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It's bad manners to use a term of endearment with a stranger. It is especially bad manners when that person is older than you. And the excuse, "That's just the way I am with everyone" when using an inappropriate endearment with someone with whom you do not have a shared, endearing relationship is crappy, low-life excuse.
I am absolutely aghast when a young person, whom I don't know, calls me honey or sweetie or any number of other names you would use with a child.
I used to work with a man that referred to many of the women as princess.
It's bad manners to use a term of endearment with a stranger. It is especially bad manners when that person is older than you. And the excuse, "That's just the way I am with everyone" when using an inappropriate endearment with someone with whom you do not have a shared, endearing relationship is crappy, low-life excuse.
I am absolutely aghast when a young person, whom I don't know, calls me honey or sweetie or any number of other names you would use with a child.
I used to work with a man that referred to many of the women as princess.
I like it. It kind of reminds me of when I was a child and older people would say those things to me. They are showing kindness and with so much hatred in the world today, I don't understand people being offended by someone trying to be kind. That's a whole lot better than some other names they could call you.
I would think that in most cases it's certainly used to be more endearing.... certainly better than being called chief, or sport, or champ, or boss etc. etc.... lol.
I am absolutely aghast when a young person, whom I don't know, calls me honey or sweetie or any number of other names you would use with a child.
I could see how it would be inappropriate with a young person addressing an older person. I can agree with that.
I have seniority. If I call some waitress or clerk "dear", and she gets all torqued off about it, I'd reply
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were an [expletive deleted].
I am in my 60s although I don't think it necessarily matters, since the people who called me Sweetheart, Darlin, and Sweetie, called others the same thing.
My dental hygienist kept calling me Sweetheart. The drunken guy at the liquor store calls me Darlin', and the waitress at lunch today called everyone she waited on Sweetie.
It drives me nuts. Maybe its a southern thing?
Oh, Lemmee tell ya' about it!
First, understand I am a grown up man. All 69 years of me. And STILL - TO THIS DAY - I get a long look from an occasional lady. So, I ain't no yard dog. Never cheated on my wife. But I ain't no yard dog.
I worked the last 5 years of my working life as a trucker. 750,000 miles. 18 wheeler.
It started when I was about 64. The guy in line in front of me would be paying up with the cutie behind the fuel desk, and she would be saying, yessir, nosir, and thank you very much Sir".
Then I would step up and she would smile at me and say, "Hi, Sweetie"!
Maybe I should feel flattered that young ladies feel that comfortable around me. Maybe I should feel horrified that young ladies feel that comfortable around me. I don't know what I feel.
It happens in the South a lot. But it happens other places, too.
"you know that's right"....wait...what? Turns out you say it back and laugh
Men always holding the door for a woman (although that has gotten less over the years)
A general mass agreeing that you don't know what you are agreeing to
"how you doin'" and not waiting for the answer.
I honestly have no idea what you're talking about with any of these except the men opening the door for women (sadly on the demise, I might add, but thankfully my husband still loves to do it!). I'm not trying to be argumentative but the first one must be age related somehow (never heard it spoken by anyone in real life anywhere that I can recall), the mass agreeing thing just sounds weird (most adults I know are pretty outspoken about their own opinions), and the "How you doin'?" thing sounds northeastern to me. I've heard people ask "How's it goin'?" or "Hey, what's up?" as a type of greeting though.
I'm not saying you haven't heard these things - I'm sure I've probably heard them in passing a few times over the years, but I've lived in the south for about 40 years and I haven't heard these commonly. I don't think these are so much a "southern" thing as just some thing that some people say randomly.
If I call some waitress or clerk "dear", and she gets all torqued off about it, I'd reply
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were an [expletive deleted].
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