It's not. Last I checked, calling someone sir or ma'am is a form of respect. That's how my parents raised me. Teachers in school taught us that. And it's proper etiquette to address someone in that manner, especially if you do not know them, unless said person tells you to call them something more informal.
And if you're from the Southern part of the States? Unless you're a child, I guarantee you're going to be addressed as sir or ma'am by most people you interact with.
I recall the first time someone called me ma'am: I was 18 at a store in the mall...18! Obviously that's not old, yet the cashier was being polite to me as a customer.
Typically you call someone that because they're either older than you are, they're your boss or someone of high authority (ie: boss, management, etc), or it's just a civil way to greet someone, especially in customer service positions.
I guess some people find it offensive because it implies you see them as "old." If anything, it means they respect you. I get called ma'am all the time and I sure don't get offended by it!
Because people aren't taught respect anymore. And because people see offence in everything these days, but then they're also usually the ones more guilty of being offensive themselves, so maybe that's why🤷🏼♀️
Honestly I found out she just doesn’t like me at all. She has this alternate reality about a certain situation and it never went down like that. I don’t know how to convince her that I don’t mean any harm. I apologize for the situation long ago but I just I don’t know
That's on her, not you
I know but it makes me wanna cry. I wasn’t raised to be disrespectful
She's likely from the older generation that was rebellious in all things that had to do with their parents. Ma'am sounds like she looks like or acts like her mother, whom she tried to distinguish herself from... She could be in denial about her looks due to her age. Most likely, though, is that ma'am can be short for Madame, traditionally a respectful way of addressing a grown woman, a married woman, a woman of status, but Madame is also the title of the woman who runs a brothel. So it can have negative connotations depending on how you use it and to whom you are saying it to.
Don't worry about it at all.
It's THEM... it is not you. They are the uptight ones... the ones looking for something to be offended about.
You just go right on talking like you always do.
Ignore the uptight busybodies that expect you to alter your speech for them.
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Many uneducated people are not familiar with the proper use of such words. You used that word correctly. Many people are raised to think ma'am only applies to someone who is older than you. A butler at Buckingham palace would be expected to address Princess Charlotte as Ma'am and not miss. Ma'am would be the correct formal way to address any female especially one who is either in a superior position or who you were serving in a professional capacity such as a waiter or cab driver.
I definitely love that type of era Being a lady Dutchess all of that just sounds beautiful and elegant
Some people take Ma'am to reference an older woman, like graying old. While Miss refers to a much younger woman. In your defense, this only happened relatively recently. Ma'am used to be a respectful, formal term. A lot of people mistake old-fashioned for disrespect.
Women are in constant competition with each other. They usually dress themselves up to look better than other women. they all think kim Kardashians style is what men want because they dont come close to her perceived beauty. She is insecure to the fact that she is getting older and less desirable to men. Its her problem, not yours.
I honestly don't understand how it's disrespectful. My parents taught me to say "Yes sir" and "Yes ma'am" to adults, but sometimes I have adults tell me to not call them that, that it's rude. I never understood how it was rude. I know that in Texas (where I'm from) People usually see it as respectful and really like to be called "Sir and Ma'am". So I always wondered the same thing, why is it so disrespectful to some people to be called Sir and Ma'am, but I have been told that it is disrespectful because when a kid says it they're usually saying it to mock and make fun of the adult or person. But when I say it I'm saying it out of respect for the person, so I'm not sure.
Yes, the terms are generally signs of respect, and some cultures enforce the terms of respect more than others. But, there are considerations, too:
For as much a pain as it is, offense is in the eye/ear of the receiver. The 50year-old madam may be suffering insecurities, and/or the terms may have been used an a backhanded insult memorable enough to stick to her.
Ma’am & Sir are simply respectful terms.
invariably the socially inept fail to understand this and react to it.
I used it for years in Air Force and still using as a sign of respect.
in fact, I use it with one lovely lady on GaG as a sign of respect.
