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Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:13 pm  |
Like wat the question implied. I know "Mam'" is for older ladies whereas "Miss" is for younger ones? But I have seen some 20ish girl being called a "Mam'" all the time. So I'm just wondering if any of u experienced that b4? Did u call a young girl "Mam'"? Or were u ever being called a "Mam'" when you are not even past mid 20's yet? And I have to tell u that some of these girls don't look like a Mam' to me haha  How would u feel if you're being called a "Mam'" when you are still in your 20's?  |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:19 pm |
| I am fine with it. I think its out of politeness. I usually get "Mam" from bellboys, busboys, waiters....basically service providing people. |
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Simple but No Simplier...Approaching late 20s, Normal/Combination Skin, Rarely Breakout now but have some old acne marks, sunspots, & broken caps |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:30 pm |
| Bill Clinton called Christiane Amanpour "Ma'am" in a way that it diminished her after she delivered a very lecturing, long question to him. It can also be used playfully to denote the woman's authority. I think there are lots of varying implications in and contexts for its use. |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:56 pm |
I think it depends on where you live as well. I live near Chicago and I only here ma'am at stores. I went to school in North Carolina and it's more expected down there. The head of my university's multicultural center felt it was rude for anyone younger than her to call her by her first name...she preferred Ms. Whatever or ma'am.
One of my former co-workers in Tennessee calls everyone ma'am or sir, regardless of their age...he said that's what his grandmother taught him. |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:29 pm |
hhm this is confusing now haha.... So from now on, do I call anyone older than me Ma'am? Will I offend anyone by doing so? But often those ppl that called those young girls Ma'am are actually much older. I know I'm sounding stupid here but I once called a lady Ma'am and she doesn't seem very happy about it. When I called someone "Miss", they seem delighted. Anyways, just wondering haha  |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:12 pm |
| Stardustdy wrote: |
| hhm this is confusing now haha.... So from now on, do I call anyone older than me Ma'am? Will I offend anyone by doing so? But often those ppl that called those young girls Ma'am are actually much older. I know I'm sounding stupid here but I once called a lady Ma'am and she doesn't seem very happy about it. When I called someone "Miss", they seem delighted. Anyways, just wondering haha |
That's what I mean...when someone calls me ma'am, I probably scrunch my face up because I don't like it. I'm 24, and I'd rather be called "Hey you!" =). My friend is 28 and he used to call me ma'am before I told him it made me feel old. The only time I've called someone that was at school when my roommate and I bought p*rn (lol...don't ask), I was so embarassed, I called the cashier ma'am before running out the door. It's a sign of respect down there. |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:51 pm |
| We were always raised, being Southern, that you called anyone above your age Ma'm or Sir. In a position of authority, they were always referred to that way, such as teacher, policeman, etc. Also, when in doubt of age, defer. |
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Joined the 50 club several years back, blonde w/ fair/sensitive skin, Texas humidity and prone to rosacea, light breakouts and sunburns, combo skin type, starting to see sundamage and fine lines |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:07 pm |
| I second that about the South - down here we always use Ma'am (stupid abbreviation - what is saved when you use an apostrophe instead of the "d"?) and Sir. If you're in a service position (waiting tables, retail, etc.) you use it whether the person is older or not - you should see the look the first time a younger woman/girl from up North or out West gets called ma'am! Down here I think it's just a way of being polite. |
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50, oily & not a lot of wrinkles (yet), melasma and hormonal acne cysts & breakouts |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:18 pm |
Ma'am or Ms is a polite way to get a females' attention. To me, Ma'am is easier to say.
My son is 5, I'm trying to teach him manners, so as far as he is concerned all females are Ma'am and men are Mister or Sir. I would just die if I heard him address someone he didn't know with "hey you". |
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46 yrs old, I live at the beach and love being out in the sun. |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:41 pm |
| When I worked I called all women Ma'am and and men Sir. Some people don't like it because it makes them "feel old". I just did it to be polite since I didn't know their name and that is how I was raised to address strangers. You shouldn't be offended by ma'am instead of miss. I think it is a personal preference and men use miss more then women do. |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:03 pm |
Previously, Someone called me "Miss" and someone called me "Ma'am".
The unfortunately, almost of them call me "Ma'am" right now. 
I feel so old.
Anyhow, it was depended on my career also.
