You guys...

I can think of worse things to be called and don't mind being 'you guys'. I'm not, however, very keen on being called 'Madam'. It's old-fashioned and has connotations of being in charge of a brothel.

I think I've earned madam.

I'm not a guy I'm a doll .

I like the expression. Bring it on.

Have never been addressed this way, but don't think it would overly bother me.Why the need though for waiters to ask anything other than ' Is everything alright for you?'

Nobody`s ever called me a guy, but I do get sweetheart quite a lot, I know some would hate it, but I quite like it.

I hate being called a guy and have said so on here often. I ask the waiter in restaurants not to address me like that and did so recently in Jamie's Italian as for burger joints, fast food places etc where this is normal practice well I don't go in there so that's OK. The Waitrose delivery man still calls me Madam and last week it was a charming Polish girl who brought our delivery who called me Madam it sounded delightful. Its not much to ask to be addressed properly. And while we are at it I hate being asked 'you alright there?' instead of 'can I help you?'.

On principle I don't object to it, but in my gut it does make me feel uncomfortable. Even in America.

Mr Ocado calls me Madam. I like it.

Frankly guys, I couldn't give a damn..

Yes synonymous and the feeling's mutual
He is coming home for a few days next week (first time for over 3 years) and I can't wait to spoil him rotten

I don't mind the informality of it and yes it's ageless but is it inclusive??
Last time I looked I had a bit missing that stopped me being a 'guy'

I like and use peeps too.

I also greet some friends and family saying "Hello Sweetie/Gorgeous/Sunshine/Sweetpea/Poppet" and they tell me they love it because it makes them smile and feel good.

janeainsworth ratbags
DS clearly loves you to bits!

My DiL is American and addresses us as 'you guys'.
It doesn't bother me in the least.
DS addresses us as 'Ratbags'

It doesn't bother me, it's better than being ignored/invisible!

Like others have said it is a friendly greeting. Also like "peeps" informally. I hate being greeted as madam. Surely "may I help you", "good morning" and so on are fine and do not need madam stuck on the end. It's even worse when they get the script wrong and call you "sir".

Don't mind at all.

This grumpy person just hates being called a guy.

I don't have a problem with it all, my sons use it when addressing both of us, it's just a friendly and familiar term and I'm glad they feel they don't need to be formal, I wouldn't want that. There are far worse ways of addressing parents I'm sure. I don't particularly mind it coming from waiters/esses who I usually identify being a similar sort of age as my sons it's just their generation's "speak". Possibly I wouldn't expect it in a more formal setting, but I think I prefer informal anyway.

As with 'kids' I don't really take any notice let alone get upset by it. It's like most things in life it depends on context I suppose .

It is sooo much better than 'sweetie' or 'sug'!

I have no problem with it at all. It's inclusive and friendly.
This is the sort of pickiness that makes me want to use the expression get over yourself .

I don't mind it at all and, as obieone said, it is inclusive and non-ageist.
I have literally come to this thread from the one about ageist 'compliments' and the irony has made me smile. I'm beginning to think we'd all better stop using any form of address at all, either ageist or non-ageist. I wonder when people will start objecting to sir and madam

It used to be "youse guys", New york slang. Better than Y'all though.