"Honey" or "Ma'am / Sir" at the Restaurant?

Question

Which irritates you MORE when the server at the restaurant calls you by it, "Ma'am" or "Honey"?

Also, as an intriguing addition, please include in your answer what country or region of the US you are from.

Please include your age as well.

Answer 1

I get pretty pissed when they call me Ma'am!

But otherwise I don't sweat it as long as they give me good service.

There's a woman at the Quiznos, reminiscent of a young Sarah Vaughan, who calls me "Sugar" in a beautiful melifluous voice - she can do that all day if she wants.

Answer 2

Neither. Ma'am shows a sign of respect, no matter the age and Honey, shows that I am still young enough to be "HONEY"!! :o)

Answer 3

I am 26, I would MUCH rather be called Honey than anything else. I hate being called "ma'am" but I hate being called "miss" too.

Answer 4

I hate it when a watiress at a restrauant thinks they can get all chummy with me! There is a really fine line between being friendly, and too friendly! Honey is OK, but I don't want to joke around with the server! Sir and Mam is to formal.

Answer 5

I guess it all depends on your age, I am a 29 year old professional.... I sure hope the server does NOT call me honey!

Unless i know you and we are cool that waiter/waitrees or stranger better give me the respect that i deserve.

Im from Northern NJ -- Across from NYC

Answer 6

It irritates me when they use "honey". First of all if they are calling my boyfriend that then it angers me. Second if they are calling me that, I tend to worry about them....lol
Also when I hear a waitress calling everyone Honey, it sounds really superficial. They obviously do not know everyone well enough to call them thatl. Maam, or Sir are the polite words to use when you do not know a persons name. If the server knows you well enough to know your name then they should use it.

Answer 7

I'm pretty much okay with "honey" from a waitperson, although I prefer "Miss" or "ma'am."

I'm 50 and a native of Southern California.

Answer 8

There isn't any reason for a server to address as anything.

"Can I take your order", , "Thank you, I'll be right back with your coffee".

"More coffee", , YOU SAY, "thank you", server says "You're welcome"

There simply isn't any reason to address as sir, madam, or whatever.

Simple courtesy on both sides is all that is needed for a nice dining experience.

My mother would knock the sh*t out of anyone calling her honey or ma'am! lol as both are disrespectful in our book.

Answer 9

Honey because its creepy unless its a cute guy which it never is. Ma'am is out of respect.

Answer 10

I would go to eat and sometimes they would say 'honey'. Just don't call me ma'am, honey, miss, hun, or anything of that, just act normal you don't know me. Im 18 though....