"Young lady"

[RevoltingPeasant]

AIBU to find this an incredibly patronising and irritating term of address?

Today I was walking through the door of Sainsbury's and some bloke flogging their utilities package tried to flag me down with 'Young lady, are you interested in....?'

The young lady wasn't interested

I have also had this from senior colleagues and a medic recently. I am 32 for fuck's sake and neither 'young' nor a 'lady'. To me, 'young lady' is what my grandmother used to say when I was about 8 and misbehaving.

Whatever happened to 'madam' or even just Revolting? Grrr.

[Sarcalogos]

Yanbu 'young lady' shouldn't be used in anyone over about ten... (same goes for 'young man')

[picnicbasketcase]

YANBU, it is patronising but I'd probably be a tiny bit flattered. I was asked if I was over 18 in a shop the other day (I'm 32) and I went all blushy. Pathetic

[squeakytoy]

gawd, I wish someone would say that to me.... I hate being called Madam, it makes me feel ancient.

[WorraLiberty]

Madam sounds so pretentious, I can't stand it.

[manicbmc]

If a bloke calls you 'young lady', just respond by calling them 'old man'.

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

YANBU.

I've dealt with it a lot lately from head office and from managers from other stores.

Yes, I do look young but being spoken to like I'm a child really grates on me. I am an adult.

[McFluffster]

Manic

[OldGreyWiffleTest]

If they call you Mrs and you're not - they are wrong. If they call you Miss and you're not - they are wrong. If they call you Madam - they are wrong.

If we all wore name badges them they might just get it right.

Whatever they do they will offend someone it seems!

[RevoltingPeasant]

manic I did consider responding with 'No thanks, elderly gent' but last time but one it was a surgeon who was about to cut me open, so I controlled myself just

worra & squeaky I used to hate 'madam' as well but having lived in France for a couple of years and been called 'Madame' as a matter of course it grates less now. Still prefer it to 'young lady' as at least it gives some sense of respect/ maturity!

[manicbmc]

I don't actually mind being called 'young lady' but then I am old. Dp calls me it and he is younger than me.

[bumperella]

OOh, never OK at work, acceptable only in a "sit down this INSTANT young lady" kind of way.

[NagooBunnytail]

'scuse me missus'

I can't think how they could address me and not piss me off TBH

[RevoltingPeasant]

nagoo - 'Yo bitch'?

[manicbmc]

'sir'?

[OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere]

YANBU
I know that YANBU because I only ever use the term young lady or young man if I am deliberatly trying to piss someone off

[OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere]

No thanks elderly gent

Ha ha ha ha

[CrystalMaize]

I'd love to be called "young lady"! Take it as flattery

[CroissantNeuf]

YABU.

The (little,old) polite gentleman in our Waitrose parking hut always says "Thank you young lady" when you hand him your ticket on the way out and it always makes me smile.

Being 45 I have to get my kicks where I can .

[neolara]

If someone called me "Young Lady" I'd be completely thrilled. Mind you, I'm pretty ancient and don't get compliments that often.

[OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere]

If someone called me young lady I would looking over my shoulder to see who they were talking to

[RevoltingPeasant]

Hmm little old polite gentlemen are different and kind of sweet. But actually I do consider it quite rude, in a 'let me treat you to some cheap flattery and you'll buy my crappy overpriced broadband' kind of a way.

[RevoltingPeasant]

Mrs D - would you say 'Do you mean ME, sir?' in a fake-astounded way?

[OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere]

I would be genuinely astounded

[blobtobetter]

I like it - I am sort of young and endeavour to be ladylike!