The first time I was called ma'am was when I was 18, by a guy about the same age, at freshman orientation. It was weird.

I get called ma'am, too, Calli. And I'm 34.

I'm pretty informal, and so is my workplace. Nobody uses Mr. or Ms. at my workplace, not even for Big Bosses.

Only nickname I ever rejected was Sarutsa, from my host sister in Moldova. Hated the sound of it. We settled on Sarchika. But then, my name doesn't shorten well.

Uggh. My tummy does not feel well. I overate Chinese at lunch and it's triggered my borderline IBS I think.

Also, I've entered the wild world of OK Cupid. Should be interesting, and at least it's free.

One of my cousins just got engaged, and she met the guy on JDate, and now my mom wants me to sign up for JDate again. At least she's saying that I should sign up after I graduate, not right now.

Yeah, I feel kind of uncomfortable if someone I'm not familiar with addresses me by name in a familiar manner.

So if it's someone you just met, what should they call you when addressing you?

"Hey"? I don't know, it seriously weirds me out when people I don't know use my name.

smonster, one declension of my name in czech is Sare, pronounced Sarjzha, which sounds remarkably like Sarge. So...yeah, that was an odd one. Also got called Stella, but I have no recollection about how that came about. Probably alcohol.

Being in the south, I got used to ma'am and miss. I'm Miss Sara to a lot of people here in B'more.

I think I forgot to say that the doctor's office called and my infection is clear. so the IV antibiotics were worth it.

However, I'm still having pains and tonight because of the location and the way the pain felt I'm thinking maybe I've got something going on with my girl parts. I dunno. I see the urologist next Tuesday and I'm going to ask him if it could be related to kidneys.

Also I'm calling my GP to get an appointment with a gynocologist so I can talk to her and maybe rule out things.

Tonight the pain was the dull roundish ache and it made me feel sick to my stomach. The whole way I felt was very pms-y, a very heavy feeling and that ache and then the queasiness. But I took some Alieve so maybe that helped it.

it seriously weirds me out when people I don't know use my name.

When do they know you? I mean, if you've been introduced, how are they supposed to know when it's okay to use the name they've been told?

I think I forgot to say that the doctor's office called and my infection is clear. so the IV antibiotics were worth it.

woo hoo!

Right now, I am hating being female.

askye, that's good about the cleared up infection. I hope you get the pain source figured out and treated soon.

Yeah, ma'am doesn't bug me at all.

When do they know you? I mean, if you've been introduced, how are they supposed to know when it's okay to use the name they've been told?

I don't know; it varies. I think it's not so much the name itself but the tone. The level of familiarity implied. I'm hesitant to use other people's names when I've just met them too.