So what should I call you, dear.

[UncleEbenezer]

Local idioms can be a bit disconcerting.

The Cornish will routinely address you as My Lover. Just occasionally one may have an "if only" moment.

[servodude]

I lived in Sheffield in the 1990s. I was about 30 amd could be 'duck', 'love', 'flower', and 'darling' in the Harvester before even reaching the salad bar.

And that was from men and women. Men calling each other 'darling'and 'love' in the ex mining communities was a bit startling at first.

The first words I heard in Sheffield were "where to, love?" from a big Sikh guy driving the taxi I jumped in at the station.
It was rather unexpected

[bungeejumper]

The Cornish will routinely address you as My Lover. Just occasionally one may have an "if only" moment.

[Bminusrob]

I am increasingly irritated by being called 'darling', 'my love', 'my lovely', 'dear', 'sweetheart' etc, etc.

This is usually from shop assistants - and when I remonstrate with them - they look surprised.

I was particularly upset by being called 'my love' by the receptionist at my dental practice. I'm spending a small fortune on extensive dental treatment and she still can't be bothered to use my name.

I don't think it is because I am old (I don't regard myself as THAT old) - because I hear them talk to other customers/patients the same way.

It used to just be motor mechanics and builders who called you 'darling' (and looked over your shoulder to find your husband). Nowadays, everyone's at it.

FWIW - I don't actually mind being called 'mate' - which indicates talking to someone on the same level. The same (usually) man saying 'sweetheart' is talking down.

Is it just me??

It may be for self-protection purposes. These days, if you call a woman "madam", or a man "sir", but they identify as some other gender, you are well on the way to being sacked or sent for "re-education". Don't even get me started on this topic, and as I identify as the Archbishop of Canterbury, you had better address me as "your grace", or there will be trouble.

[CliffEdge]

I generally address everyone as "Bruce".

[Rhyd6]

Our South Walian friend calls me 'Butty Bach'. My father used to take the line that 'you can call me anything you like except late for my dinner'.
We all greet another friend with the term 'Old Wazzock' why I have no idea.

R6

[Dicky99]

I generally address everyone as "Bruce".

Can't imagine how any woman could find objection in that

[Urbandreamer]

I generally address everyone as "Bruce".

Can't imagine how any woman could find objection in that

Shirley (don't call me Shirley) women are called Sheila.

[Mike4]

Our South Walian friend calls me 'Butty Bach'. My father used to take the line that 'you can call me anything you like except late for my dinner'.
We all greet another friend with the term 'Old Wazzock' why I have no idea.

R6

What does "Butty Bach" mean? I encounter it quite often when there is a Wales dimension to whatever is going on.

The one exception was a really rather good draught ale called Butty Bach sold in large volumes in The canal-side Rock of Gibralter pub in Oxfordshire. No Welsh connection there I could ever divine.

[tjh290633]

Our South Walian friend calls me 'Butty Bach'. My father used to take the line that 'you can call me anything you like except late for my dinner'.
We all greet another friend with the term 'Old Wazzock' why I have no idea.

R6

Coming from the Forest of Dean, I am quite used to being addressed as "Old But/Butty". Basically a butty is a co-worker in your colliery. Dennis Potter did not appreciate being addressed that way in Oxford.

Ow bist, old but? Is a typical Forest greeting.

How are you, my friend? Is a translation Into BBC English.

TJH

[Rhyd6]

TJH is quite correct, your Butty is your mate. My OH (English) was completely confused to hear my friend declare that he was "taking his butties to Blackpool" and queried why he was taking sandwiches to the seaside when he sould surely buy some there. Poor beggar he's never been allowed to forget that mistake.

R6

[marronier]

Hay you gorrer loit ,boy?

[stewamax]

I call my GP Doctor X and she calls me Mr Stewamax.
Sometimes I have needed to write a detailed note to her. I assume that it is scanned and goes on my medical record.

On the couple of occasions I have needed to thank her, I have used her forename instead, and have done the same to her colleague. They are both urbane GPs and would construe the convention that these particular missives were personal and not to be scanned after receipt.

[jfgw]

Call me anything you like (within reason). Call me "dear", "darling", "my love", "my lovely", "honey", whatever. I don't care what you call me, whether you are a young woman, an old woman, a man in a suit, a man in a dress, or anyone-else. (Ok, a thirteen year-old calling me "my love" might make me feel uneasy.) "Mate" comes across to me as being unprofessional but, if that is what you want to call me, I don't care. There are plenty of more serious things to worry about in this world.


Julian F. G. W.

[UncleEbenezer]

Call me anything you like

Th'art a scurvy knave and poltroon, scarce fit to wipe the stool of honest men, oh fancy-boots-no-pants.

[jfgw]

Call me anything you like

Th'art a scurvy knave and poltroon, scarce fit to wipe the stool of honest men, oh fancy-boots-no-pants.

Rec given.

Any advance on that?


Julian F. G. W.

[gryffron]

I am increasingly irritated by being called 'darling', 'my love', 'my lovely', 'dear', 'sweetheart' etc, etc.
FWIW - I don't actually mind being called 'mate'
Is it just me??

No, it's everyone from That-Larndan. "Mate" is definitely Larndan. And you're the only people who complain about the other terms.

Up North we also have duck, chuck, petal, and so many more we've given up worrying about it.

Though I have to confess when I went to Sheffield Uni as a teenager (1980's) I too was at first quite shocked by local men calling me "love".

Gryff