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

[HungryHelga]

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.

I get called "maid"/"my lovely" all the time round here. Often by women. Hugley flattering.....whoever says it. I would not be offended OP, given the right context.

I get called Love all the time. Babe wouldn't bother me either.

And I call men babe all the time.

But I'm an American and therefore inherently evil.

Someone I know used to call my old boss 'babe'. He was the finance director but never seemed to mind, he never responded in kind though.
I call men,women,children, dogs and sometimes random pieces of equipment, love,sweetheart, my lovely,pet,mate,chap but strangely enough never babe.
No one has complained yet though there's always time.

I can't help feeling that all these replies are just quotes-in-waiting for the Daily Fail/Matthew Wrong.

Thanks squeakytoy. I must say, having grown up in the South and London I've never heard it used between men outside of friendship groups. I never really heard it used by anyone, to be honest. Plenty of the others but never 'babe'. Makes me think of Peter Stringfellow.

I would be very concerned about his eyesight, especially as he was driving a bus.

Nope Victor, it is as commonplace as "darlin'" now... and nobody I know would take offence.

I've never heard it used by a man to another man Victor but in I've often heard it used by women to men (London and Home Counties).

I like it. I also like mate, love, pal, dear, sweetie, sweetheart, sweet'eart, hon, honey, and any other variation on the above.

I've met/seen/encountered enough unpleasant, unfriendly, aggressive, dismissive, rude, cold and contemptuous people in my time to be grateful when someone speaks to me with the off-hand warmth of one human being to another.

We're all going to die, you know. It'd be nice to think every now then a stranger can smile or nod or chat to another stranger with no motive other than to be friendly or courteous or polite.

(And I've never heard a man call another man 'babe' unless it was in a knowingly camp sort of way, but I've heard lots of women call men babe. My whereabouts, though I don't think it relevant, is E London )

Yes, definitely

I'd like to mildly point out that the woman in the original article is not offended, and in fact takes great pains to point out that she is not offended.

She was so unoffended she contacted the bus company to complain, in fact - in an unoffended way of course.

TheScarlettPimperne - Yes, I agree with you.

I wouldn't be 'offended' if someone called me babe. I wouldn't lie awake at night.

I'd rather men didn't do it though. Years agom, I'd rather the plumber at work didn't do it - he didn't call his male workmates babe, just me, so it couldn't be a regional quirk.

But why on earth would he stop if he doesn't know I don't like it? It's up to me to let him know. So I did. I thought he'd just think 'oh, ok' and stop. Just like this woman seems to have done (it might also be worth pointing out that she wrote a private letter than found its way into the press).

It never occurred to me that the plumber might have thought of me as Professionally Offended. Ah well.

The woman behind the counter in the Co-op called me babes (with an s) just the other day as she gave me my change - I did feel patronised.

"I like it. I also like mate, love, pal, dear, sweetie, sweetheart, sweet'eart, hon, honey, and any other variation on the above.

I've met/seen/encountered enough unpleasant, unfriendly, aggressive, dismissive, rude, cold and contemptuous people in my time to be grateful when someone speaks to me with the off-hand warmth of one human being to another.

We're all going to die, you know. It'd be nice to think every now then a stranger can smile or nod or chat to another stranger with no motive other than to be friendly or courteous or polite."

A-men! Couldn't agree more, with every word.

hungry do you want to check out that thread you posted about the scumbag junkie licking the pavement?

You seemed so passionate I'm surprised you haven't bothered to respond to the replies.

Probably slipped your mind, eh, Babe?

Oh is this an especially lazy freelancer?

OI! YOU! Get off your arse and do your work by talking to real people like the rest of us have to, you idle individual

I would be ASTONISHED.

No I do not work for a newspaper.

But wouldn't you like to, Hungry?

It's better than licking pavements or claiming benefits.

That 'I do not work for a newspaper' is most telling. Cos most of these guttersnipes don't. It's freelance pavement licking ambulance-chasin' innit.

If he didn't call me babe I'd be going back to my plastic surgeon.

Yes, I would be offended. "Love" acceptable as it's quite old school and something that the older generation often say without really thinking. "Babe" sounds really demeaning and to me has sexual connotations. I wouldn't complain if thats all he did but I would pick him up on it.

nope, I would love it

Im in brighton and have had drivers say this doesnt bother me at all and i do the same back i know a few of the drivers aswell you tend to know if a driver can/will give banter others are tossers lol