My children do it too, my son at 28 still says yes maam to me, and I didn't even enforce that rule in my home. They just did it on thier own. But now,if someone my own age says it, well it does kind of not sit very well with me. I don't know why that bothers me and it doesn't for a younger person to say the same thing. Maybe it's just me. But being called Miss if you are a young woman is also fine and respectful. This was a good discussion topic, made me think.

You know what I HATE? I used to work in retail and I'd have people come up to me and call ME Ma'am and they'd be WAY older. I know the term means for someone older than you. But for adults way older its like huh? If a teen, a little kid sure. But I am in my late 20's and well if you are in your 30's, 40's, 50's, etc and you are calling ME Ma'am its like what the? My sister called a store the other night. The guy who answered, although she couldnt determine his age, was probably younger than her. My sister is 24. The guy was acting all weird and kept saying "ma'am" a lot to her. She got SO upset she said (joking) she was gonna find him and beat him up! Its ONE thing to use it the right way, an older person. Another to use it just to make yourself feel better or something else. And get it straight I am NOT a MA'AM TO YOU IF YOU ARE OLDER THAN ME! To that of which I reply, I go by MISS thanx I'm unmarried and MISS suits me fine! :)

Fortunately, nobody has called me ma'am, recently... ;-) I do remember the first time someone called me "sir" in some bank, and I wondered who they were talking to-- before I realized it was ME. And i thought "geez, do I look THAT old?" I find it to be a strange term-- out of time, in a way. And I think you're spot on in calling it "generic," like it's really little more than a substitute for "hey, YOU." It feels like it belongs back in the days where people called each other "Mrs. Jones" instead of "Jennifer." But since we have to address strangers in SOME fashion, I am not sure exactly what would be a better term. Although I like the idea of "Miss" as you suggest, I have used that and gotten the reply "I'm a Mrs., thank you." Common courtesy isn't what it used to be, I guess.

tell you the truth, being called ma'am is a hell lot better than being addressed as "aunty" or "uncle" or "mummy" even as "sister" by a total stranger in public such as the market place. welcome to tanzania, you'll have the feel of it, visit india and it's the same. sometimes i wonder, how comes my parents never told me i had another sister some place , or i feel like asking is your dad my brother by any chance at all? lol!! have a nice day! don't take the word ma'am to heart, it can get worst!!

I think that you have a great point and i guess i have really never thought about it too much. Also i do not hear too many people use the term ma'am to often here. When i need assistance from someone and i do not know exactly how i should address that person than i will notmally just say "excuse me" as this is an easy way to get ones attention!!!

Me too, i don't like being called ma'am it makes me feel old for some reason especially when younger persons are calling me ma'am.

I have to agree with you, I really don't like it either and would be just as happy with someone saying "excuse me" to get my attention. I don't know, I guess it just makes me feel old when some addresses me as ma'am, lol. I know it is a term of respect but still I'd just rather they call me Miss as well.

Well there is a lot worse than ma'am, I had my wake up call yesterday, for years and years I would give up my seat on the bus to a senior, or pregnant woman, or any person who had difficulty standing on a moving bus, For the past few years I have not seen this happen,But I still carried on doing it. Yesterday I got on the bus and it was full of teens on the way home from school. one boy nudged the other and said stand up for the old lady. and he did. I am not sure how to take this I know it was meant in the kindest way but I am not an old lady, I am a mature lady. but to the teens its all the same, so I just chuckle when I think about it

I think "miss" implies a younger person, where "ma'am" is for an older one and either is used to get your attention when someone needs to address you but doesn't know your name. I prefer either to "hey you", or "yo babe", lol.

I'm with you girldriend I hate that saying sounds like either one of two things you belong to the cast from Little House On The Praire OR you run the house of ill repute. Even if you holler YEH LADY I can handle that. Isn't it funny how I'm 56 years old, you'd think I'd be in tune to this BUUTTT No Not So Much... Have a good weekend... Grandmaof2