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?

You must be stoke way!!

I like it! (But I am from Yorkshire.)

I feel like I didn’t explain well in my OP – from some people I don’t mind it at all – pretty much anyone the same age-ish (or slightly above) and older –lovely! Friendly and warm, everyday.

From someone 15 years younger than me – offputting.

And I’ve also noticed that it’s just started happening recently (don’t feel like I got it often at 35), which I’ve not quite worked out the meaning of (a younger version of ‘dear’?) but pretty sure I don’t like it 😆

It’s often from students, etc. and I don’t think they’d say it to someone the same age. Soooo…. what’s the deal?

(Also duck, my lover, lovely, etc. – always nice, from whoever!)

Isn’t duck more common in Nottinghamshire ? And parts of midlands ?
luv is yorkshire
pet - northumbria
mate- Warrington, Widnes arras

Had them al, as I moved in my life , but oddly down south , kent, Sussex, berks, Hamps ..there doesn’t seem the same local habit- just seemed random

It’s babe I can’t stand. Don’t anything or any one saying anything. But babe drives me mad.

I’ve heard duck used in Leeds and Sheffield

Could be worse Bab.
As they say In my neck of the West Midlands. 😀

I think people read to much into things I really do
I don't call people love or hun or whatever but don't give a crap of people say that to me and its the way they talk ,

That’s soo odd! I only had affectionate older people call me “love”, not young people! If this a new thing these days?

@WednesdaysChild11 bit of a somerset , cornish thing

Haha I’m from W Mids originally :)

@Hbh17 plenty of people say love etc to men as well
Its just the way some talk I think people just look for offence sometimes
If someone hands you change and goes here you go love, then so what . If some says shut up love then maybe be offended
Better then bruh which my teenager sometimes says to me

@healthadvice123 awesome!

Such a coincidence this - I have literally just been complaining to my dh about the two men who did this today - one at a reception desk (about 15 years younger than me) who saw fit to call me both “honey” and “love”and then young man who must’ve been no more than 17 if he was a day calling me (aged 40) “love” at least three times at the McDonald’s drive-through. I had teen dd with me and told her how irritating i find it and said I was going to make a “suggestion” to the manager that they have a word but she didn’t want me to!

I feel like grabbing them by the scruff of the neck and saying “look here sonny jim - refer to me as your “love” again and you’ll be wearing your teeth as a necklace” - it gets right up my nose - unprofessional, overfamiliar and always from a certain demographic of men - usually working class (I’m WC myself btw) but where I live (very MC area) men don’t do this.

My parents called me (and one another) "Love" or "Sweetie"– shortened to "Sweets". The last time I ever spoke to my Mum she said "Goodbye Sweets" right before she put the phone down.
Once my Dad is gone I don't suppose I shall ever hear that again.

20 years ago I was a student lawyer. I walked back from a court visit (part of our course) through the shopping centre in town chatting to a friend on the course, a male student. We were both wearing business suits, dressed for court. Approached by a gentleman with a clipboard doing market research. To my friend (very politely): ‘would you mind completing this survey sir’. To me: ‘could you fill in this form for me love’! 😂

"Love" can be said aggressively, sarcastically or with affection. How it is said makes all the difference.

I like it. It's very normal in Yorkshire and feels friendly. I definitely call everyone love, I hope it doesn't bother anyone.

I don't mind. In the UK only though.😂

I like it too 😂

@CarefreeMe not really care free though are you, if you get offended by friendly terms? 🙄

I’m in Devon, it’s ‘my lover’ down here.

My DH can now be heard to
call other men love. Me and my Yorkshire ways have finally rubbed off on him…😃

I love that in Yorkshire 😊💛

I live in Australia and am in my late 60s, and when called anything, it's "darl", always by middle-aged female checkout assistants. Always in local shops, and never the big chains.

In the north of the UK, "love" was universal, and "cock" mostly for children.