Buddy, Pal, Chief...
 

That Dane Cook CD had me thinking....

Does it bother when someone you barely or don't even know calls you "buddy", "pal", or "Chief"?

I don't get those. What I DO get are people who call me "honey," "sweetie," and "darling." I HATE THAT.

I just call everyone chocacho and it's all good.

I am not trying to start the great North/South rivalry thing, but I think that if you (general - not specifice to you Sister Havana ;) ) travel to anywhere in the South, that you should be prepared to be called any and all of these. Its just what we do :p

My dad (who is a Southerner too) can't stand it. He always cringes when a waitress will say "here ya go, sweetie" or "what can I get you, darlin'?"

I am guilty though - everyone to me is honey or sweetie - except my girls in the chapter - they are baby. Like when they call me and say "Hey, it's Kelly" then I say "Hey, Baby - how are you?" They are used to it. I think they get offended if I don't call them baby just 'cause I've done it for so long. It just means "I love you and I care about you" when I say that to them.

As for the original question - I think that buddy & pal are used sometimes to be deliberately offensive. I just think the use of those words invoke a bad connotation. Chief is something that they use at my husband's work - like "honey" for me, everyone there is "chief" :)

Eh, I don't mind at all, it's just one of those things that have never really bothered me.

And anyway, I'm guilty of saying terms like that when I'm teaching and I forget a kids name....:o

I would normally never call someone any of those unless I knew them really well & knew they were really comfortable with it. But it is very common here in the somewhat-South & at my new part time job as a server I was actually trained to use these words when I spoke with the customers. They said that it would get me bigger tips. :confused:

I'm still working on it though, it drives me insane when strangers do that too.

Mr. AXiD670 refers to people as "boss" or "chief" and it drives me nuts. I've told him repeatedly it sounds condescending.

I say it constantly. One guy i know said it was condescending when i CC'd him on an email and called someone else buddy. I asked why. Douche.

I also call people by their last names. It's just the way I roll.

-Rudey

I hate random people calling me 'honey, sweetie, etc I especially HATE HATE HATE being called M'am. by people who are OBVIOUSLY MY AGE at stores, etc...
I know they are trying to be respectful but call me MISS.. or look up my name if possible call me HEY YOU for all I care... but I really dislike being called MRS, there is no ring on my finger.

None of those words necessarily bother me as long as the tone isn't condescending.

I hate it, also (the sweetie, honey, etc.) - I think it's a feminist thing with me. Southerners* excluded, I rarely hear men referred to as "honey" or "sweetie" - it's always women, and usually younger women. I think it's incredibly condescending.

*I know it's common in the South, and don't get *quite* as bothered by it. But I live in Ohio, and it ALWAYS comes across wrong to me.

I was about to say the same thing.

Down here we call everybody Darlin', Suga, Sweetie, Honey, sweetheart, etc.

I don't mind one bit that people call me those things.

And I always say Ma'am or Sir to someone who is serving or waiting on me. Even if they are my age. It is considered a sign of respect.

Take off your shirt ma'am.

-Rudey
--That's how polite I am with my ladies.

the worst was when I was younger and guys used to call me 'kid.' Just cos I LOOK like I'm 12 doesn't mean I AM 12!