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So a 30-something friend went to see New Moon. Apparently someone - tween I think - called her ma'am. She was bothered by that.
I tried to point out that "ma'am" is simply a term of respect, not any indication of how old the person thought she was. She and everyone else commenting on her annoyance seem to disagree with me. What say you?
I personally was taught to always use sir and ma'am. I thought that was standard practice. I don't know when it became a term you only used for "old" people. Though I do remember being a movie theatre working and calling someone, who wasn't much older than me, "ma'am" and having her ask me not to call her that because she was too young for that term. I wanted to say "since when does age matter" but I thought better of it.
I also remember jokingly protesting when a co-worker called me ma'am only to have her chew me out for protesting that she used a term of respect to me.
I tried to point out that "ma'am" is simply a term of respect, not any indication of how old the person thought she was. She and everyone else commenting on her annoyance seem to disagree with me. What say you?
Poll #1750 Is Ma'am really so bad?
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 1
Is the term "ma'am" a term of respect or code for "old"?
View Answers
Respect - OK to use for any female
1 (100.0%)
Respect - OK, but use on adult women only
0 (0.0%)
Respect - but only use for women "of a certain age"
0 (0.0%)
Code for "old"
0 (0.0%)
I personally was taught to always use sir and ma'am. I thought that was standard practice. I don't know when it became a term you only used for "old" people. Though I do remember being a movie theatre working and calling someone, who wasn't much older than me, "ma'am" and having her ask me not to call her that because she was too young for that term. I wanted to say "since when does age matter" but I thought better of it.
I also remember jokingly protesting when a co-worker called me ma'am only to have her chew me out for protesting that she used a term of respect to me.
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