I've read about this on a couple of sites, so it's not limited to this locale. One person remarked individuals pick up stuff from t.v. and decide to make it part of their lives. I'll add I'm not from this region, and this is not the South where I've heard it's simply a cultural thing. My experiences with it started around 2 years ago. The most irritating was a convenience store where I'd shopped regularly for years, and has always had quite a turnover in employees. Two girls began working there- I'd guess they were around 18-20 years old; as the younger was at the cash register and the older near her, I assumed the older girl was a manager. I'd go into the store, and these kids would go "Hi Honey!" "Hi Sweetie!" "How are you doing, Sweetheart?" It was so embarrassing and rattling that I eventually contacted the supervisor who told me employees are instructed to address customers as Ma'am or Sir. When she contacted the store the employees lied, said they did not do that, and kept doing it. I eventually stopped shopping there entirely. It was not limited to that one store, but most others as well. Included males/females in my own age group and plenty of kids. I believe it's way out of line for people you don't even know to address you as Honey, Sweetheart, Sweetie, My Dear, etc. It's beyond poor manners, it's disrespect and condescending. Any opinions?
Younger people who are servers at restaurants, will say"not a problem", or use the term "you guys" when my wife & I are eating out.
That would be fine with me. And I was o.k with the way it was before- just a polite Hello, Thank you, or Have a nice day.
@Janice Martin "Any opinions?" Faced with similar remarks to those which you dislike, in my case, I call them down for it. One typical example is the insincere, fake smiling face asking "How are you today"? That one ticks me off, especially if it's well-known the greeter is generally insincere, wishing he or she were somewhere else at the time.
When I was a toll collector on a bridge, there was this toll man who always greeted female drivers with a cheery "hi doll". One night I arrived to relieve him as a car pulled up to the booth. I heard a "hi doll", followed by a "do I look like a doll, you ol' $@#"? The driver, a man, had rather long hair and a short temper, it seems.
I don't mind it if someone said that to me, but everyone is different, so I'd guess it's safer if a person is addressed more respectfully as a thumb of rule. Then when they become a regular, we had a little general store way back in the 60 and 70, well after I was born, and our regulars were addressed more friendlier than new comers to our little family run store. But as a thumb of rule it's best to be respectful to the public.
I held a door open for a guy this morning and he said - thank you beautiful ........... I was beaming a smile since that moment - still am Happy people make me happy
What I don't like is when people like in fast food places address someone as sir or ma;am when they don't really know the gender of the person. I have seen this happen to women with short hair...who people mistake for men even if they are carrying a purse, or men who might look a bit effeminate or have a higher voice be addressed as ma'am...If you don't know...don't say!!! It is Like assuming an overweight person is pregnant..a real faux pas.
as a cashier we are required to smile ask you how you are. We know it irritates some people but we are marked down on our weekly evaluations if we don't.