I love all terms of endearment, and Darling being one of my favourites. My only complaint is when someone younger than me says it to me which then becomes a bit patronising.
Although I can't stand being called dear and "luv" just sounds too common. And "Hun" is painstakingly cringingly awful.
And lastly, I feel sad that the term "duck" "duckie" "meducks" seems to be on the way out now. My nan used to call me that, and I think that in ten or twenty years time there won't be anyone alive who would still be using that expression
Do you mind being called 'Darling' by total strangers? I was listening to Michael Ball on Radio Two and was surprised to hear him call the traffic lady 'darling'. I've noticed him do this on several occasions and it makes me cringe. OK, so he's not exactly a stranger to her but it just seems a bit out of place.
There's a woman who serves in our local village shop who calls everyone 'my darling' and I hate it!! Am I being over sensitive? Is it because neither my parents or close relatives never used that term of affection?
Yes, you are being overly sensitive.
There's no harm in people being friendly. It's something the world needs more of, not less.
Happens here all the time in the North-East. It's just friendliness. Imagine life without these little things, if everyone was formal to each other it would be very dull.
I would never use familiarisms myself with strangers, I am too phish LOL, but I have to say I like it when others use them - in a nice way, of course, as in, hello my darling, what can I get for you, not like as in when a patronising guy says to an angry feminist, get over yourself, luv!
I think I like it more these days because I travel so much, and also where I live in London, almost everyone in retail and hospitality is foreign and doesn't use these old fashioned English terms of affection. It's just nice to hear them and to feel people are being nice to each other.
I love it, especially when I'm having a bad day and some cheery chap addresses me as darling. There's nothing wrong with an endearment, and I'd never get my knickers in a knot about it.
Do you mind being called 'Darling' by total strangers? I was listening to Michael Ball on Radio Two and was surprised to hear him call the traffic lady 'darling'. I've noticed him do this on several occasions and it makes me cringe. OK, so he's not exactly a stranger to her but it just seems a bit out of place.
There's a woman who serves in our local village shop who calls everyone 'my darling' and I hate it!! Am I being over sensitive? Is it because neither my parents or close relatives never used that term of affection?
I couldn't care less.
Beats "yeah ?", a dirty look, or just being blanked by the shop staff in question.
Woman in local shop down the road from me, calls everyone "my love", with a smile. and often has a bit of a chat - I just take it as a gesture of pleasant friendliness, not that anyone she serves is actually "her love".
There is a bloke who sometimes serves there who looks as though it's too much trouble to do anything. Dirty look, something like, "£3.50 mate" is all he will say, and no thank you or goodbye.
A lot round here call people "babe" as well. That doesn't bother me either,
Comments
Although I can't stand being called dear and "luv" just sounds too common. And "Hun" is painstakingly cringingly awful.
And lastly, I feel sad that the term "duck" "duckie" "meducks" seems to be on the way out now. My nan used to call me that, and I think that in ten or twenty years time there won't be anyone alive who would still be using that expression
Yes, you are being overly sensitive.
There's no harm in people being friendly. It's something the world needs more of, not less.
Get a grip
Yeah it is nice to be called darling does make me
Captain Darling to you, Blackadder
What about 'sweet potato pie'?
I sometimes say that.
Depends on the accent I expect.
The only thing that annoys me is when random men tell me to smile. One even said "smile!"..... "no, that's a fake smile."
Well of course it is?! >:(
It doesn't bother me, people don't mean anything by it, they are being nice, so why should I get upset about it?
I think I like it more these days because I travel so much, and also where I live in London, almost everyone in retail and hospitality is foreign and doesn't use these old fashioned English terms of affection. It's just nice to hear them and to feel people are being nice to each other.
That's why I like it. It's a bit arch and silly/affectionate - a bit funny.
I use it a fair bit, I don't think I've offended anyone, but you have to be careful how and to whom you say it.
It's my favourite endearment. I think it's lovely.
I don't like "hun" as it's often used in a really fake or sarcastic manner, at least on the internet.
edit: that`s darlinG not darlin.
I couldn't care less.
Beats "yeah ?", a dirty look, or just being blanked by the shop staff in question.
Woman in local shop down the road from me, calls everyone "my love", with a smile. and often has a bit of a chat - I just take it as a gesture of pleasant friendliness, not that anyone she serves is actually "her love".
There is a bloke who sometimes serves there who looks as though it's too much trouble to do anything. Dirty look, something like, "£3.50 mate" is all he will say, and no thank you or goodbye.
A lot round here call people "babe" as well. That doesn't bother me either,
I would far rather be called that than Hun or Mate, both of which are not regional, just cringeworthy.
Older Norfolk people might address you as "my woman" or "my man" and I like to hear that.
I agree lovely