to ask what's wrong with 'hunning'?

[chickencurryfor7]

I?ve used mn for years for advice and information, but only registered properly this Christmas after getting my very own iphone and feeling like I?d be able to contribute regularly without having to sharpen my elbows politely ask to share the family computer. (Sorry - I feel I have to justify my first ever post with this disclaimer, as it seems all de-lurking newbies get accused of being trolls).

Anyway ? really, what?s wrong with hun? It seems to me that it?s only used when someone is trying to be genuinely sympathetic, friendly, reassuring or kind, and what with all the other abbreviations that go on, seems harmless? At least it?s an actual word that?s used in everyday language, unlike most of the other shorthand on here?

I am new, so anxious not to offend or get the shorthand wrong, but does it REALLY matter if someone calls you hun if they?re only trying to be nice?

Whats right with it?

I don't like it personally. Its an irrational annoyance to me.

If someone uses hun on here I wont tell them not too or its annoying though. Each to their own.

I don;t know i just don't like it hun it remind me of Essex, I have no aversion to Essex hun but I just don't like being name-called tbh!

Well, I've never seen the word used on here, but I find it to be quite patronising. I have NO idea why, it just rubs me up the wrong way.

I also find 'dear' the same. And 'babs'

I'm a funny thing I suppose.

I don't think anyone has ever called me hun in RL. FWIW I hate all the LOL, hun, xoxo stuff in RL as well so maybe MN just attracts people who have a low 'hun' tolerance. There are other places if you like that sort of thing...

I think it's short for honey, so it should be hon. That's why I hate hun. :)

Can't see anything wrong with it. .

It's over familiar and a bit sickly, which isn't the tone of the place.

It's wet. Friends in RL using it, and babe ffs, just sound insincere and a bit thick, tbh.

I hate mainly because I used to work with someone who used it right after she was rude or nasty or dumping you in it. It became her version of I'm not being funny ?/I'm not racist but .?

Tbh, it makes my teeth itch!! It sounds so insincere

I just don't like the use of it generally. RL or on here.

Hun, babe, darlin, mate, buddy, etc hate them all. So its nothing to do with mn for me.

Yes it's over familiar and just a bit well to me anyway.

Hun is right up there with Babe in my book!

Fair enough, and you're right Panzee, it should be hon if anything at all. It's just that folks round my way use it all the time in shops, on buses, by teachers in school etc. so it seems odd to me that it was so vilified on here.

I will try to avoid using it ever again when posting

I think it's because it's common.

I don't mind it myself...but MN hates it because a lot of people here reckon they're a cut above.

To be honest.

sickly, that's it. Bleugh. It's usually v insincere too, i find

Babe is worse though....

I dislike pet names from people I don't know. Which is all you unruly rabble. Oh, and to echo Boomerwang, it does always have that edge of condescension to it (but maybe the people I know in RL who tend to use are just bitches anyway )

pictish - that's me, dead common!

Me and you both. Hurrah!

I think it is regarded as being synonomous with netmums which is,I believe, another parenting website with a rather different ethos from the one we know and love here.I gather that 'huns' and 'hugs' are abhorrent to all true mumsnetters [henceforth shortened to mnetters] however if someone is greatly distressed you may offer"unmumsnetty hugs" which will be acceptable.

I dont like Hun babe chick babbez there is no need I only know 1 rl person who Huns I can't stand it, I don't think im a cut above or think it is common I just dont see the need

I personally can't do "hun" but I think it's because before meeting my partner I was on various dating sites and I got countless messages from pricks that contained the word "hun".

How are you hun.
You look sexy hun.
What you been up to hun.

It smacked of unwelcomed familiarity, same as shortening my name without me saying its ok to do so.

One of the top rules of Mumsnet is 'No Hunning'. 'Cunt' is fine, but 'hun' will draw a wrath.

I'm not keen on any terms of endearment online from anyone who doesn't know me in RL. Though for some reason, the man in Co-Op can call me 'hun' and I have no probs being called 'luv' or 'dear' by anyone in RL.

Mumsnetters like to distinguish themselves from Netmums, where posters have stickies and flashing doo-dahs and use text speak and call each other hun. It's a bit of snobbery really.