On being called Darling and Love

I worked in South Manchester in my twenties, and was often called chuck, which I haven’t seen anybody mention. We had a Yorkshireman in charge of one of the departments, and he would call women, regardless of age, lass, and men, lad.

Definitely regional, my part of the South of England, it can be Love or Hun but it's not used excessively. Having worked as a NHS Clinical Professional patient facing, the term occasionally said by patients is with respect and friendly it's never ever bother me.

Bridey

As a northern lass i call everyone male or female " flower ", its common usage in my area .

Or petal?

As a northern lass i call everyone male or female " flower ", its common usage in my area .

Here in Derby it’s usually ‘me duck’ but only really with people of my age (60’s) I can’t see it carrying on with my children/grandchildren, although I hope it does. Like you M0nica I can’t abide ‘oh bless you’ accompanied by a little smirk - as if I’m a naughty child. And ‘young lady’ also accompanied by a smirk gets my goat. Patronising or what! I don’t really mind any other endearment- I’ll take what I can get 😂

MissAdventure

Me old cock-a-lora is the best I've been called.

Haha, me old cock sparrer 😂

Judy54 that would have irritated the hell out of me too, especially as she didn’t greet others in that way.🤬
I don’t mind the occasional ducks or darling ( very London, or it used to be) or even the Northern love or West Country me lover😁 but those who use it constantly are annoying.

Me old cock-a-lora is the best I've been called.

I’m north west so ‘love’ happens lots
I’ve been referred to as sweat heart by nurses, supermarket check out staff and others. So far I’ve ignored it but I’m beginning to feel very cross. Tempted to be rude but they mean no harm other than ti make me feel 100

25Avalon

“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”.

Oh yes my friends granddaughter was up visiting & just used that expression.
I think shes from Torquay.

MT62

Woman at work use to call me cocker. I don’t if that’s a lancs expression or not, but absolutely hated it & asked her to stop.

Don’t know. Oh for an edit button 🙄

When DH and I were first married, he was in the Fleet Airarm at RANAS Culdrose in Cornwall where we were both referred to as 'my lover' in the local shops!! I got totally used to it and really missed it when we moved!

Madame here, I can’t imagine a cashier calling me anything else in my French town. Only young children receive endearments from outside the family.

Woman at work use to call me cocker. I don’t if that’s a lancs expression or not, but absolutely hated it & asked her to stop.

Sweetheart is pretty condescending I think.

Autumncolours

I rather like it though in our part of Yorkshire everyone is addressed as ‘love’ no matter the age or gender. It would be a shame if regional quirks like this disappeared.

Yes, 'Love ' here in Yorkshire ! Men even call other men 'Love'
or even 'Owd love'.Nobody takes the slightest offence...unless they're not from here !!!

"Babe" must have "come back" into vogue!
Like "cool". It stopped being cool to say "cool!" but has returned as OK to teenagers. sign. Keeping up.
"Fab" is back too. 😉

I think it's all about context..who is saying it, whether they are well intentioned/ being themselves and being typical of that regions norms for showing care or respect. Or if they are clearly being patronising and fake.
Personally, in this bleak, hard edged world increasigly run by robots any human kindness is welcome!

Fara56

Was called ‘babe’ (69 yrs) recently by the brother (40 yrs) of a friend!

I’m 80. My granddaughter calls me babe 😂

merlotgran

It was always ‘me duck’ in DH’s part of Yorkshire as well.

It's common here in Nottingham, too

Was called ‘babe’ (69 yrs) recently by the brother (40 yrs) of a friend!

I have no problem with colloquialisms and being called Pet in Newcastle, Hen in Scotland and my lovely in Cornwall. I am talking about restaurant staff who spoke to us older ladies using Darling and lovey continuously. Interestingly other guests arriving were greeted as Sir or Madam ( yes I know pretentious for some). Either greet all your guests in the same way or do not use a form of address at all, especially if you are going to single people out by talking to them differently. Perhaps we were to sensitive but the repetitive way it was used was to over the top for us.

I cannt stand them and frequently say I am not your darling or your love.

As for Madam, I told a male supermarket manager recently I didn't run a brothel! He was gobsmacked.

I don't mind 'darling' or 'love' but just been called 'my dear'...and that annoyed me.

I really dislike 'hun'.

Oh gawd, can’t bear Madam!
It’s often Pal here.