to really like being called 'Love', 'darling' etc by total strangers?

[BrahmsThirdRacket]

I know loads of people complain about people who work in shops, nurses, bus drivers etc. calling them 'love', 'pet', 'darling' etc. But I really like it, especially when nurses do it when you're having a blood test or some other slightly icky procedure. Makes me feel comforted!

I do it myself (I'm from the Midlands, where it's common practice) and like it when it happens to me, but only if it's done in the same spirit.

What I hate is when people appropriate my first name (or anyone's first name) without asking. Makes me feel like saying, "That's Ms. Smith to you!" It particularly gets my goat when it happens in news stories, particularly when people have died or been injured, it seems disrespectful to me.

I find it really comforting too .

I like it too. But agree "mate" is horrible.

where are all those who hate being called "love/pet/dear?

The rather gorgeous young man in my local coffee shop calls me "Babe". I buy coffee there as often as I can.

I like it very much too, I like mate as well.

Endearments to and from total strangers give me the feeling that not everyone is a total bastard and there's more friendliness than unpleasantness in the world.

I don't mind it, but the one that gets my goat is being called 'Mummy' by HCPs when I take one of the DDs to the doctor/hospital etc.

And I don't like them using my first name when I have to address them as Dr Surname, as I think it's patronising. Of course, if I can use their first name too, it's absolutely fine.

I use mate a lot, maybe because I am a Londoner by birth and it seems more common there. We did live in Nottingham for a year and I loathed being called duck or ducky. Not sure why. I tend to call children sweety or love because I am rubbish at names.

I don't mind being called love and sweetie, but hate dear, ducky or babe. And I don't like being called 'mummy' by anyone else but my DC, too.

I say duck, ducky and dear to nearly everyone.

I say 'Darling' to people and I love it when people say it to me too.

A few years ago I worked with a lady who called everyone 'pet' or 'poppet'. She was very kind-hearted and I'm reminded of all the nice things she did when I hear anyone use those terms now. I think it's lovely.