s/o Sir & Ma'am

zsazsa-stl · May 2011

What do you think of women who are offended by being called ma'am? They did a segment on Talk of the Nation several months ago and got into this topic. Several women called in to say that they will walk out of a store/restaurant if addressed that way or that it makes them feel old and worthless.

I think the problem is with those women and not the word. People use that word to show respect. What if I decided that thank-you was personally offensive to me. How is everyone I come in contact with supposed to figure that out before I slap them?

hmonkey · May 2011

really, this is how i feel about people who are all offended by the asian tradition of bowing and get all 'i ain't bowing to no one!" that's really not what it's all about.

nicoleg1982 · May 2011

I think the c-word is the same concept. It's just a word.

6fsn · May 2011

I'd much rather be called ma'am than honey.

NOLABridesmaid · May 2011

Nic, thet's the only word that isn't just a word for me. I hate it.

rpotd: I don't know any black women that use it. They LOVE the B-word though. Loves it.

rpotd #2. It's usually RARE for a black person to throw the bird sign too. Now, they will cuss you out, but I've only seen white people throw the bird.

Do tell?

zsazsa-stl · May 2011

The c word is a completely different story. What I meant is that the intent of the words is good, why should the meaning you take from it be offensive?

Maybe I just need a store clerk to say with a smile "Thank you for shopping with us today, you c***" to see how I really feel about it.

hmonkey · May 2011

that store would be awesome.

nicoleg1982 · May 2011

I think people are all too easily offended these days over ridiculousness. Words are words.

MinM · May 2011

Ma'am bothered me at first, because transitioning from miss to ma'am meant I was visibly in a new age category to others. Is it a personal insult? No. Did I go out and buy new wrinkle cream? Yes.

I love flipping the bird. All day long. Love it.

I love it when Dave does it in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhdCslFcKFU

NOLABridesmaid · May 2011

WZ, yes.
Nicole, I'm sorry, but I hate that word. It just sounds so ugly.

GBCK · May 2011

I can understand hating it...
I think reacting to that hate is looking for offense.

baconsmom · May 2011

I don't like it - just something about the way it sounds, that nasal "a" all whiney - but it doesn't offend me. People are using it to be polite, not to cheese me off.

Now, ask me about the museum and how they insist on calling me "Mrs" even though I filled my membership forms out as "Ms". That's going to end in a beatdown someday soon.

And I like the c-word to refer to the actual organ. I don't like clinical names, I don't like animal names, so what's left? C. Short, serviceable, powerful. And when someone tries to use it as an insult, I take it as a compliment instead.

Kate61487 · May 2011

I wouldn't say I'm offended by ma'am, but a pre-teen called me ma'am at church the other day - I'm 23! I was kind of like "wth??" I don't feel old enough to be a ma'am! So I was a little taken aback... I certainly wouldn't storm out of a restraunt because of it...

mrshellem2012 · May 2011

I dont get offended by ma'am when people say it i just think they are being respectful, not meaning i am old im twenty two, i cant be that old lol... but if someone calls me a c**** where im from "thems is fightin words" thats the attitude spelling : )