Do you mind male strangers calling you “love” or “darling”?

[Buzyizzy217]

Does it irritate you when complete male strangers call you by a term of endearment, like “love” or “darling”?
To answer the obvious question, yes, it does me and I tell them not to do it. Just curious.

Not really

No not at all, unless it was done in a sarcastic manner or something.

Doesn’t bother me.

Where I live though it’s ‘pet’ or ‘hen’.

No it doesn't bother me. Women tend to say the endearments more than the men anyway.

Doesn't bother me at all but tbf where i live most people, male or female, call nearly everyone else love, darling, buddy, pal, mate, dude, geezer....(Not sex specific either men get called darlin/love, women get dude/pal etc). I love it even if it is a bit of a crumbhole generally 😃

No.

Tone and context are important

”calm down love” can absolutely get in the bin

”thanks love, appreciate it” I like

and I absolutely love a stocky builder who’s 40 plus calling me “babe”. Nothing flirty but I just find it makes me feel safe

I wouldn’t really like it - I’m not their love or darling.

Yes if there’s the slightest hint of smarminess with it.
No if they seem totally straight up, natural, and give off zero creepy vibes.

Only if they’re obviously very much younger than me.

It doesn’t bother me at all, I think it’s sweet (obviously if they’re using it as endearment, not in a sarcastic way)

Depends. In a lot places it’s just part of the local lingo.
better than Duck in the east mids 😄

No of course not.

I don't like it but I can tolerate it, it usually doesn't mean anything (good or bad).

Doesn't bother me, unless the person is being a twat as they’re saying it.

I prefer it to being called miss. At work I hate hearing ‘yes miss, thank you miss’ from adults. Makes me feel all weird.

No but I do the same

I take it as it’s meant.

if it’s meant kindly, fine.

if the intention is to patronise, then no

Lovely Indian doctor calling me 'my lover' in a Cornish hospital was a highlight of my stay!

Yes. I say ‘Why hello, fluffpot’ or ‘Thanks, sweet cheeks’ and when they look taken aback say ‘Oh, I thought we were on those kinds of familiar terms, darling!’

No, not at all. I can think of much worse things to be called.

We live in Surrey. It just doesn’t happen. 😂

We went to Northumberland recently and I rather liked it.

'Excuse me love' from a guy trying to get past you or get your attention is very different from 'Calm down love' 😅

Nope. I do it, too.

If you wouldn’t say it to another man, don’t say it to me. It’s not that complicated.

No. When I was very young, 40 or so years ago, I took a feminist stance and hated it. But now I mostly see it as warm. Context matters though, it can be patronising.