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.."

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 agree and don't understand why people get themselves worked up about stuff like this. I find it good natured and friendly. I call my children 'love' and 'sweetheart' and find myself doing it with other children, but not with adults (it doesn't come naturally to me), but I really don't mind other adults saying it to me at all. It's generally well meaning.

I like a term of endearment, even - perhaps especially - when it's a bit of warmth in an otherwise transactional and forgettable exchange between strangers. But then I'm Northern and have no inclination to scan for offense where none was intended

Personally, I love Edna. She's my favorite.

I often call DP "my darling" and occasionally one of the grandchildren. I don't have an opinion about other people using the word.

It reminds me of Charlotte Tilbury adverts. She’s always saying it to everyone. I think it’s okay if the tone is right - the ‘fabulous, dahling!’ kind of greeting to near-strangers seems very fake.

I use it a lot. To my DC, their friends, strangers.

I’m very poor at facial recognition and use darling till I get clues to help me realise who I’m speaking to.

I'm not a fan of angel, sorry.

Fine for your own children IMO, but a bit much for a friend or random.

It depends on the person saying it. I like terms of endearment. I loved my old colleague and how she used to ask, “You alright, darling?” yet I really loathed a former school mum’s use of (super posh) “Oh daaarling, that’s terrible, terrible news! Oh you poor thing!” rubbing her hands as schadenfreude hit that sweet spot.
From one person, darling oozes warmth. From another, well… it can make that person sound like a condescending wanker.

I do miss people in London saying ‘love’, as in ‘you’re alright, love’. In the early 90s, it was a more down to earth city and people’s language used to reflect that more.

That they should stop it. I have a name.

best not to go down the class route !

My bloke thinks it’s his name.

It's a lovely term of endearment.
Also useful when you have a large family and lots of pets and when you try to call someone by their proper name go through three of four names before you get the correct one.

Much rather darling than 'hun' which makes me cringe

I call my DC and close friends darling.

Angel sounds quite common to me.

I like it. I'm here for all the darlings, loves, sweethearts, sweeties. I'm not even mad at the odd hun.

I frequently call my DC darling, it’s a term of endearment, why anyone would judge baffles me.

My dad has always called me darling
I use it on for my husband and children
my husband calls me darling

We are in London/ have always been here so not a northern thing here!

Agree that Angel sounds like it belongs in Eastenders.

Darling is something I use often, and it probably does annoy people as I have an RP accent.

Has someone criticised you for it OP? It seems an odd thing to be focussed on.

None of them really bother me, one term I really like though is in Cornwall when someone calls you "my lover"

I grew up thinking I was Jesus Christ

don't mind, don't care

Used to have a female colleague who would call EVERYONE names like Angel, beautiful girl, beauty, gorgeous even baby or bubba.
She was very fake.

It makes me feel they are Patronising.