Being called "mate"

[frankiesamson]

Does anyone else find it offensive when a stranger such as a waiter in a restaurant calls you or your dh "mate" or "pal" or "guys"?

No. Why on earth would you?

I secretly don't like it but I would never say anything

Not in the slightest, why does that offend you?

YES

All the men in my office do it and it drives me nuts. It's insecure men who don't know how to relate to other men trying to signal 'I'm not a threat'.

Especially when it's guys, I'm not a guy

I tend to hear "pal "and "mate "as a reference to males, "guys "to a mixed group and "love "to females.

Unless you're in a Michelin star restaurant (where it's far too casual) then I don't personally care.

I got “mate” in Australia, “pal” in Lancashire and “guys” in the States. Doesn’t bother me at all.

I get “love” in London from the taxi drivers these days, don’t mind that either.

Unless someone's intending to be offensive I tend not to get offended. Even then, I can't recall when I last felt offended.

I love saying mate. I'm
Female

Althoguh I know that this varies greatly from country to country but it's not something I hear often where I live and there'd be a little bit of misogyny in it 9 times out of ten where I live. Because it doesn't just ''roll off the tongue'' in my neck of the woods. It'd be a deliberate choice to call a woman ''mate''.

I'd rather madam.

I don't get offended but I do cringe a little.

Btw, I'm not looking to be offended.

OP asked a question. I don't love being called mate. Not that it happens often luckily. I think in Dublin if somebody wanted to shut you down or let you know that you weren't going to get anywhere with them they'd be more likely to say 'pal'. As in sorry pal, I can't give you a discount.

There is a school Dad near me who calls everyone mate. It really annoys me... I want to shout... Just bloody remember people's names!!!

Is “guys” always plural? You don’t hear “Hi guy, what can I do for you?”, do you?

I hate it when I am with someone and we are addressed as "guys". I am female for crying out loud!!