Strangers using familiar pet names with you?

I hate it, even more so when people use my name because they read my name tag at work

Yes, it does freak me out a little when strangers call me baby type names.

I'm not a fan of being called names, unless it's by someone that's significantly older than I am. If someone's 75+ or so, I don't mind it so much. Other than that, annoys the hell out of me. Condescending as hell, I think. The only time I'll call someone by a familiar name if I don't know them is if it's a very young child.

I lived in NYC for a number of years working in retail. I used names like have been mentioned frequently, but it worked in with my job. I also knew when to use them and when not to. Being around people so much, you get a feel for who will be receptive and who would not be. I rarely used them with those I could tell were native New Yorkers. Tourists tended to love it, though, especially Southerners or Midwesterners. I guess I am just used to it because I grew up in the Midwest where it is a fairly common practice.

I grew up in the south where it is extremely common for people call complete strangers by "pet" names. I don't really do it myself, but it doesn't bother me other people do.