Calling Women "Darling, Dear, Love" etc.

[Tablerat]

This post is a spin-off from this thread by DMACM about calling dudes "chief, boss, sport" etc.

Also in a thread about a Seinfeld episode ("The Diplomat Club"), MattSuspect commented that George calls all women "dear".

I can't bring myself to address a woman by anything other than her name or, rarely, "ma'am". It just feels and sounds awkward, but I hear it all the time in casinos for example. Is there some age barrier that you cross and then suddenly call random women "dear, love, hon, darling" etc? Usually this best applies to women in service type jobs, especially waitresses. And I would guess that this is now somewhat obsolete in the workplace.

So what's your go-to phrase for women? Or are you like me and just don't bother or feel awkward saying "thanks darling" when you get your $3 Corona? Thoughts?

[Vehn]

I call most women "gorgeous" or "beautiful" regardless of what they look like.

[amplify]

I call most women in service jobs darlin' or sweetheart. Why would you feel awkward about this?

[JackAll]

You didn't put "random" before women in your title.
I was going to agree if you were saying that about calling your partner "love", "honey" or something else common and non-personal being kind of wierd considering they do have special meaning to ya.

[Tablerat]

[ QUOTE ]
You didn't put "random" before women in your title.

[/ QUOTE ]

Damn, I missed that. Sorry for the confusion.

That brings up another point though: if you're out with your girlfriend/wife do you still call waitresses "darling" or "gorgeous"?

[StevieG]

[ QUOTE ]

That brings up another point though: if you're out with your girlfriend/wife do you still call waitresses "darling" or "gorgeous"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Since moving to Baltimore, I picked up calling women, "hon," and I do it with wife around. Since I use it with women of all ages and degrees of comeliness, it might as well be "miss" or "ma'am".

Gorgeous or darling would be out of line, wife around or not.

[mosdef]

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I call most women in service jobs darlin' or sweetheart. Why would you feel awkward about this?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because it's condescending.

[amplify]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I call most women in service jobs darlin' or sweetheart. Why would you feel awkward about this?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because it's condescending.

[/ QUOTE ]
They don't ever give any indication that they feel this way, but that could be because they want a tip. I live in Ohio, maybe it would be considered condescending where you live.

[stigmata]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I call most women in service jobs darlin' or sweetheart. Why would you feel awkward about this?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because it's condescending.

[/ QUOTE ]
They don't ever give any indication that they feel this way, but that could be because they want a tip. I live in Ohio, maybe it would be considered condescending where you live.

[/ QUOTE ]

quite often they will behind your back, certainly the case here in the UK

[Lonhro]

I call a lot of women 'darl', I don't even think about it before I do, it's just natural.

I reserve gorgeous for those that truly are just that, and because I rarely hang out with any girls that are or they're taken already, I rarely say it.