People in the south, mostly females, I don't know exactly what the males might use, we call people "hon, sugar, darlin, etc". Most of the time, it's a form of endearment, but you'll find waitresses, clerks, etc. that don't know you, referring to you in one of these ways, simply acknowleding that you exist since we don't know your name. Twice, in the past month I've been reproached because I called someone "hon". Neither time did I know this persons name, one even after 4 emails wouldn't sign or say his name, the other mocked me in a thread. Since there's people from all over in these forums, do you find it offensive to be called any of the names mentioned above?

I dont like it!!!

I'm not a fan either but it isn't offensive to me. Although, baby, hotness, sex muffin, cuddlekins, love monkey - those are fine.

Hon and sugar are just a little too Flo from "Mel's Diner" for me.

Maybe where you live its highly acceptable but where I come from..........we would find it condescending!!!

I had a dental assistant call me one of those words of "endearment" and though I didnt say anything.....I wasnt impressed!!!

Hi Gypsy ... How've you been sug?

I don't use it alot, partly because I was told that people from other regions didn't find it acceptable, but because it is more of a habit, I do slip and use those terms with people I don't really know. It's not meant as condensing.

sug doesnt bother me.......I wish I could remember what that woman said to me.......but you know I will never forget her for saying it. She never meant no harm, but I felt........really degraded when she said it

omg........I remember now.............she called me DOLL!!!

WTF??? DOLL????

I bet the guys don't mind it when the southern girls at "Hooters" use it!

I dont get offended often.......if at all!!! But when some woman who is probably younger than me calls me a doll I want to scratch her eyes out and bare fangs!!!

It really doesn't matter what words we use, it's all in how the other person perceives it. Any word can be offensive if offense is meant..or if offense is taken. As far as "Doll", I haven't found that to be a common "pet" name in the south.

I've gotten used to it, I have a friend who does it, not to complete strangers but she's never called me doll though either

dear,,, darlin,, things i have always said, and things that i have always been called. being raised in the country i guess its considered backwards and old timey to be kind and respectful and nice to people.

I've never meant it as rude or condensing either, if I want to be rude and condensing, I can find some really GOOD words for that. If someone doens't know another's name is it better to be called "sir or madam", or hey jerk, or hey you. Again, it's all in how one wants to perceive what's said I suppose.

im not saying that i think its bad, i still do it to this day, and wont stop for anyone. but the way i was raised is considered by alot of folks completely backwards. they wont stop to think that maybe it works good for me and helps me out more often than not

So how would you people feel if you lived in the UK and you were called Mi duck, hen, Mi darling,Mi ole China, Fanny Ann, cocker ( just a few regional terms of endearment) by total strangers?

it doesn't bother me, but i am very easygoing,
even around total strangers



"Hiya Toots!" - Curly Howard

"nyack nyack NYACK....woowoowoo"

Where I live men and women both use "hon" as a form of downhome affection and we all like it here. Guess its where your from. It's being nice. Better than saying hey you or #@$*. No one takes it as being disrespectful.
When I lived in Houston it wasnt used nor in Mississippi but here in Tennessee all the time.
Just affection ya'll

i was at a baptism recently, and the waiter kept calling all the ladies at the table 'my love'.

'would you like more coffee, my love?'
'are you finished with that, my love?'

it was sickening

however, if i were in the south, since it would be more expected, it wouldn't tend to bother me as much. that being said, it sounds better, and less of an endearment, to me, coming from a woman than a man.

Do they offend you Bonny? Since I don't know the terms of your country, I wouldn't know if you found them offensive or not. This is part of my point, it's only words, if one perceives something as offensive, it will offend no matter how it's used or when. Some people find it offensive to not use some kind of salutation with them when you're speaking to them, so if one doesn't know their name, in the south, we might use "hon".