Apparently Pet Names Are Offensive

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Replies

  • boomboom011
    boomboom011 Posts: 1,459
    i am from the south and it drives me crazy. i dont mind when its someone that knows me. But its so oogie when i go to a convenient store and someone behind the counter calls me hun or sweetie.

    I am not offended its just oogie. however not everyone feels that way and i wont ever tell someone not to call me that unless it becomes condescending or in the middle of an argument.

    i dont think you were wrong in calling him honey but i think the shallow comment was uncool. you should have just said "bless your heart" cause as we all know in the south what that really means. lol
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Wisconsin girl here - it comes and goes but i use pet names. As long as its not obnoxious who cares. He prob had a crazy jealous spouse. Screw it

    I was raised on a 192k acre cattle ranch. EVERYONE female was 'hun' clear up until 6.5yrs ago, at which point I met my ex, and was informed that was no longer allowed. When we split, one of the first habits that came back was that (my family here in rural Nevada still talk that way). It's hilarious, because I even call her that...which recently got me a Facebook message from her 'new' boyfriend lol. I didn't bother to inform him that I'd probably call his mother the same thing. I figure, let him stew in it, you know lol?

    Jealousy over pet names is silly. It's not like they're touching your significant other...and unless they're taking other liberties along with it (LIKE touching...which also can be a cultural thing)...who cares?
  • JsGirl93
    JsGirl93 Posts: 1,156
    Wisconsin girl here - it comes and goes but i use pet names. As long as its not obnoxious who cares. He prob had a crazy jealous spouse. Screw it

    I was raised on a 192k acre cattle ranch. EVERYONE female was 'hun' clear up until 6.5yrs ago, at which point I met my ex, and was informed that was no longer allowed. When we split, one of the first habits that came back was that (my family here in rural Nevada still talk that way). It's hilarious, because I even call her that...which recently got me a Facebook message from her 'new' boyfriend lol. I didn't bother to inform him that I'd probably call his mother the same thing. I figure, let him stew in it, you know lol?

    Jealousy over pet names is silly. It's not like they're touching your significant other...and unless they're taking other liberties along with it (LIKE touching...which also can be a cultural thing)...who cares?
    Yes! down here touching is very much a cultural thing! EVERYONE gets a hug & a kiss, from the oldest to the youngest! Caught myself huggging one of my hubs friends I REALLY don't like out of habit, he hugged me I hugged him back. You know what he said? "How ya doing honey?" Haha!
  • calibri
    calibri Posts: 439 Member
    I do not like pet names or strangers touching me. Repeatedly calling people you don't know by pet names when they've asked you to stop is just arrogant and unnecessary. Just because you're used to it doesn't mean everyone else is like you. There's nothing wrong with being sensitive to other's personalities rather than raging at them when they don't like over familiarity.
  • pumpkinmoccasin
    pumpkinmoccasin Posts: 316
    Where I come from pet names like that are usually reserved for your spouse/significant other and if you use it out of that context it's generally perceived as patronizing. I wouldn't personally be offended if someone online said something like that to me (especially because people come from ALL OVER online, I mean really!) but if someone I know in real life that I'm not close to, like a university acquaintance, called me "honey" I probably would be creeped out or at least irritated.
  • ohwhataday
    ohwhataday Posts: 1,398 Member
    If my husband ever calls me his boo.. it's over!
  • NotGoddess
    NotGoddess Posts: 1,198 Member
    An Iowan here. Most people around here don't do it but it is not uncommon to hear 'sugar', 'honey', 'sweetie', or 'darlin'. I used to be bothered by it but as I worked on my social skills to be more outgoing I found myself popping out 'hon', sweetie' and 'sweets' when I was trying to be more casual and friendly. If someone asks me not to, then I do refrain. I also use y'all a lot. :) I do reserve 'baby' as a close-couples/flirting word tho.

    On the ma'am thing- I'm 39 and I -hate- being called ma'am as it makes me feel so old. BUT I realize I'm not a miss anymore, and people are just trying to be polite. I just grin and bear it, or in the right circumstances correct them and tell them to call me 'Sara', 'Mistress' :) or Pretty Pretty Princess.
  • ImNotThatBob
    ImNotThatBob Posts: 371 Member
    If my husband ever calls me his boo.. it's over!

    If your husband says boo, he's probably getting you ready for a scary zombie date night movie. Fright Night anyone?
    (will the cheesy 80's franchise reboot revival never cease?) LOL

    I totally get what you meant by "calling me his boo". If he called me that it'd be over between us too and I don't even know your husband. (Sorry, I'm just in an I haven't eaten since yesterday and my mind is being affected by it state of extreme silliness. Please forgive. :noway: :ohwell: )
  • HollieDoodles
    HollieDoodles Posts: 678 Member
    That's too bad.

