Question for our Women Forum Members: Is using "Ma'am" offensive?

Remember a while back when that General was before that woman senator, and he called her "Ma'am", and she jumped all over him for not addressing her by her title of "Senator"... What's a man to do?

It depends on a persons dialect. You call her "Ma'am", and you'll probably be ok... But call her "Madam". then maybe you better duck.

A lot has to do with the era we were brought up, and too where in the country we were raised.

AND...I think it shows who was in the military and who wasn't....Those things are with us forever......"Yes Sir.....Yes Sir....No Ma'am...Not at all Ma'am".

Like a lot of the other LEO's have said above,,, it was always Sir or Ma'am. Respect for one another went a long ways, and still does.


WuzzFuzz
 
As precedence was set by the Honorable Barbara Boxer the term Maam is degrading and inappropriate especially when delieverd by a member of the US Military. The clerk should have said "please address me as Clerk. I worked very hard to get here and I think I deserve it"

Lets we forget this classic display of <this is a family board, no politics, removed>: Senator Barbara Boxer: "Don't Call Me Ma'am" - General Michael Walsh - YouTube
 
Missus Old TexMex is an immigrant from an english speaking southern hemisphere nation, an' she says it's wonderful the way even kids here say Ma'am and Sir. The ability to accept a compliment or a display of respect requires some humility. It seems like some people aren't being taught the principles of behavior that result in humility. Lot of people aren't grateful.
 
SanJoseScott said:
As precedence was set by the Honorable Barbara Boxer the term Maam is degrading and inappropriate especially when delieverd by a member of the US Military. The clerk should have said "please address me as Clerk. I worked very hard to get here and I think I deserve it"

Lets we forget this classic display of <this is a family board, no politics, removed>: Senator Barbara Boxer: "Don't Call Me Ma'am" - General Michael Walsh - YouTube
Click to expand...


Have to agree with the Senator. The use of the term Ma'am is a sign of respect and Sen. Boxer was correct in the point that she is "not deserving of respect"
 
Mr P&R Fan, I'm glad you're a gentleman and not changing. Ma'am is fine by me and I take no offense. I also appreciate doors opened, coat assistance and other hallmarks of a gentleman. Since some of my raisin' was in the South, I also answer yes/no ma'am or sir to all ages. If it's not said to the youngsters, where are they going to learn good manners?

However, to do a a slight turnaround, some men folk will bristle when I call them Sir and reply like some women, "I'm not that old!" So then I try to look as blonde as possible and say, "well, I didn't think I should call you Ma'am...."
 
I'm sure she wanted you to call her "hotstuff" rather than Ma'am. ;) :D

As a forum female member, I myself have never been called Ma'am but because I'm 30 years old but I still look like I'm in my teens.

Though some women take "Ma'am" as your calling them older. Say for instance a little child would call an older female "ma'am"
 
I am not a woman but i use the terms sir and ma-am as terms of respect. Having come from a LONG line of military men using the terms sir and ma-am are in my blood.
 
I like it when the urbanite women refer to each other as "Female". It's so classy.

I wont even mention the terms the men call their woman.

We're in a downward spiral. :(
 
I'm all in for the whole "Sir" and "Ma'am". It's just proper manners and common respect.

Unfortunately, it's one of those "damned if you do, damned if you don't"-things. I've offended enough folks out there trying to be polite that now I just grunt and point a lot.

People seem to take to that just fine. In fact, I think they believe me to be a bit "touched" and now they open doors for me!
 
987girl said:
Though some women take "Ma'am" as your calling them older.
Click to expand...

That's what happened to me.:o I made a delivery to a store out on Long Island. The assistant manager asked me several questions, all of which could be answered "Yes" or "No". Having been raised properly by my parents, I added a "Ma'am" to each answer. After a few answers, she allowed as to how I was going to have to pick myself up off the floor if I called her Ma'am again. Fortunately, the manager intervened and explained that, because of my accent, I was probably unable to delete the Ma'am. She realized her mistake and later apologized by bringing me a coffee from Starbucks.

