To ask what you think when women use the word ‘darling’?

[Castleofdreams]

Like calling other people, both women and men, darling as a term of endearment or just in normal conversation like "darling can you pass me the.."

Anyone remember this from Ed Stewpot Radio 1 Junior Coice show

www.radiorewind.co.uk/sounds/hello_darling.mp3

Also made me smile. I use the term to dh and dcs and sometime to dc friends - always with genuine affection. I'm not posh.

I know lots of males and females that use the word darling (probably more younger males) but i know many people that say love, honey, gorgeous, sweetie etc.

I don’t say these things as I can’t pull them off unless I’m dealing with a very upset child but I love it when other people say them.

I know men have got in trouble for using them which is absolutely ridiculous and shows that people will try and be offended over anything.

It totally depends on the woman. My mother has called me darling for as long as I can remember (not in a Patsy and Eddie way, in a west coast of Scotland way).

Me and DH call each other darling. I call dogs darling occasionally.

fine if its a northerner saying it.
Sounds condescending when coming from a southerner though.

That’s ridiculous!!

I would actually say Northerners say more things like ‘love’ and other similar terms.

Whereas whenever I hear the word ‘darling’ I instantly think of young men in areas like London as that’s where I’ve heard it the most.

Neither sound condescending when they say it.

I would think they were being ironic and channeling their inner Edina.

Where I live, yes I'd say so for women, along with 'sweetie'.
For men, absolutely not. You still get the 'Awright Darlin' from vans/building sites.

I don't mind any form of endearment from another woman actually, I find it warm and friendly.

I think it only works if the speaker is ridiculously posh.

I think it depends on the accent. "Darling" down south isn't nearly as nice as a "darlin" in an northern accent.

It’s all about context. Depends who is saying it and how.

I come from a family of working class Londoners and basically we all get called darlin’, love or mate. Whenever I think of my late nan, who was the kindest, jolliest lady I’ve ever met, I think of her beaming at me and saying “Hello darlin’!” as she was really excited to see me every single time we met.

I call my DP/ DCs and other close people darling and sweetie.
I realise typing this I am Patsy Stone and must stop immediately, darling sweetie.

It's my surname so I have a soft spot for being called 'darling'

I love it

I think "angel" is twee though. Darling = OK

And that, dear reader, is the North/South divide beautifully captured 😄

Very glad I live in the friendly North where I hear all sorts of terms of affection daily: love, pet, darling, sweetheart. Brings a smile between strangers!

I can't say I've ever been called darling really, or if I have I haven't noticed. It's like everything else really, only noticeable if it's being used in a patronising or derogatory way.

It is patronising

I use it with friends, and my kids’ friends. Or ‘darl’ which is a bit more Aussie I think? Never, ever at work. And never, ever ‘old cock’ despite thinking that particular term of endearment is the absolute best there is.

I call my children and DH Darling, but not anyone else.

I call everyone 'Love' though as I'm dreadful at names, however I've only started doing this in the last few years, not sure how I picked it up (probably because it's trendy) but I like it and it feels more motherly than 'mate' and less pretentious than 'dude' which were the terms I used to use.

I do still use Mate every now and then, but I'm 46 now, so terms like 'duuuuude' just sound weird and a bit try hard!!

I think it's different coming from women though as we tend to call everyone the same thing, men will only call women 'darling' or 'love' and that's when it comes across as sexist.

Men will often say they "call everyone 'darling'" but they never do.
Has anyone ever seen a man call another man that they don't know 'darling' ? especially in a professional sense?

My bugbear is ‘love’

Ok from someone older. (Nice lady in the shop – ‘there you go love’)

But from younger people - euw. Please stop.

Absolutely. I unconsciously call all my DC's friends honey/ darling/ love/angel: they're all boys (mainly teens/ older teens) and they smile. It's just part of who I am. I also use it with friends/ work colleagues (yes, men too). It's been in me since growing up (mam/ aunts).

The previous poster who would take offence is a curmudgeonly arse.

I do think its an age and sex thing as well though,

A young man calling me darling is utterly cringe most of the time.*
An old man calling me darling is just eurghh most of the time, *
A young woman calling me darling, is ok, but a bit weird.
An old woman calling me darling is fine.

Maybe its one of the only times agism works in favour of old women?? What does that say?

I have no idea of where the lines are drawn between young and old. I guess that's down to the individual. At mid forties, for me, I guess 'young' would be 18 - 30 and 'old' would be anything older than me.

*I say 'most of the time' as in some circumstances, some men sound endearing when they say it, but it's rare, and there's no set criteria as to who and when. depends on the person and situation.

I’m in the north and it’s commonly used amongst strangers, eg in a shop when the pass you your change “thanks my love” or “thanks darling”. Upset child “you’re alright darling” etc

Fake. I know a lady like this.
Calls everyone darling, sweetheart, angel, gorgeous etc. I just cringe. She's very 2 faced about everyone also.

I call my kids and nieces/nephews darling affectionately. Never thought it was remarkable.

I also call close adults (family, close friends) darling to gently tease them if they're being daft. "We can't go that way darling, it's a one way street". If anyone takes offence they haven't told me.

Pretty sure midwives called me darling when I was giving birth. I found it reassuring.