People calling you ‘love’

[FerryYaBerryLa]

Right so I’m late 30s and I feel like this has started happening recently.

I don’t mind it from people much older, but I’ve noticed people younger in their 20s have started to do it, and to be honest it’s pissing me right off 😆

I find it oddly rude tbh. (I know that’s obviously not the intent). Haven’t fully put my finger on it, but feels like it has a patronising, gendered vibe to it.

I feel like it’s the equivalent of calling any man you meet who is 5+ years older than you ‘fella’ or something. ‘You alright fella!’ – weird.

AIBU?

I quite like it but I suppose it depends how it's said.

Maybe it's because you're getting old. So before it felt like everyone calling you 'love' was older than you, which was acceptable. But now a proportion of those using 'love' are actually younger than you.

People here in general would think it more rude if you didn’t use love, pet, duck at very opportunity 😂

Ps. I'm 49 so many people are younger than me! I like it on any age but probably not a smarmy man in a suit or a super cool looking millennial I guess.

I prefer it to Madam, everytime someone calls me that I mutter I don't run a brothel 😂

I love it! I am from Yorkshire though 😆

Absolutely this.

My 29 year old niece calls me her auntie 48 love and I love it ! See it as slightly sarcastic.

This. It would feel odd if people didn’t say love or flower or even duck here!

Can’t pretend I’m fond of ‘darlin’ or ‘sweetheart’ though. They always seem more derogatory and patronising to me.

It's lovely ! It's a northern thing really. But I always feel back at home when I hear it

Again a few of my friends use that. Maybe it's a regional thing

I probably wouldn't bother trying to be friendly with that person ever again

Oh gosh. I have a younger (10 years) gay male colleague who calls me darling, I always thought it was lovely.

Agree that love is very northern and a term of endearment, but can be used in a passive aggressive way.

I live in Yorkshire and feel a little sad when someone DOESN'T call me love! I honestly like it. It's said so affectionately here and women say it to other women, to men etc. It's not just men saying it to women. When people from other regions say it I often think it's a working class thing and I still like it.

I absolutely hate it because it’s so patronising. I never know what to say back.

They're trying to be nice to you. It's a term of endearment.

Doesn’t feel ’nice’. Creepy coming from men, IMO

My nan, born Lancs but living in Plymouth called everyone 'pet lamb' or 'my lover'. She was lovely.
If she didn't like you, she called you something else entirely.

I had cause to think about this because my dentist’s receptionist called me “darling” when I was speaking with her over the phone this afternoon. I’m quite scared of the dentist and have had a total nightmare with my teeth in last 5 years (which is still ongoing). I found it quite comforting, TBH. Maybe it depends on context.

Used in working class communities in London, regardless of age - often from older to younger people.

and viewed as a British thing
englishlive.ef.com/blog/language-lab/sweetheart-love-darling-typical-british-terms-endearment/

greatbritishmag.co.uk/uk-culture/why-do-some-brits-call-strangers-love-dear-or-duck/

Being from Yorkshire, I’m ‘guilty’ of saying ‘love’ although I never say it to a total stranger.

What I really find patronising (being an oldie) is when someone calls me ‘young lady’ when I’m clearly old enough to be their granny!!

I like it. My DF used to call me love.

Yes, you are rude.

why be so miserable??