The Human Bug Zapper

I was always told that in the old South the term "Ms." was reserved for Fallen Women.

For instance the Madame that ran the local Whorehouse in New Orleans was addressed as "Ms. Lilly" in her retirement years.

I don't think so, Gurude. My husband (Florida born and New Orleans raised) Was taught by his mother to address all female adults as "Miss ". In fact, he still calls many of these family friends by that name, even now creeping up on middle age. Male family friends are addressed likewise as "Mr. ."

It is very common here in the south, even when I worked in daycare, for children to address adults in this manner. I believe it is more a term of respect towards ones elders than a term for a Fallen Woman. Considering the nuances of "southern hospitality", respect would be given even to "Miss Lilly's" face, though knowing nods would be passed behind her back.

**Edit**
Miss (first name) and Mr. (first name)

I had thought that there was not supposed to be a period after Ms (unless it was at the end of a sentence), Miss is never abbreviated. Mrs. is the abbreviation of Mistress. Mr. is the abbreviation of Mister. Ms is not an abbreviation of anything so no period is necessary.

I was just a kid when the "Ms" thing happened. Oh, the uproar from all the folks who hated it, said "it doesn't stand for anything!" and that "fallen women" thing as well.

It does stand for something: the fact that some women would prefer not to carry a title that refers solely to their status as the property of someone else.

lol @ "property". I didn't know people still thought like that.

Somewhere there's a bra burning...