Although, I still don't like "Ma'am". |
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:21 pm |
| In one of the countries I travel to frequently, I am always, well almost always, referred to as Sir! Not that it bothers me, I find it rather entertaining |
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:23 am |
From way out in the country.
Every woman is ma'am.
Every man is sir.
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25, very fair, dry/sensitive, mild rosacea, otherwise good skin! |
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:51 am |
| I'm only 25, but I get called Ma'am from time to time these days and I actually like it. It's nice for me to know that I've grown up from being some goth kid to a refined lady who gets called "ma'am."^-^ |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:39 pm |
| AnnieR wrote: |
| We were always raised, being Southern, that you called anyone above your age Ma'm or Sir. In a position of authority, they were always referred to that way, such as teacher, policeman, etc. Also, when in doubt of age, defer. |
The Chattanooga side of my family taught me that as well. Exception being when you're a child, you address adult female friends of your mother's as "Miss Sylvie" or "Miss Susie" unless encouraged to substitute "aunt" because they're very close.
I'd say "miss" sounds more British or New England. I think it's polite and flattering to address a female of indeterminate age as "miss" unless she's well past childbearing age, in which case it might be insulting.
A bad joke from a friend of mine who loves men and cocktails and dresses rather trashily:
"When I'm sitting at a bar, and a man speaks to me, I know he's hot for me if he calls me miss. If he calls me ma'am, he's an undercover cop." |
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Blond, Swedish/Cherokee, normal/dry skin, a sucker for products, gizmos, and treatments that are "age-defying." Just hit the big 4-0 |
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:39 pm |
| I get called ma'm sometimes.Usually by young guys who are serving me in a shop. I dont like it, makes me feel old. In fact the first time i got called it, i felt really paranoid that I was looking old |
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39, in Australia, using retin a, Skin actives I Bright and Antiaging Cream, change sunscreen regularly currently. |
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:43 pm |
| Chrissie wrote: |
Ma'am or Ms is a polite way to get a females' attention. To me, Ma'am is easier to say.
My son is 5, I'm trying to teach him manners, so as far as he is concerned all females are Ma'am and men are Mister or Sir. I would just die if I heard him address someone he didn't know with "hey you". |
Chrissie,
So true I think I will teach my children to address people in a very polite way. |
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Simple but No Simplier...Approaching late 20s, Normal/Combination Skin, Rarely Breakout now but have some old acne marks, sunspots, & broken caps |
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:30 pm |
| i am alright with either one of them. just dont call me Auntie! LOL.. or in hokkien ~ Ah Soh. |
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Mid 20's, combination & sensitive skin |
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Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:25 am |
| We were always to address our babystitter of 16 years as "Miss Minnie" and she was married and in her 60's-70's, so I guess that does puzzle me as to what the difference was as to "Ma'm". Hadn't thought of that in years to be honest. Maybe more familiar or less formal than the generic Ma'm? When my son's friends call me Ma'm I always tell them just to call me by my first name. Strangers I don't correct, just assume that's they're upbringing. I don't think my son always remembers to say Ma'm and sir because I didn't raise him to be that formal. In our neighborhood the kids were encouraged to call the other parents by their first names so it was a habit we had to remind him of when we moved, that not everyone goes by such a lax attitude. |
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Joined the 50 club several years back, blonde w/ fair/sensitive skin, Texas humidity and prone to rosacea, light breakouts and sunburns, combo skin type, starting to see sundamage and fine lines |
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Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:44 am |
| I don't like to be called Madam or mam, it sounds so old. I prefer Miss since it sounds more younger.... |
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Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:02 pm |
| Since I'm from the South, I was always taught that women are Ma'am and men are called Sir. It is a sign of respect. If anyone said "hey you" to me, I would just keep walking. As far as Miss goes, that is considered an unmarried woman and that would be considered an assumption as to her marital status. |
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53 and starting to show it |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:14 pm |
| i'm called as madam usually in resturant and bus. |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:38 pm |
| Seriously y'all shouldn't be offended! Ma'am is polite, not a sign of your age. I call little girls ma'am when I helped them at work (when I did work). They loved being addressed as an adult. I think it is just respectful to say ma'am. I don't mind it when people say it me and I am only 24. |
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Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:09 pm |
| I think Mam, Miss sounds no difference to me as you know who you are. |
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Tue May 01, 2007 9:45 am |
| Although Mam and Miss are no difference, sound for "Miss" seems younger. I like "Miss" more. hee... |
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