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# Haha!
Ning all. Question for the ladies (and blokes I suppose) - would you object to being called 'madam' by somebody who doesn't know you, if they were providing a commercial service? I've just had a right telling off for calling someone 'madam' - apart from calling people mrs or woman from now on, I'm stumped.

Any suggestions?
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:30, archived)
# good point
when I had a bar job, blokes were generally 'Sir', but I had no idea how to address women
(I helped save b3ta! Milkman Dan, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:31, archived)
# I was always told (bearing in mind I actually have qualifications in customer service, I've spent 4 years all in all learning my trade)
That madam is the most polite term, under ma'am which is more dignitaries and royalty (which is weird, being the shortened or colloquialisation of 'madam').

(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:33, archived)
# Nothing wrong with it i think
Why did they take offence?
(I helped save b3ta! cooler_king That's no moon!, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:34, archived)
# Your guess is as good as mine.
Oh well, nevermind. Hopefully if she does contact us back she'll get through to another one of us who she prefers.
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:37, archived)
# Oh well
I wouldn't worry about it. She sounds like she was having a bad day.
(I helped save b3ta! cooler_king That's no moon!, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:38, archived)
# she was probably angry about something else
or very very simple minded
(I helped save b3ta! Prof UnderCover evitable, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:40, archived)
# Who did you get told off by?
When I did work like that I always called the women madam.
(I helped save b3ta! Afinkawan Yes I can hear you Clem Fandango, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:35, archived)
# a client.
I couldn't let her change something as it'd have been contravening legislation. It's stupid legislation, to be fair, and I'd love it if I could have allowed it as it'd make my job a billion times easier. I really felt for her as well, totally understood what she wanted to do and why.

I was a little bit hurt, to be honest.
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:36, archived)
# Well if she's stupid enough to get annoyed at being called 'madam'
you might as well just sit back and enjoy the fact you annoy her when you call her madam.
(I helped save b3ta! Afinkawan Yes I can hear you Clem Fandango, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:41, archived)
# she was just in a shitty because you couldn't help her and thats all she could come up with!
(I helped save b3ta! ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:43, archived)
# Prob'ly right.
Next time call her 'madman' but try to make it sound like 'madam' in case anyone overhears.
(I helped save b3ta! Afinkawan Yes I can hear you Clem Fandango, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:47, archived)
# It sounds like she just wanted to vent her frustration
she wouldn't have got anywhere with the legislation, so she picked on something irrelevant. I had a girlfriend who made an art of this sort of thing.

Edit: Maybe it was her, was she called Wendy?
(I helped save b3ta! fuscous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:47, archived)
# no - that seems the polite phrase to me
(I helped save b3ta! Griffin Saver Something, something, 2006, something., Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:32, archived)
# unless they're obviously married
I find "Miss" goes down quite well

...
(0800221155 Coldseal windows, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:32, archived)
# Twas a mrs.
And I wouldn't get away with miss, it'd be seen as disrespectful I'm afraid (weird, innit?)
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:34, archived)
# Saying "mrs" doesn't really work, does it?
Hmm.

Try "M'lady", then insist you're not taking the piss.
(0800221155 Coldseal windows, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:35, archived)
# this^
I stuck to miss and sir

Except I've been called sir on occasion and it does make you feel a bit dated
(I helped save b3ta! AutoPrawn is glad we're living in the future now, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:34, archived)
# which miss is this?
*takes notes*
(I helped save b3ta! Aphex The Mink Snackless, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:34, archived)
# that's for me to know!
(0800221155 Coldseal windows, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:36, archived)
# Just stick to the good ol' maaaa'aaaaam
Bottom stylee
(I helped save b3ta! mediocre ha ha ha, you're reading this, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:32, archived)
# I'd not like it
It'd make me feel old, or that they were being sarcastic or something.
But I'd not kick off about it.

I call everyone, male and female, 'babe'. They all hate me.
(I helped save b3ta! Debbilgrrrrl is kinda back, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:32, archived)
# you don't call me babe!
(I helped save b3ta! ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:33, archived)
# or me
i can't say what she calls me, it's far too rude =D
(I helped save b3ta! Aphex The Mink Snackless, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:35, archived)
# o_O
(I helped save b3ta! ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:37, archived)
# Yeah but this is the internets
I'm not actually talking, you know.

And Aphex is a very naughty boy.
(I helped save b3ta! Debbilgrrrrl is kinda back, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:40, archived)
# i'm naughty!!
*knocks vase over*
see!
(I helped save b3ta! ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:41, archived)
# attention
seeking


nonesense!

/black books
(I helped save b3ta! Prof UnderCover evitable, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:46, archived)
# Ah what the hell
*spanks you too*
(I helped save b3ta! Debbilgrrrrl is kinda back, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:50, archived)
# *spanks*
(I helped save b3ta! Debbilgrrrrl is kinda back, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:49, archived)
# ohh!!
harder!
(I helped save b3ta! ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:50, archived)
# ohhh!
so it is!

