Are you a "Ma'am" or a "Miss"? - Page 3 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Princes mom · 07-31-2011, 09:18 AM

[QUOTE=Nancy1999;3617989]How about when someone comes up to you in a store? What do they say, may I help you . . .?[/QUOTE

If you don't know the person's name, saying "May I help you?" is 100% correct. Saying "Ma'am" in the NE (New England) is considered negative.

Nancy1999 · 07-31-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princes mom

If you don't know the person's name, saying "May I help you?" is 100% correct. Saying "Ma'am" in the NE (New England) is considered negative.

How interesting. I would have never have guessed that.

Maximo · 07-31-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

How interesting. I would have never have guessed that.

I don't recall ever hearing miss or ma'am in Chicago, and rarely sir. The terms are generally regarded as insincere and gratuitous, things only Eddie Haskel would say to Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver.

Nancy1999 · 07-31-2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximo

I don't recall ever hearing miss or ma'am in Chicago, and rarely sir. The terms are generally regarded as insincere and gratuitous, things only Eddie Haskel would say to Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver.

That's the way I felt about “honey” and “sweetie”. I grew up not too far from Chicago, maybe it was just a different era. We also dressed up to shop! I have called people Ma’am before and meant no disrespect for it, for example, I saw someone drop something in a store, and I said, “Excuse me Ma’am” to get her attention, and then told her she dropped something. She was probably younger than me, but still old enough that “miss” sounded dumb. Would "sweetie" have worked?

Jennxling · 07-31-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Well it gets pretty annoying still getting carded buying booze or even a lighter!

Please, I can accept maybe looking in my 20s but there is no way in hell I look too young to buy a dang cigarette lighter.

Asians also have the flat butt syndrome, jealous? LOL

LOL I'm Asian, but didn't get the "looking young" gene...

I'm also not skinny, short, and all the other traits Asians have! I mentioned short because I wish I'm shorter...sometimes it makes it hard to find guys...I'm also too strong for a girl. LOL

As for Miss or Ma'am...I don't notice what people call me...lol I will notice next time!

Maximo · 07-31-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

That's the way I felt about “honey” and “sweetie”. I grew up not too far from Chicago, maybe it was just a different era. We also dressed up to shop! I have called people Ma’am before and meant no disrespect for it, for example, I saw someone drop something in a store, and I said, “Excuse me Ma’am” to get her attention, and then told her she dropped something. She was probably younger than me, but still old enough that “miss” sounded dumb. Would "sweetie" have worked?

LOL, I would take ma'am over sweetie. Usually people would say, "Excuse me....EXCUSE me!" or "hey you!."

Nancy1999 · 07-31-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximo

LOL, I would take ma'am over sweetie. Usually people would say, "Excuse me....EXCUSE me!" or "hey you!."

I guess that just sounds so abrupt to me, but it depends what you grow up with.

MaddiesMommie · 07-31-2011, 02:50 PM

It is depressing to me when I am called ma'am, especially by someone younger than me.

I guess because I don't feel like I am 30. I see people on t.v. that are 30-ish and always wonder if I look that old.

Of course, as a teacher, I am used to being made to feel old by my students. I remember last year my 10 year olds thought the Smurf's were new. I took in a picture of me wearing my Smurfette sweatsuit on Christmas 1986.

Lil Sis · 07-31-2011, 03:09 PM

Well I am proud of being southern. I think it is disrespectful for a child to call an adult by given name. As I said, putting the "miss" in front is a way of showing respect but more familiarity than addressing with Mrs. Or Ms. And last name. My daughter friends, bf etc called me miss shinja or mrs. Xxxxxx.

I think the ma'am is a way of addressing or answering someone in a respectful ways. Like many terms the inflection or body language can change the meaning. There were many times my teenage daughters said. " yes ma'am" and they were not thinking love and respect.

I would only use sir or ma'am to address someone when I can't think of another way to address them .. "excuse me ma'am" sounds odd. Maybe I have been out of the south too long

... Miami is not known for it's manners..
Or polite people. But it still amuses me that the students address the female teachers as " miss" ..they don't even used the last name.

shodanusmc · 07-31-2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxman

They uaually call me MR. or Sir,If I got called Ma'am or Miss,I would be a little P.o'ed! LOL!

same here. When they said Mr., I said that was my Dad. Steve works, but I was called Sir constantly for a lot of years back in the day. I like Skipper! Even when I was called the Old Man, well over 30 years ago. What would they call me now? A Artifact?

gidget529 · 07-31-2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

same here. When they said Mr., I said that was my Dad. Steve works, but I was called Sir constantly for a lot of years back in the day. I like Skipper! Even when I was called the Old Man, well over 30 years ago. What would they call me now? A Artifact?

LOL!!! My husband suggested "the mummy" - which would indicate being well-preserved.

celstu1 · 08-01-2011, 06:36 AM

Usually people 30 and older call me Miss, and really young people, like the 16 to 18 year olds that work at the Dunkin Donuts drive thru, call me ma'am. I HATE that! I am 34.... but I am not married, no kids, dress fairly fashionable, I have no fine lines or wrinkles yet, most of the time people think I'm only in my mid-20s, so I don't know why I get called ma'am. I think if I lost 20lbs I'd be back to being called Miss by everyone. I think getting heavier ages you. **SIGH** another reason I NEED to lose weight.

