Don’t Call Me Maam

[Major Crimes]

Not in the spirit of the OP but I still laugh about this one.

 

An Armd Corps CAPT in my Unit had an unusually high voice for a guy (I never asked but may have been a childhood accident/affliction). It got to the stage he would answer the phone with "CAPT xxxxxxx, and dont call me Ma'am!"

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

5 hours ago, Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 said:

Anything to stay out of HR is good.  I was called in once because of a phrase I used.  At the time, we bought the cheapest low grade steel at work, unless higher graded steel is required.  The cheap stuff was giving horrific mixed results and I made reference to buying steel that was "stamped out by slave children in a third world country"... which was pretty much an accurate description of this discount steel they found.  I was never told for certain who complained... or if it was the "slave children" comment or the "third world country" comment.  In any event, I was told to be careful about what I said and who I said it around.  I smiled, gave the HR lady a "yes ma'am" and went back to work.  

 

Reminded me of a time I got called  on the carpet....

 

A colleague and I were discussing a problem with his computer (IBM XT, as I recall).  He said that one of the hard drives had failed; knowing that his particular machine had two drives, I naturally asked, "which drive, Chris?  The master or slave?"

 

Evidently someone walking through heard my perfectly correct query, was instantly offended, and "reported" me.

 

I was called in and instructed to apologize.  Uh... no.  Perhaps it would be more appropriate for the "offended party" to learn something about computer component nomenclature.  

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

 

Reminded me of a time I got called  on the carpet....

 

A colleague and I were discussing a problem with his computer (IBM XT, as I recall).  He said that one of the hard drives had failed; knowing that his particular machine had two drives, I naturally asked, "which drive, Chris?  The master or slave?"

 

Evidently someone walking through heard my perfectly correct query, was instantly offended, and "reported" me.

I can't tell you the number of times something like that has happened to me. Usually the "offended" party's boss would call my boss and when I explained what had REALLY happened, that was the end of it. 

However, one time at a high dollar customer, (remember the Biosphere 2 in Oracle Arizona?), it got a little more interesting. I was delivering compressed gas cylinders to them. Now the warehouse guy and I had gotten to know each other fairly well and were always busting each other's chops about one thing or another. 

So he had been out delivering stuff to where it needed to be when I got there, so I unloaded my delivery without him there. Just as I was finishing up the paperwork he comes walking in. 

"Oh there you are, "I said to him. "Now that I'm done you show up." We laughed about it and I thought no more of it. 

Well when I got back to the shop I was IMMEDIATELY called into the Bosses office, where he DEMANDED to know why I was bitching out a customer of HIS bosses SON?!?! (The salesman, a really decent guy, was the son of one of the companies owners). 

I said "What are you talking about?" , and he proceeded to tell me that somebody at the Biosphere had called the salesman direct and told him that I was YELLING at their warehouse guy. The salesman, of course, wanted answers and if he didn't LIKE the answers he wanted a piece of my butt. When I told my boss what really happened he cooled off and he told the salesman and HE cooled off. But now I was miffed. The next week when I was back at the Biosphere I asked the Warehouse guy what the deal was. HE didn't know anything about it. He asked around but nobody ever fessed up to being a little... pansy. The Warehouse guy immediately called the salesman and straightened the whole thing out. 

Then there was the time a guy at Raytheon, (yes, THAT Raytheon), accused me of trying to run him over with my truck, but that's a story for another time.

Edited September 12 by Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770

[watab kid]

truth in reporting is essential to rebuilding the faith in our press- it is severly lacking these days aned reporters need to make an efoty to fix that befoe the regain my trust 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

12 minutes ago, watab kid said:

truth in reporting is essential to rebuilding the faith in our press- it is severly lacking these days aned reporters need to make an efoty to fix that befoe the regain my trust 

Reporters don't WANT to tell us what the truth is, they want to tell you what THEIR truth is. And as long as they think that they can sway the way the sheeple feel, not think, they're fine with that.

[Rye Miles #13621]

I never use M’am and I only use Sir if it’s a veteran and I thank him for his service!🇺🇸

[John Kloehr]

Had forgotten until now, a company I worked at had two eMail machines. When originally set up, they were named male and female (or was it mail and femail maybe?). To this day, I still see it as mildly humorous, and even useful, and not offensive.