O_O
(I helped save b3ta! Debbilgrrrrl is kinda back, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:53, archived)
# *GRIN*
(I helped save b3ta! Aphex The Mink Snackless, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:42, archived)
# So what would you prefer?
And if I called a client babe at work I'd get the sack.
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:35, archived)
# I don't really know
I tend not to address people as anything in a professional capacity if I can avoid it.

I would have thought madam was the correct word, if any.
(I helped save b3ta! Debbilgrrrrl is kinda back, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:38, archived)
# when patients or reletives want to talk to me,
it's sir or madam.
thats polite.
(I helped save b3ta! ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:32, archived)
# was it the way you said it?
did you call her a little madam?

try using miss or ms
or failing that cunty chops
=D
(I helped save b3ta! Aphex The Mink Snackless, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:34, archived)
# She was a mrs, and that'd just be silly to call her that.
And no, just madam, no inflection or extra words.

I'm mystified.
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:35, archived)
# if you knew her name you could have called her that
mrs cuntychops for example
(I helped save b3ta! Aphex The Mink Snackless, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:36, archived)
# Well, I think she should get over it
(I helped save b3ta! mediocre ha ha ha, you're reading this, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:38, archived)
# there you are!!
i checked b3ta at home yesterday and i saw your gaz!!
i am not a filthy liar!
yes i can gaz but theres no point because i can't see replies at work!!
(I helped save b3ta! ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:35, archived)
# eh?
what?
filthy liar?

did i call you a filthy liar?

so you can send gaz's at work but you can't receive them?
(I helped save b3ta! Aphex The Mink Snackless, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:38, archived)
# yep
(I helped save b3ta! ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:39, archived)
# you address letters to sir/madam
they shouldn't be able to pull you up for it:

wiki knows all:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madam
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:34, archived)
# God bless wiki.
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:44, archived)
# and all who sail in her!
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:45, archived)
# naw, call em madam
or Mrs/Ms Somebody

various elderly relatives of mine are always complaining that people ring em up and use their first name

is a bit weird to be told off for calling someone 'madam' and not be told what you *should* call them

edit: was it this woman who told you off, or your boss?
(I helped save b3ta! Mighty Nibus who dares gins | @nibus, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:36, archived)
# The lady.
Oooh, I'd never call someone by their first name, that'd be professional death for me.
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:43, archived)
# Was it madam or madame?
It makes a world of difference you know...
(I helped save b3ta! Sonic James Doom forgetting the date since... umm..., Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:36, archived)
# I'm not saying 'madahhhme'
That sounds silly to me.

I believe the phrase was somewhere along the lines of 'I really do apologise for that madam but...'
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:40, archived)
# "...I'm going to have to come round and beat you to a pulp with this oversize shoe covered in dogshit"
?
(I helped save b3ta! Mighty Nibus who dares gins | @nibus, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:42, archived)
# Next time tell her to get fucked.
See how that goes down...
(I helped save b3ta! Sonic James Doom forgetting the date since... umm..., Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:44, archived)
# Are you going to pay my mortgage?!
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:44, archived)
# Errr...
would you like me to pay your mortgage?

Actually, don't answer that...
(I helped save b3ta! Sonic James Doom forgetting the date since... umm..., Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:51, archived)
# Fuck 'em
It's like people who get upset if you call them mate & say "I'm not your mate".
Fuck off & grow up.

/rant
(I helped save b3ta! ERG1008 is climbing in yo windows & snatchin yo people up, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:37, archived)
# sorry mate
(I helped save b3ta! Mighty Nibus who dares gins | @nibus, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:38, archived)
# I'm not your...
Oh!






bugger
(I helped save b3ta! ERG1008 is climbing in yo windows & snatchin yo people up, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:40, archived)
# Chill, babe!
;)
(I helped save b3ta! Debbilgrrrrl is kinda back, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:42, archived)
# Thanks Debs.
I think it's all this rain that's affecting my cycle.
(I helped save b3ta! ERG1008 is climbing in yo windows & snatchin yo people up, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:46, archived)
# I honestly can't see anything wrong with that at all. What else are you supposed to call her, exactly?
If you know her surname then go for that, but if not....blimey, its not worth a bollocking.
(I helped save b3ta! SugarSpunSister Yeah, whatever, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:37, archived)
# Pfft
customer service agents have always been hated, it doesn't matter what they do.

People have to be careful now though, it's technically illegal to have a go at us for no reason (or so I've been informed).

Problem is I'm fucking shit hot at my job (not blowing my own kazoo, everyone's got to be good at something) and people never seem to appreciate that.
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:46, archived)
# Such is customer service I guess
Its one of those jobs that take a lot more than people think. Patience, for one.

*hugs*
(I helped save b3ta! SugarSpunSister Yeah, whatever, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 10:48, archived)
# *hugs*
Cheers! It's nice to be appreciated.
(I helped save b3ta! Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Thu 14 Jun 2007, 11:01, archived)