Barbara, thanks! Makes me feel better LOVE hearing all the responses...you *people* are SO great! I think a 'snippy' tone would irk anyone! It sure does me..aaggh!

I dislike anyone besides my close loved ones calling me "hon" or "dear" or "love." It feels far too familiar. However, 99% of the time, I realise that the person addressing me as such means no malice, and so I grit my teeth and smile because at the end of the day, I save my true rancour for people who are rude on purpose. I usually address others as "sir" or "ma'am" or "miss" most of the time, and I receive a LOT of negative feedback for this; sometimes folks think I'm making fun of them (Toronto is not a very formal place) or tell me, "I'm not old enough to be "sir."

You ladies are fab! Thanks for all the excellent advice and humor. I REALLY needed that!

I'm just glad I didn't say anything to that teller, even though it made me feel OLD and not too fab. It was NOT her intention to be rude and I knew that.....

How bizarre! I'd definitely be put off by that, too, as "dear' is one of those terms I associate either with my grandmother or scuzzy men who are just being sleezy. Ditto for hon and babe (at least on the scuzzy man front). Like Mac, I call everyone sir or ma'am . It's just more respectful. As Barbara says, though, perspective is key -- at least she wasn't actively trying to be rude! If I used dear, chances are I'm annoyed, since I really only use it in a sarcastic context (the second floor is upstairs, dear). :p

Hey, at least you didn't get called 'sir' or 'man', like I was several times when I had very short hair. *rolls eyes*

It is a matter of respect, Michelle. I guess this young gal doesn't quite get it.

Laura, I have super short hair but haven't been called sir. That's kind of scary!

I understand why some of you are a bit bothered by certain terms, in general I'm pretty easygoing, so I don't really mind. Because English isn't my first language, I actually find it kind of quirky when I hear someone being addressed as "dear" or "love" or "sweetie" (on tv or irl).

What I still find strange is the following: about ten years ago my bank apparently adapted a new nationwide policy. Since then they address all their customers by their first names. Everytime I hear someone say (even new employees that don't know me at all, or employees at another branch etc.) "can I help you with something, Inge?", I do think "uh isn't that a tad too informal"...

Inge, I agree completely.

I am not a fan of using first names in any business environment. It's much too casual and definitely informal.

Unless someone REALLY knows me, they should not use my first name!

I enjoy when almost any woman uses a term of endearment toward me. I just figure its a cultural thing and they mean it in a nice way. It's different when a guy does that. Then it can feel sleezy!

I am sometimes irked and sometimes not, by a variety or terms of endearment or familiarity. It has more to do with me and my mood than the intent of the speaker, which is almost always benign.

If I am feeling particulary prickly, I might respond to "Hi, Hon!" with "Hello, Doll!"

Thanks, morethanbeige and MaryK!

I must have been feeling somewhat caffeine deprived and prickly that day....which is very rare for me.

I often worked next a lady who was born here in Mn, lived in Alabama for a few years and although she'd been back in Mn for 7-8 years her southern accent grew stronger all the time! Especially around men! lol.. She would call *every* customer 'honey,honeybunch, darling, sweetie, sweetie-pie, cutie, cutie-pie, handsome, etc' I would listen to a steady stream of this for 7 hours-aagghh! Still gives me a headache thinking of it-lol

biscuitsmom, even southern charm has its limits! My accent is so thick you could cut it with a knife. LOL

I will say that I cringe when my hubby calls a service person "Dear." I've mostly broken him of it, but it still pops out from time to time. Ugh.

MaryK, 'dear' is better than 'hon' but not much!

LOL.