Manners????

[Death's Servent]

Last night at work, I called some lady mam and she nearly flipped on me. She told me that I may call her anything but mam. What is the world coming to when you try to be polite and nearly get your arse chewed out for it?

[Schaeffer]

Most women don't like to be called ma'am because it makes them feel old. Maybe you should've called her Miss?

[Mixylplix]

Ma'am is an abbreviated form of Madame. I guess you hit too close to home. A lot depends upon where you are. Here in da South, you BETTER say Ma'am or Grandma is going to drag you to the wood shed and "tan your hide". I love that term. "tan your hide"...

Then if you are trapped in the American Frozen North (anything north of the Macy Dixie line) them people is a bit "teched" in the head and don't understand it if you do things like hold a door open or hold an elevator or pull out a chair for a woman. They think you are looking for a handout. :lol:

Yankees are a hoot. :ph34r:

[Death's Servent]

I live in the state that is the farthest south in the NORTH and the farthest north in the South. A few times, I got the slapped for just holding a door open.

[Emperson]

lol

[Schaeffer]

Ah good ole sociology lesson coming. Civalry from back in the day came from the belief that women were a weaker sex and shouldn't be expected do do physical tasks like opening doors and sliding their chairs in. This is why some moern women take offense to such things. They do not want to be percieved as being the "weaker" sex and that they "need" men to open doors for them.

I'm not saying don't be curtious anymore, I don't think it means now what it meant back in the middle ages, but just letting you know that some people do...

[sintalon]

Ill give you a little story from work once albiet the gender is reversed.

Guy came in and i called him sir. He said not to call him sir in a rather pissy tone of voice. I looked him in the eye and asked him if he prefered that i call him ma'am. After half the store laughed he mellowed out a bit and grinned at me. Now i dont call him sir but hes one of my regulars now. :)