I pretty much resent the salutation "Friend" from someone who is soliciting. Make me immediately put my hand on my wallet.
I don't mind being called "Ma'am." .. I guess "Sweetie" can sound bit condescending sometimes, but I find it more funny. As long as the person has good intentions that's all that matters. By the way, whenever I see the title of this thread it reminds me
And what about another that's been going around in recent years- addressing people, even in business communications, with HEY!!! sometimes including name, sometimes not. It sets my teeth on edge every time.
I agree re: Intent. I'll admit that since I moved to this rural area, I've picked up the habit of saying "Thanks, dear" or "Thanks, sweetheart." And this is not "deep south." DC is only 100 miles north. I wonder if this is more of an issue between women of some age difference. And I remember that bit from the original SNL. Those were the days you'd also see Leon Redbone on the show.
Exactly. This reminds me of grouches who get mad when told "Merry Christmas" or "happy holidays." They get all huffy over verbiage instead of realizing they have been offered well-wishes for happiness. People nowadays are just looking for a reason to be indignant or have their "teeth on edge." Lighten up; life's too short to waste being a jerk.
Well, I don't consider myself a 'jerk' to believe it's important to treat people in a respectful manner.
Now that you mention it, when it first hit this area I wanted to know if it was another local thing and found people had been commenting about it on various websites as far back as 2010- and most were middle-aged+ women.
Is there a reason for your hostility? I never said I had a problem with holiday wishes, they're ok by me. I was referring to this Honey Sweetie etc. fad.
Not hostile at all; just wondering why people waste time being indignant over things that actually don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Believe me, I've been called much worse than "sweetie."
I do not like it when some teenager or just young person calls me dear or sweetie, it makes me feel like they are patronizing me because i am a senior, and they think that they have to “baby me”. On the other hand, I believe that they are doing it because they mean well, and think that this is how they should speak to older people; so I don’t object or even give it another thought. It was meant to be caring and maybe even complimentary, so I try to take it in that vein, even though it does not come through that way to me when called a sweetie by that person. Overall, it is not a big thing what people call me, as long as the general attitude from them is good. The same with holiday wishes, some people worry about what they can say without offending another person, and some people just say what they want and don’t worry about it, and I am fine with either one and answer in kind. It was said as a cheerful greeting, and that is what is important to me.