Since when …
Do I look like a Mrs? Do I look like I ought to be married? Is that the store clerk’s way of telling me I should be married now?
I went to the grocery store. Nothing I bought said married, or married with kids. I’d bought no diapers and no beef jerky for my fictional manly-man husband and his Super Bowl party. Yet when the clerk returned my debit card and receipt to me, she thanked me, Mrs. W., and told me to have a nice day.
No offense to the marrieds here. But when did I look like I was old enough to be married?
We won’t argue that I am old enough to be married. My younger brother is married. My parents married much earlier than the age I am now.
I got over the ma’am thing. Well, maybe not accepted, but I can’t take offense to that from some high-school kid. But I don’t like that casual assumption that I’m automatically and officially attached to someone through vows and license.
Yeah, I hate it when I get ma’amed. But at least the clerk noticed your name and tried to be human. That’s something :).;
I remember doing something similiar in France. There was a woman with whom I worked. I wasn’t sure how to address her: Mademoiselle Labelle or Madame Labelle. I choose Madame because she was at least 55 if not older. She did not hesitate to correct me as she seemed really offended.
He probably didn’t know the difference between Mrs, Miss, and Ms. Most young people don’t, or don’t bother to distinguish between forms of address.
Don’t be hard on the young one.
He or she was just trying to be respectful to you, which is alot to ask for out of kids these days, it seems.
I guess…
You all have valid points.
I hate ma’am. I loved being called miss. I’ve been called Ms. but never Mrs.
Here’s a somewhat trendy solution to your problem. (Something someone in my family thought would be perfect for me. Whatever.):
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=98270&ran=122328&tref=hr
Hah hah. That ring is funny. I don’t think that’d really help, though.
I don’t mind Ms. It doesn’t presume anything than maybe I’m just not really young anymore.
You know, I actually prefer Ms. Always have. “Miss” a bit too Victorian for me.
I say ma’am regularly to 18-year-olds. No one has complained yet on their evals. Though I’m wondering now if that is one practice I should discontinue. I recall, as a young boy, not being very clear on the distinction between Ms and Mrs as well. That could be the simple answer. . .
Can’t stand Miss…don’t really mind Mrs. (course, I AM married), but I may prefer Ms. as well, at least as far as strangers are concerned. I’ve always thought there was something mysterious about Ms.