You are Ms.Taken

[Meegz]

I have to admit that I use the "Ma'am" reference sometimes but it is only used as a form of respect. I was raised to show respect and am sometimes hurt by the offence that some women have when I try to show them respect.
Why do people instantly assume the worst when you try to treat them the best?

Exactly. I like being called Miss or Ma'am than *whistle* HEY YOU! Must be a southern thing

[arete85]

I hope this isn't a self-sighting...

...but I am a 'Ms' and if a telemarketer gets it wrong, "Sorry, noone here by that name, bye".

Really weeds 'em out!

One even called asking for "Mrs W.". I am "Ms A". I was engaged to a "Mr W" FOUR YEARS AGO!! Fail!

[ThreatLevelMidnight]

I got some free address labels this year. Unfortunately they had my maiden name on them, as I got married in May and changed my name. Apparently this group was not on my list of places to notify.

I felt bad about the waste, but I just tossed them out. No use complaining about something free! Especially because they had no way of knowing. I did write to them and inform them of the name change afterward however.

Being offended at Ms. instead of Mrs. is just...ridiculous. I don't call what you use in front of my name, use Mr. for all I care, just don't call me Asshole or worse.

[PuckishOne]

I have to admit that I use the "Ma'am" reference sometimes but it is only used as a form of respect. I was raised to show respect and am sometimes hurt by the offence that some women have when I try to show them respect.
Why do people instantly assume the worst when you try to treat them the best?

Exactly. I like being called Miss or Ma'am than *whistle* HEY YOU! Must be a southern thing

I'm not sensitive, just...old. I completely understand it's a respect thing, and I have never, ever taken offense. I wouldn't dream of not using "sir" or "ma'am" myself, and I'm not even southern!

[PuckishOne]

Try having a first name that is more of a unisex name but due to the spelling is more masculine. I would get letters from the Selective Service addressing me as Mr. DGoddess . . .

Oh, I already have this...and even though I use the feminine spelling I STILL get the "Mr PuckishOne" from time to time. (sigh) Whatcha gonna do, eh?

[Bramblerose]

neither bothers me as much as those drive by "ma'am"-ings I get from time to time (damned grey hairs!!!).

Don't move here. You rated a Ma'am as soon as you really looked like an adult. Ma'am is any adult female you don't know on name basis.

[smileyeagle1021]

Oh, I already have this...and even though I use the feminine spelling I STILL get the "Mr PuckishOne" from time to time. (sigh) Whatcha gonna do, eh?

and I have a name that is definitely masculine, no way to spell it differently to make it feminine without it being a different name... and I still get Ms. Smiley Eagle
I get it on the phone a lot... damnit, I know I don't sound like a manly man... but that doesn't mean I must therefore be a woman (much like just because I don't like football I must be gay... and here I always thought I was gay because I preferred men )

[Kyree]

How did us girls get stuck with so many prefixes to fight over while the guys lucked out with "Mr"?

You're young? Mr.
You're married? Mr.
You're older? Mr.
You're divorced? Mr.

It's not fair!

[Snowbird]

Kudos for such a clever title

I wrote out a lengthy reply and then forgot I had not checked Wikipedia yet. Once again, they have the answer.

For those of you that don't want to check the link, it was a business practice begun in the 70's as a default form of address for business correspondence with a woman, and even backed up by the ever mindful of manners Emily Post Institute as well as Judith Martin, Miss Manners herself. It seems it was even championed as the beginning of a non-sexist language, being the female equal to the all encompassing 'Mr.'.

Sorry to have babbled, but I suppose I will never understand someone being insulted for what is truly a lost art of showing respect, and ladies, that includes calling you all "ma'am". That honestly, truly, and absolutely has nothing whatsoever to do with your age, or should I say, being old. I promise. Ask any woman in the police or armed forces.

Time for me to blast some Aretha Franklin!

[wagegoth]

When the cashiers start calling you ma'am instead of miss, it's an age thing, similar to when you start getting mail from AARP.

[cinema guy]

How did us girls get stuck with so many prefixes to fight over while the guys lucked out with "Mr"?

You're young? Mr.

Surely that's Master.

[MadMike]

Surely that's Master.

Just as long as your last name isn't Bates.

[Kyree]

Just as long as your last name isn't Bates.

And now you've dragged this thread right down into the gutter.

[Geek King]

Just as long as your last name isn't Bates.

God help you if you're his son...

When the cashiers start calling you ma'am instead of miss, it's an age thing, similar to when you start getting mail from AARP.

Nope. I've called unknown high school and college-age lasses "ma'am" for years. Blame Westerns in general, and Sam Elliot in particular, but I've always felt it sounded gentlemanly without sounding pretentious. I adopted ma'am into my speech for women who are mature enough to warrant it. Yes, young girls (12 or younger, normally) are 'little lady.' Sue me.

[Rapscallion]

Feminist DA: That's Mzzz, Mr Hammer.

Sledge Hammer: That's Merrrrr.

Classic scene from Sledge Hammer. If you've never seen it, you're missing out.

Rapscallion