If a man calls you 'love'...

[sisterignatius]

.. in the post office depot, when he's asking you to sign for a parcel - is that just the equivalent of him addressing you as 'mate' if you're a man? Or is being called 'love' when you're a woman somehow different from being called 'mate'?

What, if he's fleetingly - and possibly unconsciously - checked you out before fetching your parcel? Does that make any difference to the use of the word 'love'?

[TroysMammy]

I was called love when I went into the chip shop yesterday. I also think it's great when people from a different culture use the term "my love" or "love" or "lovey". I love it.

[MrsJayy]

Up here it is Hen and buddy so love is nothing to get worried about. It is people being friendly

[user1476656305]

" How is it patronising? "

from a colleague = it says 'I cannot be bothered to use your name' and you are lesser than I am. Male or female.
If you dont know what I mean, try calling your colleagues 'sweetheart' in italics and gauge their reactions...:)

[MrsJayy]

An older man let me on the bus before and said on you go dear the other day thats a double insult 😁

[BadToTheBone]

But the OP said in "the post office..."

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

[user1476656305]

ahhh in the post office.
It would be fine to be called 'love'.
In wales they say 'lovely' which is nice.

[littleshirleybeans]

To me, it's an affectionate term. It doesn't bother me, in fact, I quite like it.

[AwkwardSquad]

The older I get the more patronising I find it! Especially being called 'dear' by a younger person, particularly if male. I call them 'petal' or 'sweetie' in return. The other day a young male chugger tried to attract the attention of me and my friend, both of us older women, by calling us 'girls'. Patronising little shite.

[AwkwardSquad]

Don't mind 'love' so much, actually, as it's a regional term where I live. Like 'pet' in Newcastle.

[MargotLovedTom]

For some reason I don't mind being called 'love' by a man or woman of my mother's generation, but I find it very patronising when it comes from someone my age or younger. There's a school mum I see the odd time who is my age, if not slightly younger, and she always says "You what, love?" at some point if we're talking. I want to reply "I'm not your fucking love," but I haven't as yet.

[sisterignatius]

I too have been called 'love' my whole life, most often by greengrocers and thought little of it. But at the moment that I had to stand there while he waited for me to sign using that ridiculous electronic pad I felt self conscious and even silly.

As I walked back to my car I wondered how a simple transaction could have elicited this low level discomfort and it occurred to me that somehow being called 'love' diminishes you.

[Serialweightwatcher]

In the north we always use 'love', always and it doesn't mean anything but a friendly term - really do think some people can overthink absolutely everything now - chill out

[Nataleejah]

I'm pretty much used to 'love' or 'darling', but constantly hearing 'my princess' from a man i don't know but who lives in the area gets me confused.

[user1476656305]

it does depend on the tone Navy. Perhaps you do not notice such things, which is fine.

[dementedma]

Agree with most posters that in the context given it is friendly and harmless and not remotely offensive.i like it.

[healthyheart]

mygiddyuncle 😀😂

[NicknameUsed]

I live in Yorkshire. Loads of people I have never met before call me love. It's a regional thing.

Are you always this touchy?

[green18]

Not bothered one bit. It's not the word it's the tone and manner that counts really. If he was leary, it's not on. If it was cheery and friendly, no problem.

[mowglik]

user OP was asking about being called love at the post office, shops etc, not being called love by colleagues. And even then I don't see the problem, it's a term of endearment (unless used in a hostile way obviously). I'd rather be called love at the Post office than madam, it's more friendly and less formal

[user1476656305]

oh god save me from all these gritty northerners who insist that there is no offence in anything and if only we lived north of Brum we too could be so wonderful......

[user1476656305]

yes ur right Mow I was just extending it into a 'discussion'