Quote Originally Posted by Al G. Sporrano
The biggest pile of abuse I've ever suffered personally as a bus driver came from a well-dressed business woman in her 40's. She was concerned about something, and I happened to call her "ma'am". (I use "sir" or "Ma'am" to address ALL my passengers.) Well, you'd think I'd called her the devil!! The abuse that spilled from that woman's mouth would make a biker blush! I could not believe what I was hearing. All because I had the audacity to be polite to her.
Well, then perhaps you WERE mistaken calling her, "Ma'am," because the appearance or inference of her being a lady had nothing to do with her true character. At least, had I been in the same situation, would I have let her know, in no uncertain terms.

Gentlemen (and ladies), the examples cited here have basically to do with one thing. Self-absorption and self-importance taking dominance over self-respect. For if one doesn't have self-respect, then how in blazes can one possess a capacity for respect for others? Otherwise, it would seem one is living a contradiction in such terms. . .