Calling Women "Darling, Dear, Love" etc.

Tablerat · #1 07-24-2007, 06:28 AM

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 · #2 07-24-2007, 06:38 AM

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

amplify · #3 07-24-2007, 07:01 AM

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

JackAll · #4 07-24-2007, 07:11 AM

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.

Lonhro · #5 07-24-2007, 07:20 AM

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.

StevieG · #6 07-24-2007, 07:26 AM

If you're seeing multiple people, and you use pet names, it's easier to avoid calling someone by the wrong name.

sirtimo · #7 07-24-2007, 07:33 AM

I almost always call servers/waitresses "miss". They seem to like it, especially the >30 year old ones.

Tablerat · #8 07-24-2007, 07:35 AM

[ 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 · #9 07-24-2007, 07:45 AM

[ 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.

youtalkfunny · #10 07-24-2007, 07:57 AM

I never use "darlin'" or "hon'", but I often use "sweetheart", "kid", or "kiddo" (like Humphrey Bogart would--no condescension implied).

It's almost always clear that there's nothing flirtatious in the way I say it.

I've only had one person react negatively, and she's the type that goes around looking to be offended by the slightest thing. She seemed shocked that the next time I saw her, I didn't verbally react to her saying "Hello". Truth is, if she took such great offense to a greeting such as a smile and a friendly "Hey, kid!", I figured I was better off not greeting her at all.