Do you mind being addressed with Aw Bless!

I have an aversion to “Ah, bless!” which seems to be the standard reaction to any news of medical problems. A few months back, a paramedic attended when I was very unwell and she needed details of my recent medical issues. After every new piece of information she responded with this patronising phrase. I think it’s just lazy - other replies could be used eg “Oh dear!” or “Poor you!” or “That sounds horrid!”
I blame a lack of imagination.

For me, it is a sort of 'bail out' phrase when there is nothing else to say. It isn't really a Sorry to hear that or Oh dear, it is sort of Aw Bless recognition that a situation needs some sort of endearing reaction. I usually raise my eyebrows if someone says that to me as much as to say Indeed!

I’ve not had this …yet! What age does it start 🤷🏻‍♀️?

I would advise the majority here not to holiday in Cornwall.
But if you do, be sure to take your smelling salts because you’ll certainly have a touch of the vapours when your addressed with ello my lover

Not had this expression aimed at me and I usually find professionals ask me how I want to be called, usually say by first name. I do get called "love" but I don't mind that, it's friendly and usually used regardless of age. Tbh any greeting that comes with a smile is ok with me.

I should add that my now retired butcher used to call me "Young Lady" my response was always the same, " Still not booked your optician's appointment then, Fred? "

I hate being talked down to and treated like an uneducated peasant. On most occasions I really don't mind a "Can I help you, love?" or "Come on, darling", particularly if accompanied by a smile.

"Aw bless", however winds me up. I do tend to say "I didn't sneeze" or "I'm not religious and object to being blessed".

The one time I lost my temper though was with the young hospital doctor. Three times, she managed to begin a sentence with "But, my dear...." in such a condescending manner.

I do mind,
it’s a bugbear of mine along with “Are you guys ready to order?” when I’m out for lunch with a group of female friends.

petra

I would advise the majority here not to holiday in Cornwall.
But if you do, be sure to take your smelling salts because you’ll certainly have a touch of the vapours when your addressed with ^ello my lover^

😂. I’ve yet to hear that in Cornwall, but I live in hope!

The one that I absolutely HATE being called by anyone is ''dear''.

At the post office, the assistant will hand me my change or whatever and say There you are, dear''

I'll hold a door open for someone, and they'll say ''Thanks, dear.''

I CAN'T PIGGIN' STAND IT!

My husband hates, "Thanks fella, hello fella, bye fella...." I understand why. As previously mentioned our Australian friends when they worked in the U.K. for a couple of years didn't understand "Are you ok?" Or "Are you alright?" as a greeting not a question.

Yes when getting a new phone in EE.
She must have “blessed” me a dozen times.
I eventually suggested with a smile that if I needed to be blessed I would ask a priest.

Lathyrus3

I have been known to wave my hand vaguely and reply in a sanctimonious voice

‘And bless you too, my child.”

Good idea. I am getting increasingly annoyed by being addressed in terms more suitable for a child.

petra

I would advise the majority here not to holiday in Cornwall.
But if you do, be sure to take your smelling salts because you’ll certainly have a touch of the vapours when your addressed with ^ello my lover^

Some family we visit there don't say that. We’ve never heard that in all the years we’ve holidayed in Cornwall. Perhaps it’s only in quaint tourist spots where they speak “furrin” for the tourists.

There's something really annoying about "my" preceding love, I don't mind the love bit that much, depending on who is saying it, but I did get really annoyed at being addressed as "my love" by a very young woman, she was about 20 to my 60 at the time. I couldn't help thinking, "have you not had any training as to how to address potential customers without patronising them". On the other hand when OH and I were in a coffee shop and the young waitress asked him "what can I get you babe?" He was overwhelmingly amused by what many could be deemed as completely inappropriate.

Hi Mollygo. Years ago we had two holidays in Mousehole. I well remember regularly being addressed as 'mi luvver'. I rather liked it and it is a fond memory.

I just don't mind the collective "guys" though, by waiters and the like. I know some people don't like it, it's how all the younger members of our family address us together, and it's the kind of language idiosyncratic to their peer group and younger. To me it feels inclusive, certainly not patronising when a much younger person addresses us as "dear" or "my love"

Doesn’t bother me at all, much kinder than all the awful language that is spoken nowadays!

Mollygo

petra

I would advise the majority here not to holiday in Cornwall.
But if you do, be sure to take your smelling salts because you’ll certainly have a touch of the vapours when your addressed with ^ello my lover^

Some family we visit there don't say that. We’ve never heard that in all the years we’ve holidayed in Cornwall. Perhaps it’s only in quaint tourist spots where they speak “furrin” for the tourists.

I was called 'me lover' when I first moved to Devon.
As I was about 21 and the man was about 60 I was startled but yes, it was a fairly normal greeting there.

Fartooold

Doesn’t bother me at all, much kinder than all the awful language that is spoken nowadays!

Me too! It's always accompanied by a smile as well isn't it?
Mind you I'm a great one for lovelying , sweetieing and darlinging everyone . Occasionally known to randomly poppet

windmill1

'Aw bless!' gets the response 'Are you religious then!'

I will use that one. Very good.

If anyone addresses me as Lovely I can feel myself starting to seethe. Aw bless is dreadful too. In a local shop near me the staff call all the women Madam. It’s so refreshing it makes me want to shop there.

I don’t think it is used here, never heard it anyway. Sounds very parochial. We have ‘sweetie’ sometimes, usually sarcastically. A good one for someone over the top and inappropriate is ‘settle,petal’-makes me laugh but it is actually very rude. I’ve heard ‘darl’ from time to time - we tend to shorten things.

I've lived in Devon for almost 30 years never heard anyone say my lover although back then one elderly neighbour used to refer to my daughter as the maid.

theworriedwell

I've lived in Devon for almost 30 years never heard anyone say my lover although back then one elderly neighbour used to refer to my daughter as the maid.

My father in law used to refer to one DGD as maid.