Among Friends

[SahmIam]

M'aam and Sir. That's what I grew up calling people, that's what my sons call people.

Oh, we must be hated by many!

[Shop Till you Drop]

I am from the South and was taught to use Yes Sir and Yes Ma'Ma to be polite.  When I was a mouthy teen, I vividily remember my Mother telling me when I answered her Yes Ma'ma, Do you understand me?  I would say Yes Ma'ma through gritted teeth and would never say that in conversation to my parents on regular basis.  But I did then and I do now say it to my elders to be polite.

[JavaQueen]

I am sure the Costco greeter meant no harm.

It's all within context! Sometimes it's age! And sometimes it depends on the tone and by whom. 

Annoyng as it is, I have been called much worse.

[Hooty]

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@viva923 wrote:

there are times being called lovey, sweetie, doesn't bother me, but at times it just grinds my jaw bone.

not sure if how the words are being said to me that irks me or if I know the people who call me these words that I don't mind.

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@viva923, Typical comment from someone from DE, I hated the 3 yrs I lived there, people were just downright rude!!!

[Hooty]

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@catwhisperer wrote:

"Ma'am" is spoken in the Southern culture as a sign of respect.

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@catwhisperer, you are so right, and I am very proud of my Southern heritage!!!  Most of us treat people even strangers, with respect!

[Moonchilde]

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@Hooty wrote:

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@viva923 wrote:

there are times being called lovey, sweetie, doesn't bother me, but at times it just grinds my jaw bone.

not sure if how the words are being said to me that irks me or if I know the people who call me these words that I don't mind.

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@viva923, Typical comment from someone from DE, I hated the 3 yrs I lived there, people were just downright rude!!!

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Why, bless your heart, I'm sure you're always polite and respectful of everyone.

[Mominohio]

As long as the intent is kind, I'm not spending a lot of time looking to be offended. There are a lot worse things to be called, and I try to take people's intent, rather than just their choice of words, into account before I get my dander up.

[september]

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@Hooty wrote:

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@viva923 wrote:

there are times being called lovey, sweetie, doesn't bother me, but at times it just grinds my jaw bone.

not sure if how the words are being said to me that irks me or if I know the people who call me these words that I don't mind.

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@viva923, Typical comment from someone from DE, I hated the 3 yrs I lived there, people were just downright rude!!!

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What I find rude, is making a generalization about everyone from one area of the country and saying they are all "downright rude".  

[Bird mama]

Some of us, (yea that would be me) developed a bad habit of calling people hun or sweetie.  I am working on it, but it comes out.  I mean no ill will by it.  

[MarieIG]

No, of all the things that bother me, that is not one of them.