Crosswords0 min ago
weird one here....
21 Answers
ok this bugged me this afternoon i was talking to customer services on line and the woman ( english) kept calling me 'petal'. I really don't know why but this offended me -then straightaway I felt ridiculously pompous for feeling offended - but I did - I've been called 'flower' 'doll' 'pet' and 'darling' with no adverse effect - just 'petal' really got to me -how weird is that ? - oh and are there any names ( not rude ones) that really 'get' you?
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For me, it depends upon the circumstances. For example, if someone bumps into me in a pub and says "Sorry, mate", I appreciate his apology and I'm not in the least bothered that a total stranger has addressed me as 'mate'. But if I'm talking to someone in a customer service role (e.g. a hotel receptionist), who greets me with "Yes, mate?" I want to strangle his employer (not him) for failing to provide the employee with proper training.
Sometimes, of course, the use of 'pet' names can be a local thing. When I lived in Sheffield, both male and female bus drivers would address all of their customers (of either gender) as 'luv'. People who lived in Sheffield thought nothing of it but I've known plenty of visiting men to be 'put out' by another man addressing them in that way.
Me? I tend to address people whom I bump into (for example) as 'guv' or (more usually) 'squire' if they're male. (e.g. "Oops, sorry squire. I didn't see you there"). If they're female I'll call them 'love'. (However when I'm interviewing members of the public I'll always stick to 'sir' and 'madam').
Sometimes, of course, the use of 'pet' names can be a local thing. When I lived in Sheffield, both male and female bus drivers would address all of their customers (of either gender) as 'luv'. People who lived in Sheffield thought nothing of it but I've known plenty of visiting men to be 'put out' by another man addressing them in that way.
Me? I tend to address people whom I bump into (for example) as 'guv' or (more usually) 'squire' if they're male. (e.g. "Oops, sorry squire. I didn't see you there"). If they're female I'll call them 'love'. (However when I'm interviewing members of the public I'll always stick to 'sir' and 'madam').
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Petal is annoying, I haven't heard that for years. I used to hate being called 'duck'. Where I worked I had telephone contact with a lot of people from the Sheffied/Rotherham area, everyone was called 'duck'. But coming from West Yorkshire we call people 'Love' quite a lot, and I'm guilty of that at times. Nowadays I'm called 'sweetheart' (being old I suppose), a bit condescending I think.
Don't mind any pet or familiar address used by anyone according to custom.
What I hate is salesmen who address me straightway as' Fred' . I'm their potential customer, not their friend or relation! If they're lucky , I'll be paying their wages, through a sale, not going on holiday with them (and how unlucky they'd be then!).
I have noticed I am now old enough to be called 'young man' by Londoners. Last time I was called 'young man' was when I was not yet a grown man. The oddities of usage!
What I hate is salesmen who address me straightway as' Fred' . I'm their potential customer, not their friend or relation! If they're lucky , I'll be paying their wages, through a sale, not going on holiday with them (and how unlucky they'd be then!).
I have noticed I am now old enough to be called 'young man' by Londoners. Last time I was called 'young man' was when I was not yet a grown man. The oddities of usage!
Hun really grates though does'nt offend - and another female calling me 'mate' does aswell - seems very strange but then I'm getting old and grumpy. Got called 'babe' by an old (male) schoolfriend not long ago and did't like the conotations of that one - oh now i sound like a grumpy old codger...lol! Must admit it does matter who is saying it. On the other side - I lived in north America for 10 years and absolutely LOVE being called ma-am!
I was in intensive care in hospital last year. I had tubes coming out of every orifice, looked like death warmed up and my hair was a rats nest. The nurse didn't use my name once and kept addressing me as "gorgeous." If I'd had the strength, I would have given her a piece of my mind for being so bloody patronising.
