Does anyone else get annoyed at people calling you "Honey" or "Babe"

[Christopher Robin]

To those that were called Hun, we're you assuming they we using an abbreviated form of Honey, and not comparing you to the nomadic barbarians of the Asian steppe?

j/k

 

[NY Disney fan]

Or maybe they think they're being nice?

Niceness aside, its still not professional (in the taco bell situation).

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

I don't have a problem with it. It happens in my area all the time. But we're just your run of the mill country folks.

Here, it goes both ways. It's not just the clerk saying it. Here, the customer is just as likely to say, "Can I get BBQ sauce with that, Hon?" or "Hey, hon, you forgot the napkins."

 

[Abbie]

Customer Service professionals ARE in a position of power which is why they THINK they can say to a customer. Whether it is intentional or not, there is an element of looking one's nose down when addressing a customer in this manner.

See, I think this might be a regional thing. It's pretty common here and I'm sure it's not meant in a condescending way at all.

OP, I don't know what part of MD you are in but try getting through a meal anywhere near the city and NOT be called "hon"! Baltimore is kind of known for being Hon City. Do you remember awhile back when someone kept defacing the "Welcome to Baltimore" sign by adding "Hon" to the end of it? I think the powers that be finally gave up and let it stay.

For me, hon and sweetie are ok, especially if done by an older lady (don't think I've ever heard a man do that) but you better not call me babe!

 

[freckles and boo]

To those that were called Hun, we're you assuming they we using an abbreviated form of Honey, and not comparing you to the nomadic barbarians of the Asian steppe?

j/k

I suppose that depends upon which Taco Bell you frequent.

 

[WaltD4Me]

There is a woman I work with who calls practically everyone "honey." I think it's annoying, but I also realize she doesn't even know she's doing it, it's like an automatic thing. She called me honey once and I asked her not to and I could tell she didn't even realize that she'd said it.

 

[EMom]

I think it's very common in the South for older ladies to call people Honey. If they know you, you may even get a Baby or Sugar. For that matter, I catch myself using "honey" with DD8's little friends. Now if a man leered at me when he said it, that would be another matter. Unless it was Johnny Depp, Colin Firth, George Clooney, etc.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

I don't particularly like it, but I'd rather be called Honey than Maam.

Yeah, maam and Mrs. Lastname are my husband's mom.

 

[luvnmy2bys]

Having grown up in the south and living in Texas now, I will admit to calling people Honey, Sweetie, Sugar, And Baby (hanging my head in shame).
I am sorry if people find in offensive. I mean nothing derogatory by it. I guess I will try to limit it to family only. I am a nurse and all my patients are subjected to being called these names. As in " move right over here, honey".
Chris

 

[Dolce27]

Count me in as another one who's completely is annoyed by it. I feel that it's totally condescending when a stranger refers to me as 'honey' or 'sweetie'. However, I don't get worked up if it's an old person. It's usually the early 20-something servers at restaurants that do this to me a lot and by the end of the meal I'm to the point of not wanting to leave a tip due to my annoyance at them. (Don't worry, I do leave a tip.. but the thought’s there to not.)

It is very disrespectful to refer to someone that you don’t even know in those terms. Normally, those terms are reserved for a significant other (which I don’t have a problem with if a boyfriend was to call me ‘honey’ or ‘sweetie’) or those terms are often used when speaking to children. So, if a stranger begins to refer to me as ‘honey’ then I feel that they are talking down to me as a child and as an adult, that’s disrespectful.

 

[shortbun]

My friends can call me honey or sweetie all they want. Strangers cross boundaries when they do it and I do not like people using familiar terms with me. It strikes me as very impolite.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I'll take this as a compliment to my hot mama-ness....but if one more guy leers at me, I'm gonna punch them in the face.

It just happened to me 5 minutes ago. Hello? I'm out taking my kids for a WALK, not trying to pick up a guy on the side of the road.

And I'm wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.

Sheesh.

I feel better now.

And for the record, if its an older gentleman, they are of a different era, so if they call me a "pet name" then fine...bit if its someone younger than 70, not okay.

 

[krcit]

I'll take this as a compliment to my hot mama-ness....but if one more guy leers at me, I'm gonna punch them in the face.

It just happened to me 5 minutes ago. Hello? I'm out taking my kids for a WALK, not trying to pick up a guy on the side of the road.

