Ma'am?!?!?

[devlina2u]

Dh and I had gone grocery shopping on the weekend and I called someone Ma'am for some reason and DH goes on about how offending that could be ?( 8o I thought calling someone Ma'am is respecting the person? Does that offend someone? Who is right? DH or me? ;) :D

[freesurfer]

I've always referred to ma'am as a southern thing. I guess I just don't use it around here. People would really look at me funny!

[tasker109]

what did he suggest as the alternative to mam?? thats what i always use......

[bdinalbq]

Maybe it's a regional thing but in Texas/NM/Arizona, it's standard. The clerks, grocery store baggers, telephone operators....everyone says Sir or Ma'am! I never have thought a second about it!

[hrdlife1]

and i ALWAYS say yes ma'am/sir or no ma'am/sir, was raised that way and raising my children the same...i don't think ma'am is offending AT ALL, as a matter of fact, i think it's downright sad that it isn't used as often anymore...not to mention the fact that if my momma ever heard me not using it she'd probably fly all the way up from florida just to whoop my hiney for NOT saying it LOL;)

[buckeyemomma]

It is used here too. Mostly I hear people say it to people in authority or to older people. I say it a lot just because it is a RAOK:)

[lightning1966]

I guess I have to be the oddball here.....like that is a surprise...lol...;)

I, for one, am very offended if someone calls me that......

I am too young to be called that......and probably always will be....lol.....

Just like I am too young to have gray hair, so I color it.....I will probably always be too young for gray hair, too...;)

[bdinalbq]

Actually Nate is right..the term (I don't know how I know this, so don't ask me for my source..lol) is the abbreviation of Madame, the French equivelent of Mrs. (vs Mademoiselle for "Miss.") Ma'am IS generally used when addressing an "more mature" woman. I remember being in my mid thirties when I starting hearing "Ma'am" vs "Miss" more often and was a little taken by surprise, but....sigh....you get used to it...lol.

[chellem]

here we use ma'am and sir as a sign of respect for others... whether it be someone older younger what have you.... kids in my class are taught that whenever you answer a teacher ma'am or sir ALWAYS follow

[mcshelll]

If I want to show respect I always use ma'am - esp if I am on the phone and can't tell if the person is young or old in relation to me that is. It just seems polite and people tend to be nicer then and take me more seriously. I have lived in the south quite alot, but I was raised in the north. Don't mean to offend anyone here, but if someone takes offense to the term they usually worry about age more than I do - I am 43 and proud of it!!!

[Corganiacs]

having lived in SC since 1994, Ive used Ma'ams quite a lot, but dont like it when kids younger than me calling me Ma'am. Im not old enough to be a Ma'am, ma'am it!!
But learned a lesson when I was taking Speech in college - the instructor did not like to be called maam
preferred to be called professor x or just ms. x
hmmmm

[lauseng]

Ma'am and Sir are common in my vernacular. But then again, I grew up in North Carolina. I'm in South Dakota now and don't hear it very often, but still use it. No one has seemed offended yet and I use it for any age (including kids).

One thing I heard in the South all the time that I don't hear here, and could be offensive is calling strangers "hun." I use it all the time, but usually just with kids. Even in NC, I thought it was strange to be called hun by someone younger than me (unless it was a friend). Seemed demeaning almost...even though it was common.

I will teach my children to say Ma'am and Sir. It's good manners and if someone has a problem with it, maybe they need a lesson in etiquette.

Jackie

[bassmount]

[color=purple]Had to post on this.... LOL!

Steph, yep... Yes Ma'am/sir, No Ma'am/sir was taught it was a sign of respect and a way I show good manners and if I didn't say it OH MAN was I in trouble! LOL! ;)

Jackie, ditto! ;) :D ;)[/color]

[LocaChica]

I'm with Nate. I do NOT want to be called "Ma'am", I'm not old enough to be one! lol

[texas_sweetie]

Well beings that I was born and raised in Texas it is just a way of life around here. It is used out of respect to elders. And if you didn't use it when your a little kid you where in trouble. I use it everyday. My neice who is 2 1/2 is learning to use it so she answers everyone "Yes ma'am sir" "Thank Ya Ma'am Sir" I guess she just wants to keep everyone covered. LOL :)

When I got married I was 24 my DH has 3 children who where 11, 9, & 8 at the time. I just hated being called ma'am but I got used to it . But now that I'm 31 and Jamie is 19 I hate it when she calls me that. We are so close in age that I feel she doesn't have to use it with me, but bless her heart she sees me as an authority figure and just can't get used to not saying it. I just deal with it, at least she respects me , some stepmothers don't get even that.