    I use that stuff a bunch too. It comes out more when I'm talking, rather than writing. If I'm at a store and I talk to someone, anyone, I usually call them hun or sometimes honey. It's just normal for me. Sometimes I don't use it though. Like when I get my truck's oil changed. I don't say my normal, "Great. Thanks, hun. Have a good day."anymore because those guys take it seriously.... ex: I was walked to my truck and he opened the door for me with a goofy grin on his face. Friendly guy, but not was I was going for. LOL

    When it comes to someone I am in a relationship with, then I say other stuff.
  • ImNotThatBob
    ImNotThatBob Posts: 371 Member
    ...Repeatedly calling people you don't know by pet names when they've asked you to stop is just arrogant and unnecessary....

    The point was he didn't ask her to stop, he just deleted her posts with out communicating with her the reason why. When she asked him why, he was offensive and deleted her friends status. She was just responding out of frustration to his definitely un-gentleman like treatment of her.
  • amtcj
    amtcj Posts: 10
    I'm Canadian, so I'm pleasant and friendly and polite but don't you dare come near me with a hug.

    Just kidding, kind of. Half of it is how you're raised, right? But I've lived in west coast BC all my life and we're a little more reserved up here with pet names, hugging, calling professors or elders by their first names. It's "have a nice day ma'am" or "thank-you Mrs. Hoffman" for me.

    So, my opinion, I would not like it if someone were calling me "honey" or "sugar". I call my husband "Bear" and I have nicknames for my sister and brother, but that's it. But I also wouldn't be so rude as the gentleman in question, that was obviously uncalled for.
  • ladyerin79
    ladyerin79 Posts: 97 Member
    I was raised in Michigan, and I'm back here again, but I spent 8 years in Louisville, KY. The "honey, darlin', dears" rubbed off on me while I was there, and I say it all the time. In fact, there are friends of mine I don't even use their real names anymore! So you keep doing what you do, honey--that's what makes you you!! :drinker:
  • katie_on_a_mission
    katie_on_a_mission Posts: 112
    "I wrote him back and told him, basically, you're mean and shallow and we don't need to be friends."

    He deleted me, which is okay, because I was on the verge of deleting him. I got on MFP and asked my friends whether or not the use of pet names offended them and they were crazy supportive of me doing it. They thought it was "southern hospitality" and that it was "sweet" and "endearing." I also told those people who may GET offended to go ahead and delete me because I'm not going to stop. That's who I am and if someone wants to be so shallow and closed-minded and judgmental, then they can do it somewhere else."

    I love it when people accuse others of being "judgmental," not to mention "mean," "shallow, and "close-minded." It's beyond hypocritical.

    It sounds like you kind of freaked out over this whole thing. You're being overly sensitive.

    This man is free to delete comments from his wall as he sees fit. If it's inappropriate in his culture to have some woman who's not his wife calling him pet names, then he can delete those comments! Maybe he felt that if his wife saw you writing things like that on his wall, she would suspect the two of you were having an affair. And it sounds like where he comes from, that would be a reasonable thing for her to suspect.

    By the way, I'm Southern, and I hate pet names. They're so condescending.
  • katie_on_a_mission
    katie_on_a_mission Posts: 112
    oops, double post
  • katie_on_a_mission
    katie_on_a_mission Posts: 112
    QUOTE:

    ...Repeatedly calling people you don't know by pet names when they've asked you to stop is just arrogant and unnecessary....


    The point was he didn't ask her to stop, he just deleted her posts with out communicating with her the reason why. When she asked him why, he was offensive and deleted her friends status. She was just responding out of frustration to his definitely un-gentleman like treatment of her. "

    How was HE offensive when she asked him why? He simply explained that he wasn't comfortable with the pet names. SHE was offensive by going off on him instead of just saying, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize it bothered you. I won't do it again." And I really don't see deleting her comments as big deal, considering she's just (presumably) a random stranger on the internet.
  • karrenbennett
    karrenbennett Posts: 89
    I'm from the South and certainly understand using 'terms of endearment'. I use them all the time without thinking about it. I really try hard now to know who it is I'm talking to before using them.

    I'll tell you two funny stories about me using pet names:

    I was Programming Service Manager in the IT department of a large university. I was definitively the oldest and most of the people who worked in my department were young men just out of college. One time during a project management discussion I presented documents to everyone around the table. I forgot one person so I leaned over and handed the set to him saying "Here ya go sweetiie." Well, you could have hear a pin drop in that room. Everyone was staring at me! I turned beet red. They were pretty cool about it and ribbed me for the longest time.

    I also have a habit of telling my husband "I love you" when finishing our phone conversations. One time I was on the phone with my boss (Chief Technology Officer) and told him just before hanging up "I love you". Of course, he got quiet and I told him that it was in a strictly platonic way! I tried to pull off the "I love you Man!" thing but I didn't do to well. I panicked.

    So everyone at works knows I use pet names and are waiting for me to slip up so they can give me a hard time!
  • calibri
    calibri Posts: 439 Member
    ...Repeatedly calling people you don't know by pet names when they've asked you to stop is just arrogant and unnecessary....

