A name for a man equivalent to calling a woman darling

[ValerieCupcake]

I hate being called darling by people when out and about. Usually men. Instead of starting a scene I want to respond with a name of my own and if they object I'd say well you called me darling. What name though? Flower? Sweet cheeks? My little fairy cake?

Go Northern and use Pet

Mate or matey boy.

Meatball

Random Man is the best 😄

The best equivalent I've found is "Son", especially if the man is obviously the same age or older. Same quality of being on the face of it friendly but actually belittling. (Of course as a white woman I only ever use "son" for white men. Not ok for a white person to call a man of any other race).

Mateeeee

Honestly how can anyone get offended over being called darling ?
Only on MN.

Not " only on mn" no.

Im in ireland and if a man at work called me darling, id strongly suspect he was communicating "i just have to tolerate you, i certainly wont respect you even though you're the grade above or i might have fucked you ten years ago but not now".

One of those at least. Or both if he's a real dick.

There are many other ways for irish men to show a lack of respect though, they're not held back by the use of darling not being in frequent use.

I like ‘mate’ because they’re being overfamiliar with the ‘darling’ and you’ve just brought it back down to friend or ‘mate’ I feel that’s the best response. 😊

I’ve always found ‘Chucky egg’ hits home as suitably sarcastic; especially when delivered with deadpan eye contact.

Darling would only annoy me in certain contexts, at work being the obvious one.
It used a lot where I’m from and is genderless.

Don't move to Bristol @ValerieCupcake - everyone whether male or female gets called "my lover" regularly by random strangers. It can be disconcerting when you aren't used to it.

Hi sweetie is one of my faves.

This, it's so true.

Definitely Sugartits.

I call practically everyone darling, trying to break the habit as people find it offensive now. Really irritating men are Blokeman, but you'd have to be GregG or Gordon Ramsey to get that response.

In Cornwall it's 'M'Luvverr', you could try that?

It's so strange. It's like watching people advise each other on how to get back at someone for saying Good Morning.

It's a tough world down south. I'm staying up here.

But that's mumsnet, somewhere where if a man holds the door for you he's a misogynistic pig and if he doesn't he's a misogynistic pig.

Poppet