> > And there is that one time a waiter in another
> > restaurant called me "ma'am" even though I was
> > a good two feet shorter than he was...why do
> > people who work in restaurants have a hard time
> > telling how old I am?
>
> Don't you just call all girls and women "ma'am" as a sign of respect, much like you'd call a man "sir"? Or is that reserved for only people who refuse to turn forty?
>
> -Eric Sleator
> Tue 5 Mar A.D. 2002


No, girls and young women are usually called "miss", not "ma'am".

I don't know what the equivalent is for boy or young man; "sir" doesn't work; "master" is archaic. Maybe there isn't an equivalent; or, maybe the equivalent depends on circumstance and/or the age of the speaker--I could say "young man"--that'd work for me, since I am over 40; but would sound ridiculous coming from you, for instance. Likewise, "d00d" would work for you, but not me. And it wouldn't work for you in a waiter/customer scenario, unless you're working at the local taco hut.

koala"hey you"mom