"Baby, Honey, Darling, Sweetie" (boyfriend, man, love, pickup)

[TheBeagleLady]

I have a hard time calling a man anything other than his name, even if we're dating. It annoys the crap out of me when I hear women squealing "Baybeeeeeeeeeeee......." to their men (I am not proud of this reference, but think Kendra on E!).

My ex used to call me "hon" and I kind of liked it, but anything more than that would have been too much.

Terms of endearment just aren't me, except when it comes to my dogs. LOL

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by MrSykes

When men are addressed by women with these terms, it's folksy and endearing.

When women are addressed by men with these terms, it's patronizing and condescending.

Why is that?

I don't know that it is. I use those terms on occasion to women other than my wife and some of those women use them to me./ These are women I've known for years, of whom I'm fond and who are fond of me. My wife is not threatened by this, nor are their SOs. We're friends and that's all.

[keeperk]

I dumped a really hot guy because he started calling me "Sweetness".

I probably could have dealt with Sweety!

[MrSykes]

Originally Posted by max's mama

Hmmm, my dh calls me baby, honey...all the time. I never found it patronizing or condescending.

I'm not talking about the men in your life. More like the mechanic at the service station, or a co-worker perhaps.

[max's mama]

Originally Posted by MrSykes

I'm not talking about the men in your life. More like the mechanic at the service station, or a co-worker perhaps.

Oh... I don't know, never really bothered me...I don't even notice half of the time, my head is in the clouds... But I can see how it can feel patronizing.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by max's mama

But sweety, I thought that we were on a different level honey?

Me, too!

Originally Posted by seeniorita

LOL........funny MM......funny! I'll make an exception in your case, darlin'!

How about me, sweets?

[seeniorita]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Me, too!



How about me, sweets?

Can't forget about you my little sweetiekins, honey bee...lol! We'd better be careful, Jays might get jealous if he sees this.

[max's mama]

Originally Posted by seeniorita

Can't forget about you my little sweetiekins, honey bee...lol! We'd better be careful, Jays might get jealous if he sees this.

Yes, and Antlered too.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by seeniorita

Can't forget about you my little sweetiekins, honey bee...lol!

Oh, good, daaahlin'!

We'd better be careful, Jays might get jealous if he sees this.

No worries. He seems to be busy with some Zs, and I don't mean Z as in zzzzzzzzz....

[CESpeed]

If we're strictly talking about non-relationship, "baby, honey, darlin'" it's unprofessional and shoud never be used unless it's a older person (grandparent age) or you are addressing a child (under 10).