Being called 'flower' by a professional male is not on?

[Elendon]

So I'm getting quotes for work being done to my house and one man, who is a professional in his trade, kept calling me 'flower' over the phone. He's coming tonight to assess the work needed doing, and to be honest, he's my only hope in getting the work done.

Do I just smile and nod?

I just can't get worked up about terms of endearment ... I'm born and bred in the NW of England and it's just a normal part of chatting to anyone to refer to them by some form of endearment instead of their name, I barely even notice it.

One of my friends, on the other hand, hates it and when someone dares to call her "love" or "sweetheart" or "flower" instead of her name, she is very quick to correct them. She is well within her right to do so but I know that quite a few acquaintances think she is rude and don't make much of an effort to talk to her unless they have to.

I had a male colleague who after 3 years still referred to me as "dear".

I made a complaint to our manager in the end.

"The maid!"
I love petal as a response.

'I just can't get worked up about terms of endearment ...'

Likewise. 'Flower' is particularly inoffensive! Maybe he has an annoying manner, though?

In my area it would be "duck".
Not gender specific, but used in a friendly manner.
Personally, I have no problem at all with that or other regional terms.

"Talk about uptight."
Oh here we go, "Can't take a joke" "relax", "it doesn't bother me"

Fine. Don't be bothered. But don't bloody tell me there is something wrong with me making a different choice.
"Flower" would just make me

" She is well within her right to do so but I know that quite a few acquaintances think she is rude and don't make much of an effort to talk to her unless they have to."

They are the rude ones, trying to passive aggressive police someone into submission. Hope she finds some better and more respectful acquaintances.

My relatives (male and female) in West Midlands call me 'flower' and 'me duck'. They never mean it in a derogatory way, it's just being friendly. I think it's lovely. Up here in NE Scotland it's more likely to be 'hen' or 'pal', again just a friendly term.

Reply, sure 'Cock'. It is a term of endearment in the south-east.

notknown I'm not sure what Elendon has done to offend you but it's bizarre how you seem to feel the need to berate her and demand answers to your questions.

I'm going to be honest. Terms like "flower" and "luv" would only upset me if said in a patronising way or a way to shut me down. I don't rerally find them offensive in themselves. Maybe the issue is the way you were said to the OP?

Way THEY WERE said sorry

My dad was born and bred in Sheffield and uses 'petal' and 'flower' for both men and women.

Also rather random that if someone doesn't answer your questions you decide that means you are right, not known.

IloveBanff - your post from waaaaaaaaaay back when - - I bloody love Hattie Jacques

I'm a bugger for using flower, petal, sweetheart, darling; women, men, kids, dogs...it just pours out of me. Not cats though, they don't get my happy names.

But if I ever call you "lady" in a Coronation Street way it's going to be handbags at dawn.

I have a female line manager who is possibly one of the highest paid woman in health who calls me "Honey". She's from the north and I like her so I forgive her.
One of my team is an Irish lass who calls me Darling. She's the sort who just lights up a room. I don't get upset. Another manager calls me His lovely but his husband calls him Duckie so I guess it balances out. I call some of my team sweetheart if there is a very happy or sad announcement. Nobody has objected yet.

Life is far too short to get overly excited or angry about colloquial speech when offence is not intended.

it's not unusual- perhaps he wants you to feel at ease??

It's nice.
Tomorrow I hope to be addressed as flower by a professional man

Slightly off topic, but thank you all, this has settled something that's always bothered me in the Merrily Watkins novels - she calls her daughter Jane "flower" and it always really sets my teeth on edge , it sounded so odd. I'd no idea flower was used in so many areas like hen is in Scotland. My ignorance knows no bounds....!

I think you need to grow up, it’s a harmless expression, better being called that then the c word. This world has got truly ridiculous with how ‘offended’ people get over such stupid matters. Wars are going on and people are being killed, but the thing that gets you concerned is being called flower.
I know this is a very late post, but the point of it is, pull your self together, stop getting offended over silly things and relax a bit.