Joe90 wrote:
I always thought words like ladies and gentlemen was the most formal way to describe people. When I volunteered at a charity shop we all had to use lady/ladies and gentleman/gentlemen when referring to customers. For example when a man wanted assistance I had to say to the manager "this gentleman wants your assistance". That sounded both formal and non-offensive. Using a word like "bloke" would sound too common and informal - but still nothing to go Karen over though.
I like being called lady. It makes me feel dignified.
Of course, "ladies and gentlemen" is considered polite in the U.S., as is referring to an individual as "lady" or "gentleman". However, there's a history of men addressing "ladies" en mass and then proceeding to talk down to them or otherwise insult or mistreat them, all under the guise of etiquette because the men called them "ladies."
Personally, I'm not always fond of being called a lady because it sometimes (often?) carries an air of daintiness and fluff that makes me cringe, akin to all that pink-and-lavender "I don't sweat, I sparkle" crap.
No, buddy. I work my arse off and I DO SWEAT! I'm a woman, you see.