Was DH being unreasonable?

[smileygrapefruit]

DH just walked to the shop for a few bits, got to the check out and said "Morning love, crazy weather out there!" She refused to serve him because he'd called her love. For context, we're in Yorkshire where every one calls every one love, DH calls his male friends love. This will probably divide opinion on MN but I'm wondering if it served him right or whether the lady should have served him? He had to walk as we can't get the car out due to the snow and the next shop is going to be a good 40 min walk each way!

@Smudge100
I once complained when a male member of staff in Sainsbury's called me 'love' in a very abrasive fashion, on the basis that I pay his wages, so he's no business patronising me'.

I bet that went down well .

I live in Yorkshire, and, like many others have commented, I hate being called love. It is worse when the person calling me love is much younger than me! I don't think that "duck" is used as much as it was, thankfully. My husband is from Essex and he once called me "girl" never again, once and I told him that I was a woman, not a girl, and if he had dared called me "woman" I would still be single! The shop assistant was totally wrong by refusing to serve you DH. Write/ email/ call their head office and complain xx

Flipping heck! I like being called love, pet, darling and duck, especially by older people. I am a feminist and northern. I didn’t read the end of this thread did he go back? Did she serve him?

Can't we just embrace regional dialects, differences, habits, greetings etc in the same way that we (kind of) do with accents? James Martin and Steph McGovern (for example) have some strong (and justifiable IMHO) views on this. You wouldn't dream of telling Steph to use RP English - she has a proud NE heritage. Her accent and use of English is surely part and parcel of who she is, what makes her good, professional and likeable.

I have no problem with being called any of the terms mentioned here. The idea of taking offence because someone has the temerity to address me as 'pet' or 'love' is just ludicrous.

Someone called me babe the other night. A southerner, probs 20 years younger than me. “Alright babe?” hr said. It’s so affectionate. I love stuff like that. I like being a cocker too!!!

Smudge are you joking with that comparison?!?

Anyone who utters the words " l pay your wages" is a bigger prick than anyone calling someone "love" will ever be.

Seriously. Is it patronising if a woman calls a man Love?! Or when a man says it to a man? Or a woman to a woman? If not then you are the sexist one.

When a man calls a middle aged woman 'love' it's the equivalent of calling them a white nigger

Wow, not how I take it at all.

To PP who said thwy would be upset if they were my husband, he was. He was quite shaken up by it, totally shocked. Fwiw I heard him talking to a male friend today and the call ended with "alright Love, see you then"

Anyone who utters the words " l pay your wages" is a bigger prick than anyone calling someone "love" will ever be

I agree

She's an effing fruit loop!
Easy to say, 'I prefer not to be called Love' if it bothers her that much.
Sounds to me as if she shouldn't be working in a customer-facing role. Job in a lighthouse, maybe? Silly cow.

Of course she should have served him - what the hell is wrong with people nowadays ... at least it's a term of endearment (I'm in Yorkshire too and get called it all the time) - could have been worse - he should have called her an anal cow

She took it a bit far but I admire her spirit.

Unless your husband would be employing such endearments equally to a man serving him, of course.

I really don't care how it went down. If a black shopper had been accosted by a staff member with the salutation, 'Hey, nigger!' would you expect them just to ignore it? When a man calls a middle aged woman 'love' it's the equivalent of calling them a white nigger. Some people need educating about how their attitudes impact on others so don't display your ignorance, sparklebluebird or whatever you call yourself.
Wtf
Oh, and you don't pay their wages

Butchy he does!!

Butchy he does!!

He calls them "love/sweetheart", etc?

How do they respond?

When a man calls a middle aged woman 'love' it's the equivalent of calling them a white nigger.

What a load of bollocks. What does that even mean?

Are you middle-aged? I am (in my head) and I have no problem with it at all.

Can someone please explain to me how calling a woman 'love' is on a par with calling a black person the 'n' word - I'm not even going to type it.

I'm a woman of older years and I have no problem with anyone calling love, duck, darling etc, as long as it's not said in a 'now look here love' kind of way. Although I'm not too keen on madam oddly enough.

No, love is nothing like sweetheart here. It's not even really a term of endearment, I don't know how to explain. I don't think it's the majority but it is not particularly unusual for men to call each other love here.

My DH's dad was a yorkshireman and I have heard him call his mates/brother/publlican as 'love'. I was shocked the first few times and then got used to it. Never heard anyone else do it, though. Brings back memories, OP.

My DH also calls other men love at times too - it's quite normal in Yorkshire as others have said. Just think the world is becoming such a sad place when niceties (and just about everything can) cause such offence to some people

He calls them "love/sweetheart", etc How do they respond

Men say it to everyone, including other men in Yorkshire.

That's insane!