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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:
LulaBear · 01/02/2012 23:10

It wouldn't be offended, not at all. Customer service is so cold these days I love when somebody says something friendly to me, sad I know!

Sevenfold · 01/02/2012 23:12

well I live in the town/city where this happened and tbh I couldn't care less if someone calls me Babe. I doubt if 99% of brighton and hove could either.

noddyholder · 01/02/2012 23:18

I didn't know it was Brighton. I live here and know my mates would hate it too.

Sevenfold · 01/02/2012 23:19

why? it is better than being called a rude name.
tbh I think it is crazy.

justanuthermanicmumsday · 01/02/2012 23:21

im sure the bus driver was being friendly. it like some ppl saying ok love, thanks love, hardly a crime, whats the world coming to? i hope she gets done dor wasting time lol

DaenerysTargaryenButCallMeDany · 01/02/2012 23:22

oh i call everyone 'babes' or 'love' whether male or female.

Sevenfold · 01/02/2012 23:22

seeing how rude our local bus drivers are(you should see how they act on teh roads) I think I would be so amazed one was being friendly I would faint

noddyholder · 01/02/2012 23:23

I wouldn't expect to be called a rude name either but fr me I don,t want that level of familiarity from a bus driver.

Sevenfold · 01/02/2012 23:24

tbh I have I couldn't get upset by it, there are more important things to worry about.

SecretMinceRinser · 01/02/2012 23:25

I wouldn't be offended but I would think they were a tosser.

noddyholder · 01/02/2012 23:26

I wouldn,t be upset I just wouldn,t like it no need for it. Hides yet another thread

justanuthermanicmumsday · 01/02/2012 23:27

lol@secretmincerinser

Sevenfold · 01/02/2012 23:31

do people really, I mean really only have stuff like this to care about.
I was shocked to see it on the local news(and tbh embarrassed) I find it so hard to believe that anyone would get so uptight by this

ChasTittyBeltUp · 01/02/2012 23:31

She may be hungry but please don't feed her.

ddubsgirl · 01/02/2012 23:32

Lol yep b&h bus drivers own the road or so they think lol ds 1 & 2 school has had to fund n extra school bus as the drivers have been driving past and not stopping to pick the school kids up. Ds1 got a black eye on the old no:7 busy bee bus when he was 2 driver went round corner to fast and everyone went flying and poor son hit the bar on the emergancy door at the back :-(

Sevenfold · 01/02/2012 23:34

dh hates them he rides a bike(push bike) and they just pull out in front of him.
they do that to me in my big van too, they are knobs

ddubsgirl · 01/02/2012 23:37

Did complaine once when a driver called my dh a c* cos he misheard dh and printed too many tickets lucky others heard too and gave us thier details and complained too turned out wasnt first time the driver had done this but nothing was done.

ddubsgirl · 01/02/2012 23:37

Cu*t^

RiaOverTheRainbow · 02/02/2012 00:45

It would depend on how it was said. If it was purely friendly I probably wouldn't mind, especially if it was a unisex regional thing, but if it was at all flirty or patronising I'd be pissed off.

Mrsrobertduvall · 02/02/2012 06:41

Babes is horrible. I have no problem if an older person calls me love or pet, but babes and hun makes me squirm.

cheekyseamonkey · 02/02/2012 07:00

Oh Helga unless you're researching a feature on opinions from Mumsnet, I really hope you're trolling posting elsewhere too. As erudite & intelligent as we ALL are in our own special way, MN is hardly a barometer for the nation's views.

Cast the net, cast the net...

mummytime · 02/02/2012 07:24

Sorry but at my age I would be highly flattered.

munkysea · 02/02/2012 07:57

It would barely register on my radar.

sparkle12mar08 · 02/02/2012 07:59

Offended no. Irritated yes. And I'd also think ever so slightly less of the person saying it - it indicates that they are unprofessional and don't know where the boundaries lie in business and service. There are perfectly good ways to be polite, warm and civil that do not have any risk of offense at all. Use them, people!

JustHecate · 02/02/2012 08:01

Nope. Wouldn't offend me in the slightest.

Mind you, in my youth, I offended a bus driver or two and pulled a few

Poor chaps. Trapped in a tiny booth. Unable to escape me.