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.

I don't mind duck, pet or similar. It's darling, dear or sweetheart that annoy me.

Not at all. I think it's quite nice, and endearing. I particularly like being called 'duck' which I get a lot where I live. 🦆

I live in Ireland , the Irish men don’t say love or darling 🤷🏻‍♀️.
I was dating an English guy before he use to say
“My Dear “ as In when talking to me , didn’t hear him saying it to anyone when we were out & about though .

I don’t mind it when it’s not loaded. Eg if a northern man adds “love” to the end of a sentence it’s often just culturally normal punctuation. That’s fine. But you can tell the difference when “love” is dripping in condescension, even with exactly the same accent. That riles me, and they would hear about it !

Boils my piss tbh - luv, darling, hun etc but then again I also hate ma'am and madam as some young laddies have started using and once an older man used in a loud and patronising manner.

Tone & context is everything though and I expect the same level of acceptance when I address a man as petal and sweetie which they expect of me.

It's mostly hen here, and it doesn't bother me. If it was a work context it would bother me.

I don't want to be called anything other than my name. I appreciate strangers don't know our names but I've managed well enough for 35 years to have conversations with people I know and those I don't, dealt with health professionals, service industry professionals and colleagues without ever using any term of endearment. And no, I'm neither miserable nor unkind.

It's possible to thank someone for example on a shop or restaurant without calling them sweetheart or darling or similar. If they have a badge on I'll use their name. But not like a used car salesman.

Generally no, but I'm from a northern town where it's perfectly normal!
As usual context and tone means everything!

Where i live blokes and women say ' alright love' ' thanks, darling' ' see you sweetheart ' etc!!

It’s not really a thing with men here in NI, certainly not in my experience. Not sure it would bother me much. It’s women here who are more inclined to say ‘love’ or ‘dear’ or ‘pet’.

I said “thanks darlin” to my Amazon delivery driver earlier, and he flashed me the loveliest smile. It’s just being friendly, round here anyway. Love, pet, mate, buddy all the same.

Just remembered an old mate with the strongest Bolton twang, used to call me flower (rhymes with lower in his accent) made me a bit weak at the knees 😂

Same. I am elderly and recently in a shop where staff were all 20-ish one of the young guys said as I was browsing "you ok my love?" which I thought was said respectfully.

Absolutely not

Not at all

Couldn't give a shit as long as I'm not being called a twat or something

Not really as long as they are friendly.

Yes! Very much, especially if by someone much younger or trying to be patronising. It’s rare where I live and not really the done thing.

Not unless they’re being sleazy or rude no.

Depends on tone and context although I only use terms of endearment when I talk to children not unknown adults.

Doesn't bother me at all.

I don’t mind it if it’s something that’s used universally. I also love all the regional variances with flower being a personal fave which I’ve heard addressed to both men and women! Often it’s just a reflex phrase that o don’t personally feel is denigrating.

No, it’s quite sweet

No. Why would I?

Doesn’t bother me.

I just had it in Boots from a staff member in her 20s. Woman in front of me was about 50-something and was called darling in every sentence. She did the same thing with me and was in turn called sweetness and honey. She didn't even register!

I absolutely detest it and not just male strangers, anyone male or female totally gets on my goat. I don't accept it's just being friendly or accepted language by some people or in some regions. I'm not their love, have no desire to be, and feel it's disrespectful, no matter if it's context is meant to be friendly or patronizing, just don't do it