Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you. We’ve all heard this countless times growing up and it’s true. Words cannot hurt you, but I know one contraction that can sure ruin your day- Ma’am.
According to Barbara Ann Kipfer author of “Word Nerd”, the most persuasive words in the English language are: discover, easy, guarantee, health and results. I don’t understand how Ma’am didn’t make this list.
I can only imagine the countless number of women who ran to their nearest department store and stocked up on every make-up, moisturizer, and hair conditioner after being Ma’amed for the first time. I’d bet the word ma’am is responsible for at least a few million of the billions the beauty industry pulls in yearly.
To witness a woman’s first Ma’aming can be a very interesting thing. You have to pay close attention to catch it. I call it the silence of the Ma’ams. A cashier hands the woman her change along with a friendly, innocent “thank you Ma’am”. The woman pauses. She doesn’t respond. She just stands there for a second, dazed, before slowly walking to her car to check her reflection in the review mirror. Onlookers may have simply thought she was distracted. But I know that she has just been Ma’amed for the first time.
I know the look well. I had the same lost look on my face, standing at the counter of a 7eleven not too long ago. Walked in a Miss came out with a coke and a Ma’am. But what could I say to clerk staring innocently at me? You welcome Sir? Doesn’t really equate, now does it? So I said the only thing I could say…”yeh whatever.”
