Is it a sign that you look/are old if people call you ma'am?

[Anonymous]

Or "lady?" Lately I’m noticing that I’m getting called ma’am often these days (it happened in my earlier 20s too but I can’t remember if it happened often) and I really hate it, as it makes me feel like I'm 80 years old...

Doesn't the term indicate that someone is old? If someone is young, people usually use the terms "girl", "young lady" or "miss"

[Anonymous]

18-24? You have to seriously be abusing drugs to look old at that age. Be realistic.

If you're female, and I don't know you're name, I'm going to refer to you as "ma'am". If someone wants to take offense over nothing then that's their right. I'm still going to say, ma'am.

I'm not going to say "excuse me girl" that to me, sounds disrespectful. I'm also not going to say "Excuse me young lady" because I'm not a 60-year-old man.

[Asker]

Lol fair enough
What about miss?

[Opinion Owner]

I have used miss before. I still think it sounds kind of weird coming from my mouth tho lol

[SnowedIn]

Usually no. I tell my children to use sir and ma'am until they're told otherwise by that person. @dustybiker is, as always :) , right: it's a sign of respect and really should be assumed as such.

[4ngelic]

if your 23-24 (guess your about there) it's normal for some people to say ma'am in some settings. doesn't mean they think you look older

[Asker]

Hmm ok I thought miss was more common though? :/

[4ngelic]

it is but ma'am is common too so your probably good

[dustybiker]

Depends where you are. In my circle it’s a sign of respect.

[Asker]

Respect for old people? 😔

[dustybiker]

Young people say it to young people. It’s rarely an insult.

[HighValue]

Nah. If you were "old," you would always make sounds whenever getting up or kneeling down. lol

[panamared1]

Nothing to do with age, just respect