Don't Call Me Ma'am

Discussion in 'Evolution of Language' started by D'Ellyn Dottir, Aug 5, 2021.

  1. Dwight Ward

    Dwight Ward Veteran Member
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    What does digression taste like? Can you order a salad with chopped digression? I bet it tastes just like chicken.
     
    #76
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  2. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
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    TE="Dwight Ward, post: 535731, member: 1767"]What does digression taste like? Can you order a salad with chopped digression? I bet it tastes just like chicken.[/QUOTE]
    That's a pretty safe bet cuz everything tastes like chicken
     
    #77
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  3. Shirley Martin

    Shirley Martin Supreme Member
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    Nope. :)
     
    #78
  4. Lois Winters

    Lois Winters Veteran Member
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    To retire or not to retire. I am retired and will retire shortly for the evening perchance to read a new tome.

    We never retire a thread for we do not ever tire of reviving threads into retreads.
     
    #79
  5. Shirley Martin

    Shirley Martin Supreme Member
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    Retreaded threads reap rewards.
     
    #80
  6. Faye Fox

    Faye Fox Veteran Member
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    Go Lois, you are on a roll. Retiring soon myself. Just to recap, it hasn't been a good year.
     
    #81
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  7. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    You're going to have to borrow @John Brunner 's rimshot. :D
     
    #82
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  8. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I'll gladly gave you a rimshot Tuesday for a stick-poke gif today.

    rimshot.gif
     
    #83
  9. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Deal. [​IMG]
     
    #84
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  10. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Bless you.

    Coming soon to a reply near you ;)
     
    #85
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  11. Joanna Newton

    Joanna Newton Very Well-Known Member
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    Ma'am doesn't bother me at all. What does is a fad that seems to have started more than a decade ago and unfortunately is still around: I do NOT like people addressing me as My Dear, Honey, Hun, Sweetie, Sweetheart.. this is not the South where I've heard these terms are common, and it bothers me even more when it comes from young kids.
     
    #86
  12. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    Perhaps it is in line for being a slight paradox for I have a gender and context limit in regard to whom I allow to call me dear but then again I think nothing of it when someone addresses me as “Dear Bobby” as a forward in a letter.
    A letter is supposed to be conversational the same as one is speaking face to face so what’s the difference?

    I guess as long as someone says, “My dear Bobby” and not “Bobby dear” I can suffer through it.
     
    #87
  13. Joanna Newton

    Joanna Newton Very Well-Known Member
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    Well, even if letters are personal, there's still a businesslike sense to it. Similar to signing 'Very Truly Yours,' it's not exactly acceptable when speaking to someone.
    I agree with what you said about gender and context, though- I'm mainly on the receiving-end from young girls in their late teens or early twenties working as clerks and cashiers in stores, total strangers, and it is disrespectful and condescending.
     
    #88
  14. Lois Winters

    Lois Winters Veteran Member
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    I do address business letters as Dear Sir/Madame as opposed to: To Whom It May Concern. Neither is personal, but the former just sounds better.

    On the other hand, I have received letters from business people who open with: Hi There,. Now, I do take umbrage at this form of address since I am not in the least acquainted with the author and it annoys me no end at such insolence.

    Ordinarily, I do not get uptight over many infractions of grammatical usage, but Ma'am is just fine, while Hi there is not.
     
    #89
  15. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    [​IMG]
     
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