To each his/her own ....

I just never assume certain labels - though they are meant in innocuous afashion - will not be perceived as a cross of a boundary. A lot of it has to do with the disposition of the user.

I don't mind them used on me. And when I know someone, I do it often as it represents a bond amongst friends and family.

Affable people make life colorful.

They're ok from you.

I actually think they sound pretty cheesy coming from complete strangers, especially when it's some guy hitting on me. And it makes me think that they have difficulty remembering peoples' names when they use them all the time with everyone.

If someone I actually know uses one for me, I'm fine with that, as it does represent a bond as CB said.

I do get that it's just how some people are, so I try to let it go when I think that's the case. But if it's overdone, it gets to be kind of annoying.

Good points ....

If my significant other, for example, had some guy in her office calling her sweetness, I'd not be all that pleased. Unless we were all friends.

I really enjoy using terms of endearment with the special person in my life. I have an aunt who used them all the time with all of her family and she was one of the sweetest people I've ever known. The way she said your name just made you feel loved.

I use terms like hon, or sweety, all the time , whether I know people or not. ITs most likely because I was brought up with it from a young age when I didnt necessarily get or care about how personal a relationship I had with the user...


I just learned it as a way of speaking in general


with My kids, or loved ones, I can come up with whatever hits me at the moment.. I have called my daughter everything from chica, to little mama, or wompers, or booty,,lol

I agree. If you know the person, it's kind of sweet indeed.

Hey, whatever makes you feel good ... DO IT.

Awwww.
My grandmother would SCREAM at my nearly deaf
grandfather whenever he did something she did
not like "Good night-shirt John"!!!!!!
At the top of her lungs.
He would just smile.
And turn off his hearing aid when he
saw her coming.

Havent read any of the responses yet. I am just putting down my first impression of the question.

It feel like the Borg are questioning us to try to assimilate us

:)

It would be like trying to explain Rock and Roll.

I personally don't mind terms of endearment. Although, it does depend on the delivery. A creepy, condescending jackwad calling me "baby" makes me cringe. But someone using the same term in a general way isn't a problem.

I call random people, hon, sugar, sweetie. Also, with those that I know and care about are called various endearments from babe, baby, sweets, sug (shoog), love, chere, etc.

I'm also guilty of sometimes calling strangers Hon or something along those lines because I do forget names. I joke and tell people the reason I wear a name tag and carry ID is so that I remember who "I" am!

One of the best "Chick Flicks" I have ever seen.

Even though I have a good collection of "Chick Flicks", I can`t watch them. Brings back too many memories of when my wife and I would watch them. I would be sitting there now crying my eyes out watching them because my wife would not be there watching them with me.

Aww Sweetie....it's ok...

I don't mind them at all when are used in the correct context and when they fit the relationship. To me an endearment in the right situation is like saying, "I like you" and "I want to be friendly with you/close to you".

When the endearment doesn't make me feel good about myself it's usually because it has been misused or used inappropriate to the situation.

I basically see it as a positive thing. I use them - I call people sweety and honey - but generally not complete strangers though..

I call strangers ma'am and sir - used to work for a company based in Virgina/Kentucky and dealt with a lot of sutherners then - from 2005-10 and got into the sir & ma'am habit then

If half psychotic bar hags are the measure...

If you refer to them in anything other than a pleasantry...you take your chances.

You probably should use Terms of Endearment (That show sucked)

Talk up drunks...Just trust me. It works.

I used to use them quite frequently but asked not to with certain people. The guys would think there was something wrong with me and the gals would tell me that I was mistaken. So I got where I would call those people Mister and Miss. The guys would tell me that I didn't have to call them Mister and gals would tell me I was mistaken. So I started to call them by their first name. The guys would ask me if I knew them and gals would ask me if I knew them. So I thought would just start talking to them and see if that worked. Finally, I got a similar response - "Are you talking to me?" It has helped me a lot.

I honestly do not find myself in that situation, and when I used to play pool on bar tables back in 2000-2002 - I did not drink - never

I didn't have much luck with the guys either - so now you are saying that I would have received more pleasantries had I been a drunken skank and an object of fear???

great

I like them but I don't use them with people I know because I am so used to not using them (because of my upbringing) that it sounds awkward and phony coming out of my mouth. But with close friends I am slowly teaching myself to casually use them (e.g. sweety, honey, baby) even when it sounds strange.

Dating? What is that?

No one ever asked me to stop using them but I wouldn't mind at all. I might be embarrassed.

I dated someone once who ALWAYS used things like sweetie, honey and so on. But, that's how he was with everyone. It wasn't special at all. I would have preferred him using my own name, which would have meant more, since used those names with everyone.