AIBU to object when a bus driver repeatedly called me darling?

[DontDareCallMeDarling]

I caught a bus today to a National Trust property I'm very unfamiliar with. The bus driver told me the bus back to town was across the road from where he dropped me off so of course I waited there.

When a bus turned up the driver said I was at the wrong bus stop and need to be across the road. I was puzzled because that would take me away from where I needed to go. I told him that I'd come from the other direction "No you didn't darling" ... I was adamant that I did, because I know I did. "Sorry darling you didn't"

I replied that I was not his darling. Clearly the original bus driver gave me the wrong information, though I was worried about not getting back, missing the right bus, and having what people often think of as a term of endearment (a matter of opinion) used to try to correct me.

I crossed the road and caught the bus but only just made it. All very confusing.

I like being called Darling, or any other term of endearment.

When I moved to uni in Plymouth it took some time to get used to being called “my lover” by everyone, but I found I miss it now I no longer live there.

Being called darling is the same as mate to me!

@DontDareCallMeDarling

I think every single reply you've posted on here shows that you have an attitude problem.

Other posters are apparently ignorant or stupid or posting questions that are irrelevant.

I dont think you'll get much sympathy for the words someone used when helping you out.

Would you have preferred to miss the last bus as long as you were addressed by your preferred honorific - Madam perhaps?.

I think you were being ridiculous and extremely rude. Many people use words like ‘darling’ and ‘love’ as part of their normal way of speaking without thinking about it, in mix the same way as some people seem to be unable to say any sentence that doesnt include ‘like’.

The fact that you said the bus driver gave you the wrong information is a completely different issue and isn’t what you were asking people’s opinions on.

I have lived in places where, my lover, love, mate, duck and bab are all frequently used. I just can’t get worked up about stuff like this.

I live in Plymouth. It's only here that I've been called my lover

I did have a bus driver called me love. He was just trying to be polite

I'm not too keen on mate or pal. But again I know it's someone being polite

I haven't called anyone ignorant, stupid or any other names or told anyone anything they said is irrelevant. I've replied to posters who are being nasty and assumptive though, assuming I want to complain to the bus company about the guy, that I'm a middle class snob for going to a National Trust place (is it not open to working class people? Silly me!), or wish to be called Madam.

He told me the bus stop was the wrong one, therefore his colleague had given incorrect information. That's helpful.

Saying "No you didn't, darling" is not helpful, but incorrect, and patronising.

I haven't called anyone ignorant, stupid or any other names

I never said you did.

But you're responding to what you think I said, so now I have even less faith in your reporting of events.

QED

I think it's so much of a habit with a lot of people who think they're being warm and friendly and that's usually the intention that they say it without even thinking, it's automatic.

On the other hand, half of Mumsnet is apparently “hard work” to some, it seems.

Love or My Lover is/was the norm here as well, although perhaps not as much as when I was small, I miss it in a strange way.
Most of my Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents used it all the time in greeting anyone.

OP I guess only you know the tone it was delivered in, but I honestly couldn’t get worked up about being called darling, hope you had a nice trip.

Aww 😄 yes, he had a reputation for being fierce, when I first worked for him I was terrified of him, but became very fond of him in the end as he turned out to be a real softie!! 😆

I know! Only on mumsnet can someone diagnose someone's whole character from one thread.

Don't ever catch a bus in Greece - my friend and I were called 'beautiful sexy ladies' by a bus driver in Rhodes. As 50-somethings we were highly amused. It got even funnier as we disembarked and he crashed into a parked car 😅

I think you should just be glad he helped you darling!

Tee hee!

In the SW ‘moy luvver’ is commonplace from women to men