And I'm wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.

Sheesh.

I feel better now.

And for the record, if its an older gentleman, they are of a different era, so if they call me a "pet name" then fine...bit if its someone younger than 70, not okay.

That used to annoy me too...........until it stopped happening

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I'll take this as a compliment to my hot mama-ness....but if one more guy leers at me, I'm gonna punch them in the face.

It just happened to me 5 minutes ago. Hello? I'm out taking my kids for a WALK, not trying to pick up a guy on the side of the road.

And I'm wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.

Sheesh.

I feel better now.

And for the record, if its an older gentleman, they are of a different era, so if they call me a "pet name" then fine...bit if its someone younger than 70, not okay.

That happened to me this morning too. I got a "lookin' good, girl." I was tempted to reply, "Thanks. You look like crap." or something worse. Seriously. I wonder if they get any dates that way.

Anyway, about the "sweetie" "hun" thing...doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's a lot better than what they COULD be calling me.

 

[marybet]

Having grown up in the south and living in Texas now, I will admit to calling people Honey, Sweetie, Sugar, And Baby (hanging my head in shame).
I am sorry if people find in offensive. I mean nothing derogatory by it. I guess I will try to limit it to family only. I am a nurse and all my patients are subjected to being called these names. As in " move right over here, honey".
Chris

It is one thing from a server who does not know your name. A nurse usually has a chart with your name on it. For me, this is the most annoying, I am not your honey I am your patient and you should use my name. Holds true for anyone who knows your name.

 

[Castlebound]

If they are older than me by at least 20 years then I'm fine with it. When I worked retail at a farm & home store the older men always called me honey or sweetie. They didn't mean anything by it. When I was in labor with my DD an older British doctor checked on me before my doctor arrived. When he walked into the room he said, "How are we doing there, Love." He used the term the whole time he checked on me and the way he said it was kind of comforting.

BUT it does bother me when someone younger than me calls me Hon. I'm in my early 30's and I know that calling people Hon or Sweetie is not something that is done here by me or anyone younger than me. I find it rude and that they are trying to talk down to me. A girl in her late teens called me Hon at the Mall just last week. The way that she said it made it seem like a put-down. So I replyed with sure thing Suger Booger.

 

[arminnie]

That is very condecending. When people do it to me I feel like they are talking down to me (even though that may not be their intention). Its like when African American men are called "boy". (back from the slave days). Its very insulting.

In South Louisiana it is very common to be called "baby" by African American women of a certain age. And far from insulting - it is actually quite a compliment to rate a "baby".

So if any of you who are offended by the use of a term like "baby" choose to visit please know that this is meant as a term of endearment and not an insult. You can still be offended if you want to be, but please know that it was not said to offend you.

 

[jen0610]

My mom will rip a waitresses head off quicker than you can blink an eye, if she is called honey or sweetie.

She just had hip replacement surgery. She wanted to move, but couldn't very well. The 2 nurses were trying to help her and one of them called her honey. She told her off and made them write on her wall chart that they are not to call her either of these names. Dh and I were both like We'd have let it go. Your in pain and you can't hardly move. We sure wouldn't rip the head off of the person you are counting on helping you out.

Doesn't faze me a bit.

 

[BettyCv]

My mom will rip a waitresses head off quicker than you can blink an eye, if she is called honey or sweetie.

She just had hip replacement surgery. She wanted to move, but couldn't very well. The 2 nurses were trying to help her and one of them called her honey. She told her off and made them write on her wall chart that they are not to call her either of these names. Dh and I were both like We'd have let it go. Your in pain and you can't hardly move. We sure wouldn't rip the head off of the person you are counting on helping you out.

Good for your Mom!!!! I am sure she felt completely dependent on everyone for everything after her surgery. Good for her for holding onto her dignity and demanding she be called by her name!

I can't remember if it was Dear Abby or Ann Landers who said your response should be "My husband/wife calls me Sweetie. You can call me Mrs. So-and-so."

 

[Camicar]

I am a nurse and all my patients are subjected to being called these names. As in " move right over here, honey".

I'm sorry, but that is completely unprofessional. Perhaps it might be okay if you're a ped nurse, but that's it. I'm sure you mean it to be comforting by being so familiar, but a lot of people would find it patronizing and overly familiar at a time when one already feels out of control and vulnerable.