To ask if you get called dear or darling in shops and how old you are?

[wondering1101]

Because I am sure this is happening more to me now that it used to - I am late 40s. And I don’t like it .

Am in London as well - not a small place where everyone knows everyone and might feel affection towards regulars...

I’m 30. I don’t like it either; I find it exceptionally patronising.

I'm 33 and I've been called far worse...

A teenager called me dear the other week in wilco, but the week before I had an appointment and they asked me if I was the child or the parent? And then called me a young lady. I too am in my 40's. 🤔

I'm 31 and regularly get called 'hen' by middle aged/older women. I'm in Glasgow, totally normal here and not patronising. I assume dear/darling is the English equivalent.

I'm 33 and get "love" all the time, but not dear or darling. I don't mind it but dear would sound a bit odd to me.

24, with an average (not older or younger) looking face 🤷🏼‍♀️

I get called darling or lovely often.i call people lovely or honey regardless of gender or age.there are much worse things to be called!!

I was called Madam recently, count your blessings 😊. Im 40s

Love mostly, but that might be a regional thing. I'm late 30's.

I find it patronising too. Leaves me annoyed and kind of powerless feeling.

The other day the man in the post office used the word dear three times in the same conversation with me. Today I was “darling” in Boots. I am not your darling. I immediately think I must look really old.

Its regional, a bit. I think.

I get "deared" and "love" and so on, but then, I am in my 70s.

No I get called Madam too justforthis .

Maybe dear / darling is not an age thing then... Depending on context I find it kind of demeaning.

Will try to calm down .

Still don’t like it though

I'm 54 & I'm getting it more & more. I got repeatedly called 'pet' in the supermarket recently by a young woman aged about 20. I'm not in an area where 'pet' is in common useage and it just sounded so patronising. I was so irritated by it I'm afraid I told her so. I'm menopausal & grumpy

It's ''Me duck'' round here. Usually men over 35ish to women of any age. Sometimes older women use it too.

You get the occasional person who seems use darling, love, sweetheart all the time. (Where i grew up in West London that was more prevalent than where i live now)

I'd say there's no more or less of it now i'm 50 than there was before.

There is a woman in Tescos that calls everyone "dear" or "darling". Actually grates my teeth.No idea why I feel so stabby about it. I think its just her though. O actually avoid her, as she is quite patronising with it.
I am West of Scotland area and also get called "hen", don't mind it.

Yes Drama I get you.

Why would it happen to people more as they get older?? Do we look incapacitated or in need of being patronised because our faces sag relatively more than they used to?

I like it, don’t find it patronising- just friendly! Mid-thirties here. Probably look older.

I occasionally get called 'duck' where I live but it applies to all ages. I lived in London in late 70s to 80s and got called 'love' all the time, it was normal then. In Bristol, early 70s, it was 'lover'.

It's luv or darlin' where I'm from, but usually from a middle aged man. Darlin' (darling) feels a bit more patronising/pervy than luv. Haven't had it for a while though.

I called a scaffolder love earlier in a really Bristolian accent. I live in Bristol but I'm not from here and don't call people love. It's like my brain malfunctioned.

I always seem to get called it by those older than me. I find it patronising because I look very young for my age, so like you say OP, I do find it demeaning.

I'm 31 and regularly get called 'hen' by middle aged/older women. I'm in Glasgow, totally normal here and not patronising. I assume dear/darling is the English equivalent.

"Hen" is fine. "Young lady", "young girl", "dear", "darling", "pet" etc, etc by strangers is not. I'm 40.

In hospitals. I'm going to start calling the consultants luvvie and if they bristle say if it's fine for their staff to call me dear, love, darlin, they can lump it.

I got called Princess the other day by a 30 something male. I'm 50. I didn't know whether to feel flattered or to thump him 😁

I travel quite a bit over the country, and get called sweetie, love, duck, bab, hun, treacle, and all manner of things. It's definitely regional.

But I have absolutely no problem with it whatsoever, and actually find it quite endearing. I'm not sure why anyone would offended by someone being friendly to be honest!

I think some people just look for something to be offended by.