Do you ever get used to being "ma'amed or "sired"?

[Angelbabylips]

I live in the American South where these addresses are quite common for men and women of a certain age. The last four years or so, I am getting it more and more it seems like. It is still a difficult thing for me to get used to since it seems as though I was younger a few years ago. Now, I can go to the grocery store or wherever and the employees, who truly are younger than me now address me as so. I guess that I am not used to it.

[Tarifa]

These things come with age. Once you pass a certain treshhold, you belong to another generation. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it stings sometimes.

Whenever I have a staff member who obviously just got out of high school treat me like 'sir this and 'sir that, I just think to myself that when I was his age, he still wore diapers and was being wheeled around in a stroller. Crying his heart out because he wanted to suck on his mom's boobs.

Makes my day. I just continue with whatever I was doing and don't give it a second thought..

[sage2021]

Because you are usually asking questions about your looks, you sound like you believe that you need to look a certain way and you must think that you are very attractive and want to look a certain way.
Unfortunately as the years press on, we do look older. Gravity pulls!!
It's not the person's fault for calling you ma'am, it's just a reminder that you are getting older and they are just being respectful because that's how they were raised.
And since they are doing their part, you should be doing your part as well by being gracious back to them. Then kick up your heels 👠👠 and be on your way.
I've been called ma'am on this website many times and it doesn't bother me at all.
I lived in East Tennessee for 13 years so I know how it is there in the South.
But since I don't look my age and never did as an adult woman, I don't remember anyone ever referring to me as ma'am. Just accept it and go on your way.

[sage2021]

Thank you for the MHO 🙂

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

“Men and women of a certain age” do you mean your 20s? I’ve been called “ma’am” since I was 16, grew a fupa to match my tits, didn’t look like a child anymore, and I’ve lived in the south for the whole of my life. It’s just the standard way of greeting customers. You’re getting worked up over something cultural from another region, not southern culture.

[NaultD]

It is default to be honest especially after exhausting all other social queues. Everyone is at a different spot on social queues. Tone is what rattles me more honestly.

I choose to not pay attention or sometimes even pay too much attention if im nervous. They got to do what they got to do so I get it. Tone and being off beat with the other person is where things shake you into reality.

I had legal issues with my dead parents with the city. From there talk to the city lawyer dealing with a bill. Got wound up with paperwork dealing legal professionals and got a nervous reaction from an office and caught myself. Took a seat and let them talk to me and not me freaking out.

As we get older there's more being said then just words being spoken. The sir or ma'am is a way to reset the conversation maybe.

[WindAtMyBack]

I'm used to it, but it never bothered me in the first place, not even when I was a teen. It's just polite customer service.

I only had one job where I had to wear a tie. When I wore a tie, suddenly I was "sir" a lot more often. I was very noticeably treated differently. Like everyone thought I was rich or something. It wasn't my fault. I wore a tie because I had to.

Do you dress differently as you got older? Do you carry yourself differently? Age alone can make a difference, but there is more to it than that. If you were dressed like a Goth, do you think you'd get called ma'am as often?

[AgentG111]

It's an absolute compliment that there are still manners and addressing someone with that shows a amount of respect and dignity for adults and those whom were raised correctly and being polite and professional to all until there is no need based on the other person's response and actions

[Shiprex]

My job often comes with students calling me sir and I have also served in the military as a commissioned officer so being called sir has never been an issue. What did get me was working in Sweden as a teacher where students were expected to call you by your name which most didn't when I told them I prefer something else like Mr or Sir

[Anonymous]

If it makes you feel better, you're still strikingly attractive. You could pass for significantly younger than 45.

Some of the young men who call you ma'am at the grocery store probably think about you later that day, when they're off work.

[abc3643]

Sure. At my age, it happens all the time. I am now a great-grandfather after all.

[jazzy34]

Yeah and I don’t have a problem with it. It’s a sign of respect to me. Plus, I’ve worked as a substitute teacher and in customer service so hearing that is second nature to me.

[LC75LC71]

Let me put it this way..

https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7LTzEmnyms

[exitseven]

I picked up calling all women ma'am when I was in basic training in Texas and it has stuck to me to this day. Sometimes somebody might comment on it but for the most part they understand I am being respectful.

[Lliam]

It never bothered me. In certain establishments it is customary for employees to call you sir or ma'am, regardless of your age.

[Nurse_Meyers_88]

Happens all the time, byproduct of living in the south

[KostasKouvalis]

NOOOOOOOOOO! This happens to me sometimes when I go abroad, but all the time when I go to Poland, because Polish people are SO formal, and it's fucking annoying, honestly

[dougeats]

no way lol but thank you for the question Ma'am!

[msc545]

I'm getting very tired of being."Dr ed" It's like I don't really have a first name anymore.

[MidnightRivers]

Not here in the UK haha, it's always 'mate'

[Anonymous]

What part of the south do you live in?

[Pterodon]

No I don’t. I think manners still matter