Being called pet names like "Hun" or "Honey"

Contributor: SecondStory SecondStory
I personally don't like it but that might just be because of where I'm from. I think it's a cultural thing.
02/13/2013
Contributor: K101 K101
Quote:
Originally posted by Hummingbird
I'm sure this is just probably me but I have to ask. How many of you out there mind being called Hun, Honey or Sweetie? I get it all the time in restaurants and stores, when I was younger it was the older women saying this, now that I'm ... more
I'm sorry, but I have to say you're being overly sensitive, but hey, the same could be said about how I feel when people refer to a females as "chicks," but I really don't make that big a deal of it. I've only expressed that I dislike it to my partner and to the kids, never to the rest of the world because I don't expect people to know what words to use for every single person. That's just over the top because it's not that big of a deal usually, simple little names. Nobody is intentionally trying to "offend" you by being kind with their words.

I actually have to say I like being called "hon" "honey," and "sweetie." This though, is because I've grown up here in the south and when someone addresses you as one of those names, they're just basically treating you like family. You see what I mean? It may not make sense to people elsewhere who don't see this often, but here, that is all it is. So it's kind of sweet I guess when strangers say that. It's like a way of them saying they accept you and see you as something kind of important to them. Can't explain it well.

I only get called these names by older people. That's about how it works here where I live. Younger people like me don't go around calling everybody these names, but probably because it's names that older people tend to use when referring to younger people and people my age usually only get the chance at the moment to use these words to their kids since we're really not much older than most people to use them.

The only instances I can think of where I've been called these names is out of pure kindness. "Hon, you are so pretty." or "Do you want a Coke, honey or "darling?" And I do refer to people with these words when I view them as my friends and want to be more intimate than just "hey, you." And if someone were offended, then I'd feel like they were not appreciative and overly sensitive. It's not rude to call someone a sweet name, to show that you like them and view them as someone close to your or someone you admire. I personally take more offense to being told "hey sexy ass." That's the kind of thing that is said by a stranger out of negativity (degradation if it's done by a stranger).

I also call the kids "sweetie, darling, precious, angels, sweet baby, etc." It's just my way of expressing deep like or showing someone that I am really fond of them. It's more intimate and personal than "hey, dude" so that is where people who use these words are usually coming from.

I am sorry that it offends you. I hope it won't bother you so much as long as you can see it as something done out of a good, caring heart.
02/13/2013
Contributor: GirlOnGirl GirlOnGirl
It doesn't bother me.
02/13/2013
Contributor: Allstars316 Allstars316
I don't mind. I smile when someone says it. I'm never expecting it.
02/13/2013
Contributor: woodsdragon woodsdragon
I say it as a term of endearment...I never mean any harm by it and hope it doesn't offend people. I don't think anyone would ever mean harm by using it. As a previous waitress I would call people things like hun all the time but also mam and sir. Granted I worked in a Country Club and knew my customers, esp regulars, but I would hate to think that saying something so simple/harmless in my mind would cost me a tip that I had otherwise earned. Maybe let the waitress know you don't like being called that before you lower their tip.
02/13/2013
Contributor: sweetpea12 sweetpea12
Quote:
Originally posted by Hummingbird
I'm sure this is just probably me but I have to ask. How many of you out there mind being called Hun, Honey or Sweetie? I get it all the time in restaurants and stores, when I was younger it was the older women saying this, now that I'm ... more
I don't like it, I think it's annoying. I like it better when he just calls me by my name
02/13/2013
Contributor: *Camoprincess* *Camoprincess*
Being I am from the South I say it and hear it all the time. I even had a guy that was my friend, I sent a message to that said something along the lines of "Hey Hunnie, wanted to see how things were going hope all is well. Keep her between the lines " He stopped talking to me for a bit because he wife freaked out on him. He explained to her I meant NOTHING by it but she wasn't seeing it. Oh well Even down here people look at me like I am stupid or something when I say no ma'am or no sir an use my manners. I was raised that way for Pete Sake.
02/13/2013
Contributor: rosythorn rosythorn
It's sweet! I call ppl that all the time. It helps with large groups of children and you can't remember their names. Also I call my bf, my parents, friends, siblings. Etc. It's nice, I'ts not meant to be offensive at all.
02/13/2013
Contributor: Incendiaire Incendiaire
I don't like that level of familiarity from strangers, especially those who are supposed to be serving me in some way.
02/13/2013
Contributor: Sweet-n-Playful Sweet-n-Playful
I'm not crazy about being called honey by strangers.
02/13/2013
Contributor: FLIPxMODE FLIPxMODE
i could care less
02/13/2013
Contributor: souviet souviet
Quote:
Originally posted by Hummingbird
I'm sure this is just probably me but I have to ask. How many of you out there mind being called Hun, Honey or Sweetie? I get it all the time in restaurants and stores, when I was younger it was the older women saying this, now that I'm ... more
Never mattered. It seems sweet.
02/13/2013
Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
I don't mind it if it's from another woman, but I really can't stand it when male customers think it's cute to call me "honey" or "sweetie" (I'm a food server...in a pretty decent restaurant, not a diner.) In that context, it seems demeaning..but I try not to get too upset about it.
02/18/2013
Contributor: Real or memorex Real or memorex
I don't care when servers in restaurants call me hon/etc, but I hate sig other pet names and prefer to be called my name by people I know. So I think I have the opposite of your pet peeve happening.
02/18/2013
Contributor: evie.amor evie.amor
I'm only okay with people I know or women older then me calling me those names. Sometimes a person can say it without sounding condescending, depending on their accent and personality. However usually I can't stand when girls around my age call me "Hun", "Honey", or "Sweetie". "Lady" is kinda quirky and somehow that doesn't bother me.

I hate being called babe by guys I don't know too!
02/18/2013
Contributor: SMichelle SMichelle
I call almost everyone hun or darling. It doesn't bother me when others call me the same.
02/18/2013
Contributor: evie.amor evie.amor
I would never lower someones tip just because of that, however..
02/19/2013
Contributor: TJtheMadHatter TJtheMadHatter
I don't mind it. Just don't call me Ma'am. I tend to get pretty ticked. Hun, Honey, Doll, Sweetheart, it doesn't bother me. I call people Doll Face all the time.
02/19/2013
Contributor: Fun2 Fun2
Most people mean it as a compliment.
02/19/2013
Contributor: fizzygato fizzygato
I want to say that I hate it, but if someone I really love calls me that, I feel like it is endearing and worry when they're not calling me a pet name.

I think it depends. The more I care about someone, the more I like/want pet names. Otherwise, I don't like them.
02/19/2013
Contributor: Terri69 Terri69
You're being over-sensitive
02/19/2013
Contributor: jr2012 jr2012
of course it depends on the setting (ie, this would not be appropriate at work or any other professional arena), but in general I think it's pretty cute. When the old men at the grocery store (who don't know my real name anyways) call me sweetie, it's adorable!

In my area, strangely it's the men who use it more often. I only hear it from women when I am on the phone with other states.
02/19/2013