I had a VERY sad moment last summer..... when I went for my physical and my DOCTOR was younger than me!

That was a first for me. I'm used to being the baby .... my ex I was with for 10 years was 2.5 years older than me, so all his friends were too. My boyfriend now is 8 years older than me, so even his youngest sibling is 3.5 years older than me. My coworkers are all at least 5 - 10 years older than me, if not more. I'm usually the baby so its weird when Im the oldest.

Nancy1999 · 08-01-2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celstu1

Usually people 30 and older call me Miss, and really young people, like the 16 to 18 year olds that work at the Dunkin Donuts drive thru, call me ma'am. I HATE that! I am 34.... but I am not married, no kids, dress fairly fashionable, I have no fine lines or wrinkles yet, most of the time people think I'm only in my mid-20s, so I don't know why I get called ma'am. I think if I lost 20lbs I'd be back to being called Miss by everyone. I think getting heavier ages you. **SIGH** another reason I NEED to lose weight.

I had a VERY sad moment last summer..... when I went for my physical and my DOCTOR was younger than me!

That was a first for me. I'm used to being the baby .... my ex I was with for 10 years was 2.5 years older than me, so all his friends were too. My boyfriend now is 8 years older than me, so even his youngest sibling is 3.5 years older than me. My coworkers are all at least 5 - 10 years older than me, if not more. I'm usually the baby so its weird when Im the oldest.

Ha ha that's funny, that's another milestone in life, when you're older than your doctor.

celstu1 · 08-01-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Ha ha that's funny, that's another milestone in life, when you're older than your doctor.

Made me wonder what the heck I did with my life!

I could have been a doctor by now!

capt_noonie · 08-01-2011, 11:35 AM

I always thought people with a bit more meat on them looked younger. The "fluff" unwrinkles the wrinkles.

Bf's cousin and wife lost a bunch of weight and now they both look so old.

07-31-2011, 09:18 AM	#31
Princes mom YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 4,566	[QUOTE=Nancy1999;3617989]How about when someone comes up to you in a store? What do they say, may I help you . . .?[/QUOTE If you don't know the person's name, saying "May I help you?" is 100% correct. Saying "Ma'am" in the NE (New England) is considered negative. __________________ Prince, rest in peace. We miss you and love you so much.

07-31-2011, 03:09 PM	#39
Lil Sis Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,008	Well I am proud of being southern. I think it is disrespectful for a child to call an adult by given name. As I said, putting the "miss" in front is a way of showing respect but more familiarity than addressing with Mrs. Or Ms. And last name. My daughter friends, bf etc called me miss shinja or mrs. Xxxxxx. I think the ma'am is a way of addressing or answering someone in a respectful ways. Like many terms the inflection or body language can change the meaning. There were many times my teenage daughters said. " yes ma'am" and they were not thinking love and respect. I would only use sir or ma'am to address someone when I can't think of another way to address them .. "excuse me ma'am" sounds odd. Maybe I have been out of the south too long... Miami is not known for it's manners.. Or polite people. But it still amuses me that the students address the female teachers as " miss" ..they don't even used the last name. __________________ Shinja mom to Remy lil Sis to Bailey and Sammy

08-01-2011, 06:36 AM	#42
celstu1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 10,534	Usually people 30 and older call me Miss, and really young people, like the 16 to 18 year olds that work at the Dunkin Donuts drive thru, call me ma'am. I HATE that! I am 34.... but I am not married, no kids, dress fairly fashionable, I have no fine lines or wrinkles yet, most of the time people think I'm only in my mid-20s, so I don't know why I get called ma'am. I think if I lost 20lbs I'd be back to being called Miss by everyone. I think getting heavier ages you. SIGH another reason I NEED to lose weight. I had a VERY sad moment last summer..... when I went for my physical and my DOCTOR was younger than me! That was a first for me. I'm used to being the baby .... my ex I was with for 10 years was 2.5 years older than me, so all his friends were too. My boyfriend now is 8 years older than me, so even his youngest sibling is 3.5 years older than me. My coworkers are all at least 5 - 10 years older than me, if not more. I'm usually the baby so its weird when Im the oldest. __________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz

08-01-2011, 11:35 AM	#45
capt_noonie www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County Posts: 17,408	I always thought people with a bit more meat on them looked younger. The "fluff" unwrinkles the wrinkles. Bf's cousin and wife lost a bunch of weight and now they both look so old. __________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12

07-31-2011, 02:50 PM	#38
MaddiesMommie LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 4,060	It is depressing to me when I am called ma'am, especially by someone younger than me. I guess because I don't feel like I am 30. I see people on t.v. that are 30-ish and always wonder if I look that old. Of course, as a teacher, I am used to being made to feel old by my students. I remember last year my 10 year olds thought the Smurf's were new. I took in a picture of me wearing my Smurfette sweatsuit on Christmas 1986.