I began addressing my daughter as Ma'am when she was old enough to talk. It has nothing to do with age and everything to do with respect.
 
P&R Fan, you were courteous and did the right thing.

The clerk, on the other hand, was rude for even bringing that up to a CUSTOMER. What has happened to 'customer service' or 'maintaining positive customer relations'?

In the future, I would make a point of going through her line at every opportunity and calling her "Ma'am" several times during the checkout.
 
Wells, i don't know what women are thinkin' no hows...

Had one try to scold me for calling her Ma'am....

In my best Pepe La Pew accent', I sez, "alrighty puis, mademoiselle, or do you prefer, la bourgeoise?"

Or something purty close to that.......



.
 
All this discussion reminds me of a time about thirty-five years ago or so. I was brand new in graduate school....fresh off the farm. One morning, as I went into the department office, I greeted the secretaries by saying, "Good morning, ladies." Boy! Those two gals were all over me like ugly on squid!! They chewed me up one side and down the other, telling me in no uncertain terms that they weren't ladies....they were women! I felt terrible and humbly apologized.

The next morning when I went into the department office, I greeted them by saying, "Good morning, women." I thought they were going to kill me!! What the heck did I do wrong??? Sometimes a guy can't win for losin'.
 
SanJoseScott said:
As precedence was set by the Honorable Barbara Boxer the term Maam is degrading and inappropriate especially when delieverd by a member of the US Military. The clerk should have said "please address me as Clerk. I worked very hard to get here and I think I deserve it"

Lets we forget this classic display of <this is a family board, no politics, removed>: Senator Barbara Boxer: "Don't Call Me Ma'am" - General Michael Walsh - YouTube
Click to expand...

"Honorable?" I don't give anyone that prefix by custom or otherwise. I reserve the right to decide if I think the person is "honorable," and never use it in an address or introduction. I think the term has been handed down as a British tradition, and I've never been much in favor of it.

When I send letters to Senators or Congresspeople, they are not addressed to "The Honorable (insert name here)," but rather "Senator Fred Fogbound" or "Representative Sally Slick." That "honorable" thing assumes too much for my taste. With all the compromises, trade-offs and sell-outs going on in Washington, it seems like a slam-dunk oxymoron to use that antiquated term.

John
 
I'm 28 and female. I think it would be funny if someone called me ma'am but I wouldn't find it offensive. You are certainly a gentleman if you called me that... well, depending on what the before and after words are :)

When I taught martial arts, the kids would accidentally call me "Sir" instead... as I was the only female instructor. I corrected them and had them call me "ma'am". There's nothing wrong with that... it's formality, respect..
 
Last edited:
I'm a lady AND a military member. On the lady side, calling me ma'am is just find. If I'm in uniform, however, don't call me ma'am, I work for a living!

I'm 23 years old and I didn't grow up learning sir or ma'am. I intentionally chose to start using it in my teens as I developed a sense of old timey class and put aside the punk rock. Our whole culture is losing its sense of dignity in both word and deed. How long ago was it that every male regardless of age or social strata owned at least one suit? I'd love to see everyone dress up a bit to go out, dawn a fedora and treat everyone else with respect. I like the old ways.
 
Hmmm, people who are offended by respect. I am not sure there is even a name for that.

I am reminded of the 82 year old lady who won "oldest female rider" at a motorcycle event. When she was coming up the stairs to the stage to receive her award a man offered his hand and she slapped it. When she got to the mike she said "I got that motorcycle from Nebraska to Tennessee by myself, and I can get up on this stage."

Continuing with his upbringing he said: "Yes Ma'am"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Tom S.
Another tale of USPS woe.
2 3
Replies
42
Views
1K
Gamecock
Gamecock
chief38
"AN OPENED LETTER" OF APOLOGY FOR MY SPELLING, GRAMMAR & TYPING
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
1K
djohns6
D
D
New member and "new" Model 19-4
Replies
15
Views
572
stansdds
S
Faulkner
Christmas Eve Happy Meal
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
Faulkner
Faulkner
T
A couple of Models 10s with Forum history come home
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
Baxter6551
Baxter6551

Latest posts

Back
Top