You guys...

I hate being addressed as you guys, I also hate "my dear" or "young Maggie" by people half my age!

I must admit I hate it, as 'Stansgran' I'm not a male so why not just say good morning or afternoon, can I be of help. We are becoming very American, and in the fast food outlets I think 'guys' is expected, and as I don't visit them I too am not bothered, but just like a friendly face and helpful assistants not a lot to ask!!!

I would much rather be referred to as "guys" than being called " my Dear" which is common among anyone over 55. My daughter in law is Canadian so I'm used to lots of American terms.

Juggernaut

I can't stand y'all, I would prefer 'you guys' or 'you lot'.
A friend calls me 'Hun' and she is so lovely that it sounds very nice coming from her.

Yous/youse is a perfectly good dialect usage in parts of the country.

I don't like being called 'dear'.
Always sounds patronising.
Give me guys any day.

Please don't get me started! The other thing I hate is people saying 'like' all the time. It's just a case of lazy language come over from the US, it's not a good thing. The only thing to do is keep speaking properly to remind people of a better example!

The problem is English! Most other languages have a plural "you" so people know whether they are being addressed as an individual or as part of a group (even a group of 2). We have come up with all sorts of inelegant ways of solving this, "you guys" being the current one. Never mind what gender the person is, it seems to be unisex now. Personally I prefer Southern US/Texan "y'all" to anything, it makes sense. And I am not from there! The worst has to be "yous/youse" which was spelled "use" in a recent text to me - by a younger person, of course. And while we're on pet hates, I loathe being addressed as "mate" or "pal". Scottish bus drivers do this frequently. Madam - or even "Missus"! - would be better than that. Once I said "I'm not your pal, I could be your granny." Blank look in return. I know they don't mean anything by it and there are certainly worse things one could be called....But I still hate it!

Agree with you I don't mind at all makes me feel younger!!

When walking in a park in the US last holiday, a man who was walking in the opposite direction and was obviously an ex-soldier (by his haircut and gait probably not very long ex either!) on his way to the Scout camp further up the hill, greeted us as "Sir" and "Miss". Cheered me up no end!

As my dear departed father used to say "call me what you like, so long as it's not 'late for dinner'" - it was years before I understood what he meant!!! He also totally convinced me and my three sisters that he had been found under a gooseberry bush (we had loads in our garden and I remember us searching under these regularly, just in case we found a baby there. Oh the innocence of childhood!!!!

'You guys' doesn't bother me but what I really dislike is being called 'Hun' or 'Hon'

I have to say I like it. I run a mixed team of all ages and find the guys is an accepted, non-offensive term. Ladies and gentleman is too formal. Boys and girls to young and can sound patronising. In the end it is tailoring it to the people you are talking to.

For those who dislike Americanisms, look away now ......

In Philly I've been greeted with the delightful mix of "wazzup ma'am" . Made me grin from ear to ear.

I dont really mind 'you guys' but loathe 'babe' or 'darling'. If a strange man (yes, I know, they're all strange!) calls me 'my darling' it makes me want to poke him in the eye with a sharp stick! Me, violent? Never!

Neverr mind me luvver

trisher

I think I've been called 'pal' and 'mate' more often than I've been called 'madam'. And then there's 'luv'. Yaarright, luv?

ARE you a Madam, Jingle? >runs and hides>>>>>

Trisher -
I wondered if someone would come up with "man" and "hinny" and "pet"!

Oh dear! I have lived in the States for many years and I confess that I have "picked up" this expression! But I only say it infrequently!

Howway man! aa diva kna what's the matter with ye, hinny, there's far wose things ye could be caalled, pet.

We don't mind it at all, especially at our local cinema where the sweet young staff members have such beaming smiles!

?

Someone in the family used to say " I don't care what you call me, just don't call me late for dinner." I don't mind "you guys", if said pleasantly.

I hate it! I don't like 'kids' for children either although we all use it sometimes. I don't mind colluquialisms ( nor can I spell them!) or informal things like 'love' 'hen' etc but GUYS drives me potty. MY DDIL calls the children GUYS all the time- it sounds so false. One of them is a girl.

I like "guys" - saves the sexism problem and in general I only meet people who are on friendship terms. What I do take real umbeage about is young people, whether nurses in hospital, neighbours' children etc calling me by my first name without permission. To be honest it wouldn't worry me if they asked "do you mind?"