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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you be offended if a bus driver called you "babe".

116 replies

HungryHelga · 01/02/2012 20:21

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/01/dont-call-me-babe-on-the-bus

This woman was, and she reported the bus driver to his employer. I am not sure if I agree with this her not. Maybe it was a little inappropriate but I am sure he was only being friendly. I would not like to live in a world where people at work are not allowed to use terms of endearment towards customers.

OP posts:
sodapops · 01/02/2012 20:23

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest, TBH.

akaemmafrost · 01/02/2012 20:24

No.

myfriendflicka · 01/02/2012 20:24

You're that troll who probably is someone from the Daily Mail on work experience or from Conservative central office

Have a Biscuit

LoveHandles88 · 01/02/2012 20:24

Unless someone calls me something intended to offend me, I do not generally get offended. What's the point??

rhondajean · 01/02/2012 20:24

No.

wherearemysocks · 01/02/2012 20:25

No

noddyholder · 01/02/2012 20:25

yes

AmberLeaf · 01/02/2012 20:25

No

Kayzr · 01/02/2012 20:26

Does the OP work for a newspaper? They seem to be posting lots of links to stories this evening.

floradora · 01/02/2012 20:26

No, calm down dear

Original poster
HungryHelga · 01/02/2012 20:27

No I do not work for a newspaper.

OP posts:
Kayano · 01/02/2012 20:27

My dad trains bus driver and told
Me he has a bit of banter with the lads and lasses and has one female trainee who he calls love.

I was Confused 'eeeee dad you have to be careful saying things like that nowadays'

To which he responded 'that's nowt, I can only tell her she is good-ish because i just can't tell her she is the best trainee I have ever had because she is a woman driver'

I was Shock

Apparently they have this mutual banter and he has now
Told her she is in fact the best lol

TheVermiciousKnid · 01/02/2012 20:27

Still hungry? Here, have a biscuit. Biscuit

FairhairedandFrustrated · 01/02/2012 20:28

No. Would be flattered :) But then I take my kicks where I can these days!

GrimmaTheNome · 01/02/2012 20:28

I wouldn't be offended but I'd worry about his eyesight Grin

MrsPresley · 01/02/2012 20:29

God, I'd pay him to call me babe Grin

I'm anything but Sad

Seriously though, no I wouldnt be offended but if he said "hurry up auld yin" I'd slap him Grin

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 01/02/2012 20:33

I got called 'babe' by some random customer today - I did wonder if they'd watched the news at all... Grin

FWIW, it does annoy me, I don't really like people being over familiar (I also hate people with no concept of personal space around strangers) but I generally suck it up and ignore it. It doesn't bother me half as much as being called 'girl' (as in 'let's ask the girl over there' and 'oh you're a clever girl') I'm 40 years old ffs Angry

butterfliesandladybirds · 01/02/2012 20:38

I would be thrilled!

And seriously worried about his eyesight and general judgement Grin

BillyBollyBandy · 01/02/2012 20:38

Why do you keep only linking to articles OP?

OhdearNigel · 01/02/2012 20:40

I used to be a police officer and have been called much worse things than babe. So no, it wouldn't even occur to me to be offended

troisgarcons · 01/02/2012 20:40

As with anything, it depends on context.

trustissues75 · 01/02/2012 20:41

Nope. Think the woman needs to dial down the Nazi Feminist...

Now, if the driver stared overtly at her and then proceeded to put his hand down his pants this would be a problem...

ThePathanKhansWitch · 01/02/2012 20:42

I tell him he should of gone to Spec Savers. No fucker in their right mind and eyesight would call me a babe.

MMMarmite · 01/02/2012 20:44

Depends on the tone and the context - for example if it was late at night and I was on my own and he was saying it in a leery way, then it would make me feel uneasy.

Other times, I'd rather they didn't but it wouldn't bother me particularly.

VictorGollancz · 01/02/2012 20:45

I wouldn't be offended (just like the woman in the article - she wasn't offended and let's not pretend that she was) but there is no need for 'babe' when boarding a bus or moving around in public life.

Men don't get called 'babe' (they might get called 'love' or 'duck' in certain areas of the UK, just like women) and therefore I don't see why they should use it to address me.

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