On being called Darling and Love

I don’t mind love - it’s a given here in South Yorkshire whether you’re addressing the opposite sex or the same sex. DH, who was Welsh, found it very hard to get used to! I only ever use ‘love’ with my nearest and dearest. I only ever called one person darling, but that chapter is closed now. I don’t like people using it to me in a casual way.

Doesn't bother me at all. In fact I like it . They're just words. It's nice.

This morning at the supermarket checkout I was called sweetheart then lovely in quick succession. I was delighted.

I recently moved to Bristol and was startled to be called “my lovely” by locals. 😊
“Dahling” is so affected unless meant by family members or close friends.
“Love”is ok, unless repeated ad nauseam.

I’m a geordie and the careful call of ‘ pet’ is so usual in my area. Years ago it was love or hinny so be grateful for pet!

Yes - it’s ’pet’ In Durham too. I don’t mind, better than others I could name.

Treebee

I have no problem with most endearments but I dislike ‘lovely’, without the ‘my’ and ‘hun’ which both strike me as insincere.

How I agree! If I get called lovely I am furious especially if it’s said by someone young. SO patronising.

To me it’s worse if it’s worse if it’s followed by “you take care now”

I don't mind ,,,I could be called a lot worse..

'Alright love' a usual expression in Liverpool we just take it it for granted. 'Darling' is the same it's not an insult don't over think it get over it.

i live in glasgow and would not have a problem with it, i have used it myself, sometimes when a man i don't know calls me darling i usually answer with sweetheart. in the small block of flats i live in, one lady calls me chicken and another calls me poppet. it is only a few words and people do it out of habit and don't mean any offence.

Darling and love ate common words of endearment .
I use them a lot because I called always recall someone's name !
I think I melted when a very handsome man from Newcastle called me treakle .

I don't mind being called 'lovely' round here. The only time I feel affronted is if someone calls me madam. So standoffish.

I don’t mind ‘love’, but not keen on ‘my lovely’.

Our female vicar uses that term, and I think it sounds fake, as if she can’t recall your name.

I hate being called Lovely or darling in shops. I have complained before now. There is no need to call me anything. Just be polite.

I don't mind being called darling if the speaker is a soft or gentle person or someone who is trying to make me feel at ease. What I do object to is when someone superior and sniffy calls me 'darling' to patronise me. We have one such lady at the WI who is really quite objectionable.

What really gets my goat is being called 'Young lady'. Yes, it still happens. I am in my 80s, I am not young. It is patronising in the extreme.

Luckygirl3

I can live with it! I have a Geordie SIL who calls me pet!

I love pet!

I’m not that bothered, unless it’s said in a really condescending way, I can tolerate “darling” and “lovely” but not so keen on “dear” and “love” 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Like Wyllow, I find 'bless' is worse than names such as 'love', 'pet' or 'darling'. It's so condescending.

I do say something whenever possible, Doodledog. Not when it's casual from a brief encounter, but definitely if it's people working within care services and similar, or someone I feel can understand my comments back. Made politely and carefully of course. Give them a chance to think twice.

I was in a branch of Santander recently with my brother trying to sort out a new account. The advisor insisted on prefacing everything she said to us with “lovely.” I found it hugely unprofessional and patronising and walked out.

“My lover” when I lived in Exeter. found it rather odd as an 18 year old but just accepted it as a regional idiosyncrasy. Then in Bristol it was “me babby”.

When we first moved to Leicestershire I heard 'me duck' a lot now not so much shame I liked it. Now I get lovely, sweet, and honey! I love being Madam especially when in Italy and France. Makes me feel smart and tidy which I am not.

Well, I'm elderly and lonely, so I really don't mind how anyone addresses me, as it is usually spoken with a smile.

I can tolerate most terms but the one I absolutely hate is being called ‘hun’!