 

The only way to even see this was to look at DNS MX records or to look at full headers of an email which went through one of them. At some point, someone complained. This means they had to look deeper to even see the actual machine name. The machines got renamed something boring like mail1 and mail2.

[Chantry]

I use Sir or Ma'am as an expression of deep respect or deep contempt depending on the person or situation, aside from law enforcement which is either officer, sir or ma'am.

 

I don't like being called sir, it makes me feel old and vaguely insulted.

 

 

[Rip Snorter]

20 hours ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

 

Reminded me of a time I got called  on the carpet....

 

A colleague and I were discussing a problem with his computer (IBM XT, as I recall).  He said that one of the hard drives had failed; knowing that his particular machine had two drives, I naturally asked, "which drive, Chris?  The master or slave?"

 

Evidently someone walking through heard my perfectly correct query, was instantly offended, and "reported" me.

 

I was called in and instructed to apologize.  Uh... no.  Perhaps it would be more appropriate for the "offended party" to learn something about computer component nomenclature.  

My first computer was a "blown" XT.  My wife brought it from work, put it on a corner of my very large home office desk saying she would sometimes work from home, and if I could figure it out, I could certainly use it.  A total career transformation, since it was just at the leading edge of the large corporation I worked for for decades going to computers in general use.  I can't imagine where I / we would be today without it.  A path to success.  Funny, I can recall setting things up with Lotus, pulling the trigger and going to lunch.  Results on return.  A different time, for sure!

[watab kid]

19 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Reporters don't WANT to tell us what the truth is, they want to tell you what THEIR truth is. And as long as they think that they can sway the way the sheeple feel, not think, they're fine with that.

that does seem to be the case - ill admit they have been that way a long time now , back in my earlier life they had a bit more scruples , would be nice if there was a journalism school that taught ethics in reporting , but then that wouldnt further the agenda the schools instructors have these days , 

they got used to being able to affect elections in the past - started thinking they were gift to the american public and on podium they could not be toppled from , i think they are still reeling with this recent rejection - not sure they have accepted it yet , 

 

i was hoping the past couple years might open some eyes and encourage some ethics at least in the younger ones , but i suspect your right in your assessment 

[Texas Joker]

You assume journalism is about giving you the facts.

 

These days and for quite a while it's about selling stories/papers. The more clicks and shares the more $$$.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

52 minutes ago, Texas Joker said:

You assume journalism is about giving you the facts.

 

These days and for quite a while it's about selling stories/papers. The more clicks and shares the more $$$.

You're half right. It's also about giving you the "facts" that they want you to have, and to tell you what to think about it. Or rather how to FEEL about it, thereby promoting the narrative.

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 hour ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

You're half right. It's also about giving you the "facts" that they want you to have, and to tell you what to think about it. Or rather how to FEEL about it, thereby promoting the narrative.

You have to filter through the opinions and digest the actual news. It’s tricky but it also depends on how much you trust a certain news source. Works for me because like to know what’s going on in the world! 

[Dusty Boots]

Do what you the is right, respectful and kind and don’t worry about how it’s received.  

[watab kid]

On 9/11/2025 at 6:47 PM, Texas Joker said:

Don't call me sir I work for a living is my gut response.

 

I was raised and taught to give everyone respect. I use Sir Ma'am and Lady as honorific 

me too , but i guess some folks dont want it these days , 

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

On 9/11/2025 at 10:57 PM, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Reporters don't WANT to tell us what the truth is, they want to tell you what THEIR truth is. And as long as they think that they can sway the way the sheeple feel, not think, they're fine with that.

 

True. But they can only do that  as part of a coordinated effort with their bosses who have the same agenda. If it's something that doesn't fit that it won't be allowed. 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

44 minutes ago, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said:

True. But they can only do that  as part of a coordinated effort with their bosses who have the same agenda. If it's something that doesn't fit that it won't be allowed. 

It IS a coordinated effort. Their bosses think the same way they do. They all have the same agenda. Heck, half of them are MARRIED to dumocrat congresscritters.

[Sixgun Seamus]

Call me anything, just don't call me late for dinner. 

[Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme]

My last few years of working, whenever this kinda stuff came up, I'd just say "It's not my job to tiptoe around your triggers. Tell me how you want to be politely addressed and we'll see what we can work out"