I got hit in the face by this stuff in the corporate world. Suddenly those new college grads looked sooooo young, and I remembered all those "old guys" when I first started my career. We have met the geezer, and he is us. - Walt Kelly (paraphrased)
Don't worry @Frank Sanoica. I don't think you have, but it's not a big deal. And it's somehow different coming from a friend.
One of the first things I learned at Basic Training, for the Navy, is to call all male Naval Officers "Sir" and all female Naval Officers "Ma'am". If a Sailor forgets to say either, the Officer can take down you name/rank and report you to your Command. Bobby definitely knows what I'm talking about, from him former military years. When active-duty military speak to civilians, they are required to say "Sir" and "Ma'am" also. There are Organizations/Associations that will require their members to say "Sir" and "Ma'am" as well. Like the rodeo association I use to belong to. The Association also has other rules that must be followed when speaking to someone outside of the Association. Cuss, or say the "F" bomb, and a member can be reported to the Association and end up having their membership suspended.
Yeah, @Cody Fousnaugh , when I worked for the Air Force and had officer equivalent rank, it was an accepted part of the culture and made sense. Outside of that way of life, tho, it's just uncomfortable for me. Maybe I'll get over that as I get older, though. Maybe I'll appreciate the Ma'aming, and expect a snappy salute too.
Interesting post. I don't mind being addressed as 'Ma'am.' I would be tickled if Madam came across someone's lips though.
There was some discussion on this ma'am thing on another forum. I will say here what I said there...I don't understand what the big deal is about being addressed with respect. If someone doesn't know your name and they're forced to be polite by their employers you're gettin called ma'am whether you like it or not. If I could figure out a way to address someone at work without that I would. But if you're in a crowd and I have to get your attention specifically...I'm callin you ma'am. It's just an address of respect. It's not like someone is calling you a b*tch. Although there have been times I would've preferred using the latter to address some.
Remember the whole 'Ms.' thing in maybe the 70s? It was to counter the male privilege that men being called 'Mr.' didn't denote their marital status, while women being called 'Mrs.' or 'Miss' did. I thought at the time that it was a tempest in a teapot but further on saw it in the light of women seeking equality and I've always agreed with that goal for women.
The sad thing is so many good things like this get lumped into one big pot called the Women's Rights Movement which is for the most part an anti-woman agenda. The changes women made for equal basic human rights differ from the modern movements led by entitled brats wearing plastic genitalia on their heads and advocating abortion. I have talked to so many angry young women saying, "it is my body my right," and my reply is, "well too bad for the world that your mother didn't feel the same way." For me, the addition of Ms was perfect. Using Miss as a widow adult didn't really seem right and using Mrs after becoming a widow didn't seem right either, so for me, Ms fit my status perfectly and it wasn't a way of trying to keep my status nondescript.
It wasn't a total solution, though. For one thing, at least in those first few years, using 'Ms.' immediately marked the woman using it as a 'libber' with all the possible negative connotations that could imply.
Well, I never referred to you as ma'am until your profile photo with the side view of your long beautiful silvery hair appeared one day. I was so envious that I let mine grow out.
Yes, I know and I was invited to join the local NOW club and learn about women's rights. I invited them to my mountain log cabin I built all by myself and after they saw what a real independent woman does, they shut up with their equality BS, at least in my presence. There was something about the hide tanning process, making throwing knives, making a muzzleloader rifle, herding cattle, hand spinning my own wool, sewing my own clothes on a treadle, living off the grid, and shooting coyotes that upset them. They first met me after I did a classical guitar concert wearing a long classy dress I made and had my hair salon styled. They assumed I was just another downtrodden housewife that needed enlightenment. I educated them on how an upbeat housewidow takes care of business.