Awhile back, H helped some older (but not old, just older than us) woman out. She asked him something and he said yes ma'am. She immediately got nasty and said 'don't call me ma'am, I don't like it'. Now there's a discussion on TN about it.
I'm from the South and even though I'm from Cali, my Southern dad raised me. I've always ma'am and sir'd everyone older than me. H was raised the some way.
Some people find it offensive or condescending?
"In the old days my ass would be in your back yard picking cotton, so excuse me if I don't put much stock in how f*cking awesome the old days were." -Nuggs