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?

I suppose it is a cultural/regional thing… in my country you could call a woman a “girl” without too much of a negative connotation. It is a word you use when you are familiar with the person.
But you couldn’t say “darling” without being creepy or really patronizing.

I've been called all sorts over the years:
Love
Darling
Me duck
Chicken
Dearie (bit patronising this) 🙄
My sweet

Generally I'm not bothered really and I think it's easier than trying to remember people's names.

Call me what you like. Darling, love, sweetheart, girl, bitch, I neither mind nor care.
I've had worse.

Got called “my pet” by a lovely lady in Edinburgh airport security.

I don't mind normally but if I feel he's using it in a condescending way I call him "Sweetcheeks"

Doesn't bother me, barley registers to be honest.

Well yes, they might call each other "mate" or similar. But the lady who runs our local tea shop calls me, "love" or "duck" too. I've also be called "darling" by lots of female staff.

For what it's worth I once complained about someone saying "good morning" to me because it was said in a deliberately leering way while looking me up and down. Sounds ridiculous out of context but we all know, really, how something's meant by the way it's delivered.

We all know that there's a nice, innocuous version of a general pet name and one used with an undertone of leer, malice or patronising. Take things in the spirit they're intended, is my philosophy. I don't think there's much to be gained from jumping down the throat of people who are just using it as a natural, kindly turn of phrase.

Got called ‘babes’ once by a young woman. Thought it was quite cute.

It's definitely regional. I speak to people from London to Cumbria and I can usually tell where they're from depending what name they use
Duck is a common one, and people use that to male or female (every other word is "thanks duck")
My grandad calls me cocker, and he also calls my dad that too
My lover is another one I am used to and pet as well

No. That's what I call men and women every day.

I don't mind but when everyone gets called it, it doesn't seem as nice if that makes sense.
I only use darling, sweetheart, lovely etc on people I genuinely like or love, not just on anybody.

I call everyone love/lovely at work because it fits in with the ethos of my workplace (or maybe doesn't). There are bigger things to be offended over.

Plus I'm northern so it goes with who I am!

As long as he wasn't having a tommy tank over the phone at the same time there really is nothing to be offended by!

Pet names are all about the tone and situation. Sometimes it's nice, some times neutral, sometimes makes me want to tell the person to f off.

Flower is a good one to use too! 😂🌸

Where I live it's 'hen'

Thanks hen
Two sugars hen

No, it doesn't bother me. Better than being called something horrible 😂

This is something I can never identify with. I very rarely have a need to call anyone by name to their face 😅

Up here in Scotland, workies often call you doll. And I take no offence. 'Cos there's way bigger things in life that us women can be genuinely offended by.

I love it when they call me darlin' 🤩

I can't stand being called "darling" by anyone other than my husband or parents. I also can't stand "mate", especially when used in an aggressive manner. Not offended by either, just dislike them (and I know they are not meant literally)!

I'm out of step with most here it seems. And also a Northerner, with Irish roots. But language is power. I am not your duck, your love, or any other "pet" name because I'm not your pet. You may be able to call me Quevas. I'm usually fine with that. But if I'm not it's Reverend Doctor...., thank you very much.

I find it hard to get myself too worked up by this. I'm a GP and patients quite often call me "sweetheart", "darling", "love" etc. It's just an endearment, and largely a cultural thing. Where I live it is common in areas of low socioeconomic status, so it would feel a bit snobby of me to go judging them for talking in a way that I deem improper. They don't mean any harm by it, and I'm a big believer in taking things in the manner they were intended.

I'm northern, widowed and old - so the more the better! :-)