"Thank you, Mrs. Stephens."
So said the checkout boy (really, he didn't look like he could be over 18) at Safeway tonight.
Usually, I let it slide.
Tonight, I was not in the mood.
"Mizzzzz Stephens," I said pointedly.
"Oh, uh, sorry."
~
I really don't know which I hate more, being called "Mrs." or being called "Ma'am."
8 Comments:
Help me here, Patia -- was he *supposed* to know that you're a Miz, vice a Missus?
My opinion: I hate the whole Miss/Missus concept -- shouldn't we be WAY past that in the year 2006? Men should be "mister" and women should be "missus," in my mind.
I hate the whole Miss/Missus concept -- shouldn't we be WAY past that in the year 2006?
Well, yes, but ...
Miss = unmarried woman
Mrs. = married woman
Ms. = any woman, regardless of marital status
The thing is, even if I had a ring on my finger, Checkout Boy had no way of knowing whether Stephens was my maiden (ugh) name or my husband's name.
When someone calls me "Mrs." or "Ma'am," I feel as though they are passing judgment -- basically, that I look old.
Frankly, I don't think terms of "respect" are necessary at all. Just say "Thank you." That's enough.
My experience is that when they card the person in front of you buying beer, but let you thru without checking your age, then you feel old ;-)
FWIW, I use "Ms." whenever I address my (presumably unmarried) female students by last name. "Miss" seems too "familiar."
(I've lately been reading 19th century English novels. Back then the "titles of respect" were even more complicated.)
There is absolutely nothing... NOTHING worse than ma'am... Anyone who calls me ma'am gets a size five doc marten in their, well, you know.
Mike: You're a pretty smart guy, aren't you?
Courtney: Size five? That's so cute! (Ducking! Running!)
Sorry, couldn't resist. (Says she of the size 10 feet.)
Half-smart anyway. I just celebrated 41 years of accumulated "wisdom" - and can feel the years creeping up.
(I can still intimidate Checkout Boy with my size 14 boots, at least ;-)
this is hilarious...
I hate ma'am too.
It always makes me feel older than I am.
I always laugh when they refer to me as Misses blank...
Okay Patia, Misses when you are not married???? You didn't even have another name on the check ....
What about customers who use my name tag name quite familiarly like they know me? (I am a check out girl at a store) Why does that bother me? They know my name I don't know theirs....
I don't like Miss, Mz. or Misses...ma'am, or ....but what I find quite interesting in a way that check out people can multi-task to the extent they can be on a cell phone with a personal call and handle your entire sale without saying anything to you at all! No Miss, Mz, Misses, Ma'am, no have a nice day...
Note also that being in the military, I am quite accustomed to using "Sir" and "Ma'am" in everyday speech.
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