I hate it when customers call me ma'am

[MoonChild2007]

This is a pet peeve of mine but I can't stand customers especially when they don't want to listen to me and they call me "ma'am" especially in that aggravated tone of theirs. I like being called ma'am if they are friendly but when they are being assholes to me, I can't stand that.

[BethB]

I hate being called "ma'am". Makes me feel like I should be living in a retirement home. I'd rather hear "hey, you!"

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

Well, I dunno. For years I was called "madam." I relished being called "mademoiselle" now and again. I was even called "Madam" when I was a "mademoiselle." I guess when you're 35 it's kind of expected you get called "madam" in Montreal. But still...

[wolfie]

Well, I dunno. For years I was called "madam." I relished being called "mademoiselle" now and again. I was even called "Madam" when I was a "mademoiselle." I guess when you're 35 it's kind of expected you get called "madam" in Montreal. But still...

Actually, when you're 35 it would be expected for people in Montreal to call you "Madame". Calling someone "Madam" is another story (and most of them are probably mademoiselles).
"Mademoiselle" being the salutation for an unmarried woman, "Madame" being for a married woman, while a "Madam" is the owner of a house of ill repute.
Probably NSFW, but highlight for why the "e" is significant.

[AirHostess]

Oh I love it. Lots of American passengers call me ma'am...Continental passengers call me 'miss' a lot...British passengers just say 'excuse me.'

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I don't mind, since "Ma'am" is the proper way to address a princess at any age.

Muah. >:3

[Soulstealer]

It's not so bad. I prefer it to "Hey you" which is what the cat gets called.
It's also better than sir. Seriously, how do you not notice the lumps on my chest?

[SG15Z]

I hate it because I'm a sir! Thanks to my lovely long curly hair I've been called ma'am 3 times now. Then I turn around and they get a pale look on their face and say sorry. Though one person did call me ma'am when I was facing her. :sigh:

Long hair =/= female

[spookysonata]

I don't mind it if they're just addressing me as Ma'am. Better than calling me by name because they read my nametag. Strangers knowing my name just bugs me.

What I hate is customers calling me Ma'am in a rude snarky way. This one bitch who preferred to argue with me than listen to my answer to her question kept shouting me down by going: "Ma'am? Ma'am? Ma'am? Ma'am? Ma'am? Ma'am?" until I stopped talking.
(When I tired of her and got my supervisor to come explain what I was trying to tell her she said," Well, SHE didn't tell me that!" )

[Sirloracaz]

Ooohh I hate being called ma'am. I want to be called miss!! And I look fairly young....some people don't think I'm old enough to have kids. So if I look so young, why are they calling me ma'am? I'm 'miss'!

[Pagan]

Oh I love it. Lots of American passengers call me ma'am...Continental passengers call me 'miss' a lot...British passengers just say 'excuse me.'

"Excuse me"? What does that mean? I seem to vaguely recall hearing it before....

I don't mind, since "Ma'am" is the proper way to address a princess at any age.

Muah. >:3

Actually, I prefer "mistress".

I saw a t-shirt once and should have gotten it.

Goddess - A woman that men bow down to.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Just be thankful that Ma'am is a term of respect. It should not irk you.

There's a lot of worse things they could be calling you.

Of course, if they are saying in a disrespectful tone, well, that sort of negates that.

[seigus]

Having been raised by a Texan, I say ma'am to almost every female, regardless of age. It's not even concious - it's conditioned in to me. I hate to offend people with it, but I can't help it. Besides, my mom would kill me if she found out that I didn't...

[MoonChild2007]

See, I don't mind being called ma'am, I just hate it when assholes say it to me!

[crashhelmet]

I come from a military family where all men are "Sir" and all women are "Ma'am." I remember this one time when i was working for Circuit City. I called a woman "ma'am," as I usually would, and she flipped.

Woman: "Ma'am? MA'AM??? Ma'am is short for Madam and I am CERTAINLY no Madam!"
Me:

CH