Females, women, girls of all ages: ma'am or miss?

I don't think I have ever heard anyone use "ma'am," and I have only heard "miss" used in a condescending way. I don't think that I would be offended by either of those titles, just a bit surprised.

 

Either one is fine

 

Miss is okay, ma'am would be okay too, but I guess I'd be like "huh?" ^.^

 

I would be uncomfortable being identified as a Female, but if they don't know me I am all right with "Miss", ma'am just feel too informal to me. Once I have meet you and talked to you, I would tell you my name and would want you to refer to me by that.

 

Considering that the pick up artist community has ruined the connotation of the word...I get a knee jerk reflex of disgust when being called that (except when an old person call me miss/ young miss- feels suited for them). However, I do enjoy being called so, possibly because its a positive confirmation that I am female.

 

I don't really care. It doesn't bother me at all and I actually liked being called miss or ma'am.

 

Let's see, Alamo...do you prefer to be called m'lord or master?

 

"Miss" would be okay depending on who is calling me that. If it's an adult or a friend then yeah that would be weird. I don't really like "ma'am" at all.

 

Miss is how I want to be called or you can call me 'boyfriend's' girlfriend.

<-----me and my boyfriend.

 

I prefer ma'am for myself, really. It's better than being called "Little Lady" or "Young Lady". I LOATHE that.

 

I use "miss" for teachers (that I know are okay with it, as we have one teacher at our school who hates being called "miss) and "ma'am" for older women. I don't use such titles for any other women.

 

I don't mind being called a Miss but a ma'am? no, it makes me feel old when people do that...

 

I do not really mind as long as you are polite and respectful.

 

Eh, I'm a young woman, and I don't mind "ma'am." I don't much care for "miss," because I think it's unnecessary.

Honestly, I never "ma'am" or "sir" anyone. I live in the Mid-Atlantic region; maybe that has something to do with it?

 

I don't like being referred to as Ma'am or miss. I prefer people to use my name.

 

I live in the South, and I work at a diner, and I'm pre-T. I regularly hear ma'am, miss, darlin', honey, young lady, sugar-plum... Ok, a little exaggerated, but I definitely hear a lot of ma'am's and miss's. I would, of course, prefer to be called sir.
I use a lot of ma'am's when referring to women in general unless they seem to be college age or younger and then I refer to them as you guys. :lol:

 

I had always assumed that the male equivalent was "sir."