"Thank you, Sweetie."

[AndreaDM]

The pp that posted she had a college degree and a career and she is not your hon. I have a good friend that is a CPA and a career, on child. Everyone gets called sweetie or darlin by this person, so I guess that college degree has nothing to do with it, so I guess get over it.

That was me. I'm sorry but I still think it's unprofessional and condescending. Like someone else said, I'm sure there are things that bother you that I wouldn't give a second thought to, so maybe we can both "get over it" huh?.

 

[sbell111]

It amazes me that some people here just have to post about how it amazes THEM at what gets other people upset.

Good grief, people. We ALL have little things that annoy us. If you don't, well I guess you're just a little bit more perfect than the rest of us.

Most of us post our annoyances from time to time, if it bothers you then maybe you should just back away from the thread instead of putting the OP down because of what annoys her.

And all the OP asked was if others felt the same, or different. Geez!

The dichotomy in your post is amazing. On one hand, you state that it's perfectly fine for someone you post about life's little annoyances. On the other hand, you are quick to tell other people that they shouldn't post about things that bother them.

To the thread's topic, it does surprise me that an adult living in the south would not have become immune to being called sweetie, dear, and honey.

 

[mhsjax]

That was me. I'm sorry but I still think it's unprofessional and condescending. Like someone else said, I'm sure there are things that bother you that I wouldn't give a second thought to, so maybe we can both "get over it" huh?.

That is fine that it bothers you, but I want to know if it is just as unprofessional and condescending to someone without a degree and no career, or just a job or just the ones with, because what you said sounded pretty condescending to me.

 

[Liberty Belle]

She probably used to say "Thank you ma'am" but was yelled at by someone and had to pick a different word so she settled on sweetie. It could have been honey, dear, darling, or anything else and it would mean the same thing, a generic term to address someone whom you deal with in passing and neither know or care to know their name.

If someone wants to find offense in anything they will, bless their heart.

I never understood why people don't like ma'am anyway. It is just the female equivalent of sir and I don't even notice any more if I am called sir, especially by someone younger, let alone take offense to it.

What's wrong with just "Thank you" and a smile?

I don't find offense in most anything. This is just something that annoys me because I find it disrespectful and rude. I've noticed before that we have different ideas of what is offensive and rude, bless your heart.

Ma'am or Sir don't bother me, especially if it's said by children or teens. I think it's respectful.

 

[mhsjax]

What's wrong with just "Thank you" and a smile?

I don't find offense in most anything. This is just something that annoys me because I find it disrespectful and rude. I've noticed before that we have different ideas of what is offensive and rude, bless your heart.

Ma'am or Sir don't bother me, especially if it's said by children or teens. I think it's respectful.

I actually can see your point because she was so young. I don't have a problem with someone older or my age saying it, but I am a true blue southerner and that is the reason I stay that way. I love the little pleasantries that come with living down here, as long as it is said the right tone of voice.

 

[AndreaDM]

I feel it's personally condescending to ME, maybe not to YOU or anyone else, but I don't like being called hon or sweetie. For ME personally, I feel that it's unprofessional for a 17 year old high school hostess to call ME hon when she seats ME. I feel like it's not respectful at all, Sir and Ma'am are much more appropriate when addressing anyone who is older, whether they went to college or not, that is not the point. Would the 17 year old call her boss at the restaurant hon or sweetie? Probably not, so why call any adult that?

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Seems like no matter what you say, you are going to offend someone.

Or what you don't say. I could care less what people cal me. I've got bigger things to think about.

 

[Pugsley]

Same here. Geez, I really wish I had that much of time on my hands to be so peeved about it.

Really, you need lots of extra time on your hands to get peeved about something? Frankly, I don't think people who spend time on the disboards (much less people with thousands of posts) should be accusing anyone else of having too much time on their hands. Grrrr, sorry but that whole 'you have too much time on your hands' attitude just gets my blood boiling. Reminds me of that thread that was titled "Gee, I wish I had the time" (which was basically started to demean people who posted a lot). It was around for a long time (may still be around) because it became a clique thread. But every time I saw it I was

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm surprised that the OP hasn't become immune to getting bothered by 'Sweetie', given that she is apparently from Kentucky.