Certain things in life are hard to teach people, etiquette and common courtesy being two of them..
.
I don't think ma'am and sir are disrespectful at all. I worked in a small truck stop Diner on Montana years ago. Every other Friday night we used to have two black gentleman in maybe their 60s stop in on their way through. They would eat a late dinner 11:30 p. m. I always found their thank you or please sir or ma'am to our wait staff more respectful than most patrons titles for the staff. You should hear some of the titles people use for wait staff that work in a small all-night Diner in a tiny truck stop! Off the subject it was always fun to sit for a few minutes with these two and listen to their many stories from their years on the road. I wish we had more patrons as polite as these two.
I don't think so. I say "Sir" and "Ma'am" to all ages out of respect. Little kids as well who carry themselves well. Little gents and ladies.
I also say "Sir" to men I like... in a feed his ego, flirty way... Just tends to come out out of my mouth for some men that I'm attracted to and like.
How old was she? I call women from 17 up Ma'am and same with Sir.. Military and Law Enforcement Training,
I am 26 and she is in her 50
It isn't disrespectful. I work in medical and as a newly hired employee I have no clue who people are so my usual introduction is ma'am how can I help you / ma'am what's your name... nobody cares.
But to a "Karen" it is disrespectful. Karens (and their male counterparts) unfortunately have a stick shoved so far up their ass even looking at them "the wrong way" starts the bitching.
How people are raised.
So if using respectful terms wasn't taught to her it doesn't mean anything, but if she is really worried about losing her youth that's more important to her.
So the reminder that she is get old hurt her feelings eventhough you weren't calling her that it's how she took it
I say yes sir or ma'am when talking to my kids. It is completely a respect thing. She is just sensitive about her age is all.
A lot of people hope regards to age or worth when being called Sir or Ma'am. Women feel older than they are and men have said don't call me sir because I work for a living. Different people have their different reasons.
it's not. it's not even a term for old people, it's the slang version of madam, which is what snooty rich female nobles called eachother.
Also Sir is a knighthood title, knights are fucking badass.
I definitely love that type of era Being a lady Dutchess all of that just sounds beautiful and elegant
twas a silly time itwas
Lol ‘twas
That's what I thought, that it was supposed to be a sign of respect. Maybe we won't know until we reach that age?
Certain customer facing workplaces will insist on their staff using "sir" or "ma'am" with customers (assuming their gender is easily inferred). Although I always found "ma'am" to be overly formal and awkward to say. "Miss" rolls off the tongue easier so in customer service work I'd default to "sir" or "miss" and never had any complaints about the vernacular.
It's not at all disrespectful to address a person like that, but sometimes people use such terms in a sarcastic way too. Maybe that's the reason she reacted like that.
Still, it's odd for a person her age to act such.
I don't really like people calling me "sir". It makes me feel old also. I'm nice about it though. I usually say " you don't have to call me sir, I work for a living". It usually makes them laugh
So, she's overly sensitive, who gives a fuck? Maybe she's in denial and still thinks she should be a "miss" or a "ms" who is in her 20's ! I live in the south, where everybody is either Sir, Ma'am, Miss, or Darlin'. She's just getting old and can't handle it.
Don't fall for her bad attitude.
If you think it's respectful, do it.
I'm older and still call younger women ma'am and younger guys, sir.
It's respect.
I don't want to hurt anyone.
If they have a bad attitude IDGAF... I'm not changing because they're having a bad day. I'll still smile and say hi, but I'm not changing because of someone else's emotional state.
Boomers and the like lol. Ma'am is often something they're raised to address older women with, and it makes them feel old. Ironically sir doesn't seem to have that context in my experience
It isn't disrespectful ever unless used sarcastically. That is the formal way of addressing a woman. Perhaps she would rather be called, "stuckup bitch?"
Sounds like this lady was being a shrew.
