[#1]

...or babe, or pet, or love, or duck, or flower - or any other terms of endearment? Bus drivers in Brighton and Hove have been warned against using any affectionate names to female customers in case it causes offence.

Do you think this is going too far and that we are all too hung up on being 'politically correct' or does it make you feel uncomfortable if a male driver, shop assistant or plumber etc calls you one of these names?

Personallly I don't mind and I quite often like it, I think it's a moment of kindness not patronising. I can tell if someone is patronising me by their demeanour and tone of voice, and that is what I would object to. I love travelling down to Devon and being called 'my lover' because it reminds me of my grandparents and all the aunties and uncles I had from there who have now passed on and always referred to everyone as 'my lover'.

I think when I was younger I used to get more hung up on things like this, now I don't feel I have so much to prove or maybe that I am better off not trying to change everything about  other people to how I think they should behave!

What do you think - offensive or ok?

love

Teanna

xxx

[#2]

...or babe, or pet, or love, or duck, or flower - or any other terms of endearment? Bus drivers in Brighton and Hove have been warned against using any affectionate names to female customers in case it causes offence.

Do you think this is going too far and that we are all too hung up on being 'politically correct' or does it make you feel uncomfortable if a male driver, shop assistant or plumber etc calls you one of these names?

Personallly I don't mind and I quite often like it, I think it's a moment of kindness not patronising. I can tell if someone is patronising me by their demeanour and tone of voice, and that is what I would object to. I love travelling down to Devon and being called 'my lover' because it reminds me of my grandparents and all the aunties and uncles I had from there who have now passed on and always referred to everyone as 'my lover'.

I think when I was younger I used to get more hung up on things like this, now I don't feel I have so much to prove or maybe that I am better off not trying to change everything about  other people to how I think they should behave!

What do you think - offensive or ok?

love

Teanna

xxx

[#3]

Hi Teanna,

I don't drive so use the buses every day. As I am a regular, the drivers know me and I am often called love, pet, darlin, sweetie and hunny. I don't mind it at all, it's friendly I think. I think it's ok myself but I do know some people who feel it is offensive. I think it is the way it is said maybe?

Hugs

Jillxx

[#4]

Hi,

I think most are acceptable. I'm not so sure on babe though. It wouldn't offend me or cause me to complain. I just think it's a bit more of a personal word.  I don't think I would be impressed with DP calling someone babe. DP uses love a lot to shop keepers etc and so I don't like him calling me it. That's just me though and I know I can be odd at times! lol

I think if someone finds it offensive then they are possibly taking things too serously. So long as they're not spoken to in a patronising way or made to feel uncomfortable then I think it's just a way of being friendly. I can't imagine a man being offended by being called mate, pal, buddy or something similar so why should it be different for a woman.

[#5]

I've got no problem with being called any of the names you mentioned. At the end of the day it's just like using a nickname. I seriously can't see how anybody can get offended by being called duck or flower. I can think of a lot worse to be called

The only one that rattles me a bit is Babe. That is because an ex called me that although I told him I wasn't keen on it. I did ask him at the time was it because he didn't want to say the wrong name at the wrong time. As it turns out he was seeing his ex wife at the same time as seeing me so I was right. He didn't want to get our names mixed up

KS

[#6]

I am like the other posters here, I don't mind most names but wouldn't like to be called babe. Years ago on an online dating site it seemed to be something that was used a lot and would put me right off. Don't know what type of man would use that term of endearment really but from my own experience those who were using it probably spoiled the reputation of any decent man using the term, tarring them with the same brush so to speak.

Owly x

[#7]

If it is someone who knows me, it is fine - well some words, hun, darling, lovey, petal, pet, etc.

I hate babe, gorgeous, sexy, etc - cant stand any of them.

But if its a stranger, no, I'd not be keen.

[#8]

My boyfriend is from London so is always calling people darling, babe, sweetheart..Everything you can image. At first I didn't really like it but it's grown on me now and seems strange if he doesn't say it!

[#9]

that's terrible KS, what a cheeky so'n'so calling you both babe so as not to give himself away. I bet every time you hear that word now it really jars for you.

love

Teanna

xxx

[#10]

Hi Vicky

I think sometimes we forget that there are local pet names and terms used in London and the south east as well as in the north and the south west, your boyfriend probably gets a lot more stick for unthinkingly calling women babe than he would if he was from the Tyne and called them 'pet'!!

love

Teanna

xxx

[#11]

I don't like being called, darling, babe or love, I don't have a problem with "local" endearments such as pet, hen or duck.
I once had a man call me darling in a very patronizing manner so I told him, in and equally patronizing way "my dear I am not your darling and I am never likely to be your darling so just do the job your paid to do and do it quickly so that I can get out of here......oh and whats your managements name and phone number, I make no apologies I don't like being called the above