    The point was he didn't ask her to stop, he just deleted her posts with out communicating with her the reason why. When she asked him why, he was offensive and deleted her friends status. She was just responding out of frustration to his definitely un-gentleman like treatment of her.
    How did his message to her not at the bare minimum imply that he was uncomfortable with it? I'm interested in hearing how his notice was offensive, unless the actual text of the message is drastically different from the content she posted. There's nothing "ungentleman"-ly about expressing concerns or the meaning of such words in different areas. The OP's response was completely disproportional to the guy's response.
  • bmmadden
    bmmadden Posts: 499 Member
    I work with preschoolers, so I say sweet pea, sweets, sweetie, hun, etc...all of the time. So just out of habit, I may call my friends that as well..no biggie! No offense is, or ever will be, taken!

    I also work with young kids and find myself doing that to others in my life as well as people I dont know but at the same time Im aware of the whole culture thing so if someone was to say something It wouldnt bother me if they were to say could you not do that Im from Ohio and most people I know do it too I guess if I saw women saying alot to my husband it would bother me a little, like my grandmother shes one of those people who get offended when sales people and such call her ma'am. However I think the man with username ImnotthatBob summed it up he shouldve communicated with you about his feelings. My advice is if you notice it happens again just delete them and move on, Good Luck with your weight loss hun and move on!!
  • carlxo21
    carlxo21 Posts: 143 Member
    I wouldn't want a guy calling me pet names but if a female says it to me I don't mind it. Given that it's not sarcastic lol. In the USA I have found that when other girls say pet names to me they are usually using it in a derogatory or offensive way.
    But if you say something like "way to go hun!" that's no prob.
    The different gender thing makes sense though. If a guy is calling me those names I will be like noo way.
  • Queen_JessieA
    Queen_JessieA Posts: 1,059 Member
    Born and raised here in GA where that is the norm. Don't worry about it! I do it too and I am not about to change it for anyone!!
  • sutekh
    sutekh Posts: 19
    Over the weekend, I experimentally called my lady of two years, "Sugardrawers"!
    The surgical team believe that I will be walking again by Christmas.
    2012.
    :ohwell:
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I've lived in Georgia and north Florida the last six years, but I grew up in New York state. I use pet names with all sorts of people all the time and have never thought much about it. I don't think anyone's ever felt offended by it. They've never said so, anyway.
  • jbucci1186
    jbucci1186 Posts: 440 Member
    well said.
  • Kagard11
    Kagard11 Posts: 396 Member
    Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!! That is awesome!

    I'm from the South and certainly understand using 'terms of endearment'. I use them all the time without thinking about it. I really try hard now to know who it is I'm talking to before using them.

    I'll tell you two funny stories about me using pet names:

    I was Programming Service Manager in the IT department of a large university. I was definitively the oldest and most of the people who worked in my department were young men just out of college. One time during a project management discussion I presented documents to everyone around the table. I forgot one person so I leaned over and handed the set to him saying "Here ya go sweetiie." Well, you could have hear a pin drop in that room. Everyone was staring at me! I turned beet red. They were pretty cool about it and ribbed me for the longest time.

    I also have a habit of telling my husband "I love you" when finishing our phone conversations. One time I was on the phone with my boss (Chief Technology Officer) and told him just before hanging up "I love you". Of course, he got quiet and I told him that it was in a strictly platonic way! I tried to pull off the "I love you Man!" thing but I didn't do to well. I panicked.

    So everyone at works knows I use pet names and are waiting for me to slip up so they can give me a hard time!
  • Ephemeral5683
    Ephemeral5683 Posts: 3
    I use pet names all the time! I've worked at gas stations where I wasn't sure if the person in front of me was a male or female, and even when it was obvious it was one or the other dressed as the other gender I tried to not offend. So I learned the use of "Hon", "Sweety", and "Dear". I have also had it where women who were a little older asked me to not call them ma'am. So I fell even further back on my pet names.
    We just moved out to Texas a couple of years ago. Recently at my job I had an older woman get offended. She told me that people in the south are raised with manners, to which I replied I wasn't raised in the south. I did apologize to her and told her it was a habit with no offense or disrespect intended. She calmed down and I offered her a "respectful" ma'am as she left.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    I find it inappropriate for members of the opposite sex to use a pet name with me. I'm married. Likewise, I do not use those terms with men. And I also find it extremely inappropriate with coworkers.
  • Grimmerick
    Grimmerick Posts: 3,342 Member
    For me I really only feel terms of endearment are for older people to use for younger people, and yah I am gonna say it, I don't mind when southern people do it or black people because sometimes it's a cultural thing and they aren't being condescending when they say it. I know but this is one of those things for me the door doesn't swing both ways on. I hate it when a girl my age or younger calls me honey or sweetie, I had a classmate do this and I lit her up (she wasn't southern by the way). and I feel it is inappropriate to use these names at work. It's a professional atmosphere and terms of endearment can be taken as condescention easily. But I am not going to be rude to someone that uses them, I will just ask them not to use them when talking to me, some people like to hear terms of endearment and thats fine with me too. Just not on me hahaha. I betcha he was scared about his wife though, some wives can make a husbands life hell for stupid little crap like that.
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