Ma'am

[Pumpkin]

I find it interesting that there seems to be a cultural difference in regards to the word ma'am. Where I am from, (Ottawa, Ontario) it is considered rude to call someone ma'am unless they are visibly over the age of 50. A lot of younger people would get scolded at high school jobs for calling a woman ma'am. The proper term to use is miss. I was also watchin a television show last night, where the woman was in her late 30's and she started to feel old because a younger man called her ma'am. This was in Seattle, I think? I've seen it in a show that took place in Boston as well.

Here in upstate South Carolina however, it is common to call everyone ma'am and considered polite, no matter what the age. I have been called ma'am on many occasions, and I find it amusing, since I'm obviously young and I know it isn't reserved for only older women as it is where I am from.

Which way is ma'am used or interpreted as where you're from? Any other words come to mind with this kind of effect?

[Pike]

Here most people don't use any sort of honorific like that, to the point that it takes me by surprise if someone does.

So I think "ma'am" and "miss" are both pretty equally acceptable for women here, people just never use them.

[Psychotic]

Never ever used. Maybe perhaps to address the Queen or a female officer who is higher ranked than yourself if you're in the army/police. Madam is more common in Britain.

[Shaibana]

for me its just a way of being polite to a woman.
though i find it a bit uncomfy hen they someb0dy calls me ma'am, becaus i also think its for the older ppl. though i say about 25+

[Freya]

Ma'am is the female version of Sir. Or so that's how I was taught. So anyone you don't know deserves a Ma'am or Sir if they are older than you or not. You don't know if they deserve the respect or not but you should give it anyway because it's polite!

[Shorty]

When people call me ma'am it makes me feel old and I feel sad.

[Calliope]

25+? smurf, I feel old suddenly.

[Roogle]

Ah, I never use titles like ma'am or sir unless it is required by the type of accent that I am using. I think those terms can be rather outdated!

[Pike]

I like how you guys don't like being called "ma'am" cause it makes you feel old, but I don't like being called "ma'am" because it sounds girly as hell and I'm not

[Chris]

Ma'am and Miss are very common in the Philippines, as they're still deeply rooted in tradition and courtesy.

In Denmark, it's like, "hey, you".

[Raistlin]

I'll use both "ma'am" and "miss" for most ages, though now that I think about it I think I use "miss" more in professional contexts.

[Sephex]

I think people who try to use any word like Ma'am, miss, or my lady when the setting is inappropriate are fedorable.

[fire_of_avalon]

I live in the South. Everyone is Ma'am. Sometimes people are Miss too, though. If I refer to a non-present third party it's Ms though.

[Rebellious Eagle]

Almost no one says ma'am or sir up here in the Northeast. But when I go to the South, like noted, I'm always ma'am even though I'm younger than most people who have called me it. It's pretty amusing xD

[Jinx]

I get called both. Miss makes me feel like a kid, ma'am makes me wonder if I look old or something. I don't mind either though, I think it's nice.