She's probably insecure about her age and feels old whenever someone calls her ma'am. For me it's also a sign of respect I've never felt offended when someone calls me ma'am.
Ma'am is never disrespectful, it's more like you acted like a gentleman. That woman was rude, don't care about her.
She’s just looking for something to complain about. Forget it. I may say the same but in a friendly way.
Some [extremely sensitive] people think it makes them sound old. But you’re in the right here; it’s ok for a twenty something to call a fifty something “ma’am”. I wouldn’t call her that twice, though, if she said not to.
I have never seen a guy get mad about being called sir. But tons of women hate it when you call them ma'am because they think you're calling them old and apparently women have a problem with getting older.
You know that I will ALWAYS address my elders as "sir & ma'am" and if they draw offence to it, it is their problem and none of my concern. If someone is offended by someone being polite and respectful, it is their problem.
I don't think it's disrespectful per se, but rather more of an honorary title for those who are officially retired from work. If that makes any sense.
I've been called ma'am since the age of 16 lmao she's just pressed.
Thats crazy, she shouldn't take it the way she's taking it. 🤨
Sir and Ma'am are respectful. If someone has a problem being called sir or Ma'am, the problem is theirs.
It depends on the age of the person. If an older person calls me ma’am or sweetheart, that’s normal. However it’s super condescending when one of my peers says it to me.
She probably just doesn't want to be reminded of her age. Lol
My kids are taught that in school to say yes ma’am and sir
I have no problem with someone calling me Sir, I think the Woman was being a little bit too touchy on the matter
I wouldn't say it's disrespectful I would honestly say some people just prefer that you use their name it's more of a preference thing.
I thought it was good manners to be honest but there you go
It’s not it’s literally meant to be said out of respect, not your fault they got offended and felt old.
Exactly the way she told you it was. For a lot of people, "Ma'am" is a term of respect for an elder. So when you call someone "Ma'am" you are calling them old, but in a nice way. Still, women in particular don't like to be told that they're old.
I heard it's a southern us thing. But it's pretty stupid to take offense to a generic term.
It's a word for respect, maybe she wasn't as well versed during her age but now this chivalrous language isn't so common so it could be a misconception like that as well maybe she thought you were being sarcastic and mocking her.
Well it can be depending on the tone and context. This is scenario it doesn’t seem like it. Maybe she didn’t like the tone or something else about it bothered her.
Because we are young and beautiful over here, don't call us Ma'ams damn it.
Women are crazy, you don't know what simple things could tick them off for what reasons.
So chill breathe and call her ma'am agin tomorrow and piss her off 😂✌️
It's still better than Auntie 😂, if your an Asian every older person is Uncle or Auntie that is including strangers 🤣
she was being a C U Next Tuesday , nothing wrong with those terms
They are outdated words that most people not use anymore
Yes they are ways to show respect. It would be like calling a woman miss or mrs or a man mr. Its a sign of respect that isn't really shown today. Most people have very little respect for their fellow humans now days.
It happens sometimes and just shows the ignorance of some people.
Well im 20 years old and I would not like to be called that way. But if I was 50 like her it shouldn't bother me!
It makes some women feel old. It is a term if respect thoigh.
Those terms are not disrespectful. The lady was being a bitch.
It's not disrespectful at all. People are just dick heads
I’ve heard of a number of people correlating being called ma’am with being older. Maybe just call her miss instead - seems to be more respected and appreciated. I personally wouldn’t mind.
Some people just get really sensitive about their age… Don't get hung up on it
It's a cultural thing. Some places respect that option more, some use mis or misses and some even prefer to be called aunty or mother.
People in some parts of the country don't normally say it and it strikes them as odd. Judges like your honor over ma'am or sir. It can be taken wrong if the person is being sarcastic as well.
It's not disrespectful. Her response, however, is. Extremely.
I had the same thing. I actually called her miss and she was glad I didn't call her ma'am. I don't see the difference
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