Nope, not immune to it. I live in Lexington and we don't get "honeyed" as much as in smaller towns, though it does happen. Like I said, if the person is my age or a little older, it doesn't really annoy me, but I don't like it.

Some interesting things have popped up on this thread.

First, let me assure you, I don't say anything to these people. I'm no less polite to them than I am to someone who doesn't call me Sweetie, etc., so no need to call me things behind my back.

Also, customer service standards seem to be pretty low. Yes, I'd rather they nicely hand me change and say thank you Sweetie, than throw the change at me and yell "get out of here you imbecile," but I think that goes without saying. If an employee who works with the public is rude or doesn't say thank you when it's expected, they should be trained better. It's not good customer service.

 

[MM27]

I worked with a girl that called everyone 'Sweetie' or 'Hun'. It's just what she did. I personally wouldn't do it, but it doesn't bother me when other people do. I could think of a lot worse things to be called

 

[NY Disney fan]

That's what the Arby's employee said to me today when I picked up shakes for my sons. She was about 17 or 18.

Its disrespectful becuase it implies familiarity and its condescending.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Its disrespectful becuase it implies familiarity and its condescending.

 

[mhsjax]

Again, this is why I live in the south, I like that people are more open and friendly, sorry, but this is the way I feel. Why does everything have to be so professional what happened to plain ole just being friendly not cold as ice and so uptight. I had better get out now before I say something that everyone will think is very unprofessional and rude.

 

[FergieTCat]

Believe me, it's better than "Ma'am"! When did I become a "Ma'am"?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Again, this is why I live in the south, I like that people are more open and friendly, sorry, but this is the way I feel. Why does everything have to be so professional what happened to plain ole just being friendly not cold as ice and so uptight. I had better get out now before I say something that everyone will think is very unprofessional and rude.

I'm originally from Michigan. I don't think people there are cold as ice and uptight. And I hope you're not calling me cold as ice or uptight, because I am not at all. I just like more traditionally proper ways of addressing people. I don't think someone should be called by their first name at first, either. I'm not uptight , it's just what I find "friendly" and comfortable.

 

[paintnolish]

I wouldn't care. In a world where cashiers are routinely unfriendly, "sweetie" would be a welcome change!

 

[Liberty Belle]

I wouldn't care. In a world where cashiers are routinely unfriendly, "sweetie" would be a welcome change!

See, this is what bothers me. So many people are out of work and a person (cashier) who is supposed to be at least sufficient in customer service skills is allowed to be unfriendly to customers? Why?!

But I don't see this much here. I've not encountered many rude employees in the past few years (and I'm not including the "Sweetie" ones, because I'm assuming they are not intending to be rude). The two that I can think of were one in a small town in Kentucky (near Mammoth Cave) and one in Indiana. I was just in Michigan and all were friendly. Here in Lexington, KY most, if not all, I've encountered have at least been curteous and professional.

I must not be shopping in places where they are so rude.

 

[Metsfan520]

I wouldn't care. In a world where cashiers are routinely unfriendly, "sweetie" would be a welcome change!

I live in NY. I can't say that I find cashiers routinely unfriendly, in fact, most of them are really nice!

OP, I get where you're coming from--I don't really like being called "sweetie", "honey" or even "ma'am". Just say "have a nice day!" and that's enough for me.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Also, customer service standards seem to be pretty low. Yes, I'd rather they nicely hand me change and say thank you Sweetie, than throw the change at me and yell "get out of here you imbecile," but I think that goes without saying.

And yet on the first page you said you would rather be called a &%^%& than sweetie which kinda negates this.

Some people on this thread think sweetie is rude and ma'am is respectful and some people think the exact opposite, so it seems to me that people just need to say whichever one they prefer since they are going to piss someone off no matter what they do. Last I checked they don't have the ability to read the customers minds and figure out which one would go over better.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Why does everything have to be so professional what happened to plain ole just being friendly not cold as ice and so uptight.

Professional? In a place of business? You're kidding right?