When tradesmen call you 'darling'

[Marie0001]

I just had a call from a Dyno Rod appointment - they are coming out today to fix an issue and the man was perfectly polite but then proceeded to call me darling on the phone. This does make me feel uncomfortable! AIBU?

The brilliant Ian Mckellen
https://m.facebook.com/johnbishoponline/videos/the-word-that-makes-the-world-a-better-place/2439208206227664/

I saw this and he's absolutely right

Darling is better than Hun. I hate being called “ Hun” either by males of females. But that’s just my hang up.

A few days ago there was a topic about calling woman at the office “the girls” and everyone thought that was patronizing. I am not a native speaker and i cannot figure out why calling a woman “girl” is really wrong but calling her “darling” or “love” is fine

I tend to call people sweetheart, though once did it on a business call

I would never use any of those terms myself, but I wasn't brought up in Britain.

When he said love/darling etc, you could just say 'Oh, its Marie BTW'

In Glasgow I get called doll a lot. Makes me feel like James Cagney's moll.

Doesn’t bother me.

I don't mind darling, love, pet, duck, lovely etc.

The only one I can't stand is flower because it always sounds SO patronising to me for some reason. Maybe just a regional thing though.

I like it and "love". It reminds me of my DF.

Truly? Are you okay???

I prefer more formal address but accept it as it's said very casually I'd end up arguing with everyone over it. I don't personally use such terms with people other than my close family.

If I ever had a tradesman tell me they'd be out the same day, they could call me Big Beautiful Bernard from Brum if they liked.

I say this all the time too.

Almost a full house. I don't think anyone's said "yes, of course they'd say the same to a man" yet. But it'll come.

What are you bothered about? Was he failing to respect your pronouns????

It's fine 🤣

I reared back in horror when I heard a bloke call my father 'me lover'. It was just his lingo!

Tradesmen usually call DH "mate" and me "love" or "darling". Doesn't bother either of us. In Essex so perhaps it's an Essex thing.
DH calls them mate back, I use their name.

Everyone finds something to be offended about these days

it's gone past ridiculous now

Doesn’t bother me. They’re just being friendly, similar to how they’d call someone ‘mate’, ‘love’, ‘bro’, ‘duck’, ‘babe’, take your pick!

I don't love it but usually can suck it up if I feel it's just an instinctive way of referring to people. But it needs to be consistent. A man was calling me "love" the other day then turned to a man and called him "sir". That pissed me off. If I'm darling, then DH needs to be at least "mate".

Oh come on...

I love 'alright sweedart' 🤣

Why would it never be ok ?

Think you’re being a little unreasonable. I like it when they call me darling or love. They’re usually very sweet and not creepy so I see it as harmless