I know it's probably a southern thing...

[mhopset]

Sorry those greeting and salutations bug you HUN!

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by WillyJ
Well, kiss my grits Sunshine!! What y'all gettin' so upset about sugar?

LOL! Willy, every time I see Flo, I want to go out and buy a pack of gum for some reason.

Hey Tony, have you watched any good movies later, huh?

I've lived in Georgia all my life, so I've been raised to hear that all the time. I don't mind people I know saying that to me (like people here ), but total strangers and I get paranoid-are they flirting with me or just being friendly? I'm hoping just friendly (especially when it's mostly women that call me those things )

Chatty, I don't understand why people do that to waitresses or waiters. The waiters/waitresses tell the people their name, they have their name on a name tag or a card they place on the table, etc. Since you wear a tag, I would think people would know to look at the tag! That's just rude, imo.

 

[KathyTX]

Oh, darlin', I'm so sorry those mean old people are hurting your feelings!

But, sweetie, they really do mean it in a nice (not condescending) way. It means they like you!

I guess it is a Southern thing.

 

[Saffron]

Yeah, "Sugar" and "Darlin'" are definitely southern words.

Around here it's, "Yo Babe" "Hey babe" ... unless it's the grocery bag kid, then he makes them up as he goes: "Hey cutie, plastic okay?" "Well great then sweetie, that's what I'll use for you cookie." ROTFLOL! Someone is gonna smack him one day. Not me, I could care less, but I can see where he wears on the women's last nerves. LOL!

 

[nativetxn]

Must be the age difference, Shannon, they always call me ma'am

 

[Diane]

I get that a lot from delivery men. It bothered me at first, but I guess I’m used to it now.

 

[Kallison]

Yikes -- I work with 7th graders and I always call them Sweetie. It's a habit from when I volunteered in the schools, can't remember all the kids names even though they know mine. So I would call them Honey or Sweetie. In fact one day when they did Mystery Reader they gave clues and the last one was - Calls everyone Sweetie -- all the kids yelled "Mrs. K.!!" My kids don't seem to get annoyed when I call them Sweetie, also Honey, and Yes My Love. My students are used to it, sometimes I'll see the mainstream kids look at me sideways, and then one of my students will whisper - She calls all of us that! I heard another one of my students tell a mainstream kid yesterday on the way out of the classroom - Mrs. K likes us, she thinks we are special. So I guess no psychological damage and I haven't had a parent complain although this is my first year.

 

[GeorgeG]

We get quite a bit of that up here, Shannon, so I don't think it's a geographical thing. While I've never been called ma'am (for obvious reasons), hun, sweety, dear, etc. are not uncommon, and from perfect strangers, too.

I get a lot of flack from my wife because I've never used endearments and the main reason I can put my finger on is that I never recalled hearing my father use them. That doesn't mean the thought isn't there, just that I've never been comfortable using them, even with those close to me, let alone strangers.

As far as others using them when addressing me, I guess it doesn't bother me, or at least when it's a woman. And if anyone ever called me ma'am, I'd be more than upset.

The older I get, the more I get called sir. Now, if I can only get my wife to start calling me that...

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Along the same lines, I hate it when a cashier takes my mastercard and sees my name, then starts using my first name to me. Excuse me, we are not on a first-name basis just because she knows my first name. This bugs me.

I don't mind people using nicknames for me. I don't mind being called a dear. It's kind of sweet.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I get "big guy" sometimes, but as long as it's not said in a condecending manner, it doesn't bother me.

I wouldn't worry about the "sweetys" or the "sugars", because most of the time it's meant to be friendly.

My dad sold a house to this English woman & she was a hoot - she was always "sweetie"-this & "darling"-that & everything was "fantasic". She wasn't especially attractive, but man alive, that accent was out of this world!

 

[Buz]

Originally posted by GeorgeG
The older I get, the more I get called sir. Now, if I can only get my wife to start calling me that...

Let us know that works out, kay?



Buz