Post #1595332

@dazzlepansy @zeborah @considermycat I haven't been eating out much for years, but as I recall, they usually just say "hello" or "good evening" without ma'am or sir, probably because they're addressing us as a group of people, not me as an individual. That's followed by something like "Are you ready to order?" But even the last time I went to a restaurant by myself they didn't say ma'am. But maybe you go to fancier restaurants than I do. :) And in places like stores it's usually just, "Hello, can I help you?" Maybe if a customer is upset or being difficult, the employee will call them sir or ma'am to keep them calm. ;) Really about the only time I hear it used routinely would be when someone is trying to get someone's attention, as in, "Sir?" or "Excuse me, Ma'am?" So kind of like as a name when the person's name in unknown. I'm sure it was used much more in the past, of course, and in the way you describe with the class distinctions. I can only speak for my personal experience in my time and place. I'm sure rich people hear it a lot more than regular people like me do.