[Publib] RE: pet names

[Donna Block]

I think the problem that many people have with the term "ma'am" today
involves the question, "At what age is a woman old enough to be called
ma'am?"  I remember the first time my older sister was called "ma'am"
(at a grocery store by a teenaged employee).  She was in her early 20's
and not especially happy about looking old enough to be considered a
"ma'am."  The same thing happened to me a few years later.  We're from
the Midwest, however, and didn't grow up so long ago, and so were never
admonished by our parents about any sort duty to address our elders
formally.

-Donna Block (my $.02)



Re: Male pet names (Freezing Life)

Funny, I was raised believing that *not* addressing someone older than
me (whether it was my mother or a stranger) as "sir" or "ma'am" showed a
lack of manners on my part.  I entered into adulthood long ago, but my
father would still be surprised and displeased if I forgot to address
someone in this formal way.  And yes, we are from the south.