Modern Vespa

I call a friend of mine guy all the time and he seems to like it. Of course that is his actual name.

Genie, I just cracked up, spot on!

Exactly like feckin Nandos

Totally agree! Seems a bit like a case of lowish self esteem if you need to be called Sir all the time.
Says the teacher!

"Seemed like a good idea at the time.." Hah! - Yeffur, I 'stan what you talkin' about.

I swear I was just standing there.......

THIS. I once had a nice intimate date in a lovely candle lit restaurant completely wrecked by just such a Todd.

Hahaha! I actually have the opposite "problem". I was a high school teacher in this community for 28 yrs, and there are still lots and lots of people from age 45 on down who call me Mr McEuen. A former colleague and I were hanging out at the local biker bar last summer, and this rough looking woman came up selling raffle tickets. She had been on a basketball team I had coached 20 years ago, and she kept calling me Mr. Cracked my buddy up. While they're in school, they want to call you by your first name, or some nickname, but years later, they almost all revert back to the manners their mommas taught 'em.

The local "country club" waiter found it necessary to do all those things AND explain what the little moist towels were for. Thanks, but, I already knew the weren't croissants. The long winded explanation of the intermediate morsels to "clarify the palate" made it the last meal I'll ever have there. Turd....I mean Todd.

Argh! Over zealous wait staff I had a waiter grab my arm and push my shirt sleeve up so he could get a look at my tats. DON'T touch me!

-Craig

That would have likely resulted in a discussion with the manager if the waiter tried that with someone I was dining with. Wouldn't happen to me because I don't have tats but I would still consider it worthy of brining to management's notice. My grandparents owned a restaurant and I know how important it is that owners/managers know when staff is screwing up and antagonizing patrons.

Thinking back, I had officers (signature) privileges when I worked for The Mirage. I actually had a waitress tell me my order for an additional alacarte veg was, "that's enough, you don't need any more", in a pissy tone. She was job hunting the next work day. Giving me pause about complaining so quickly again. But knowing she would treat a company director that way made the VP question how she handled guests spending $150-300 a cover for meals. I hated the French restaurant and the constant changes of silver and place settings almost as much as the constant "raking" of the tablecloth.

When I was young, I knew kids who called their parents by their first names. No mommy or daddy, it was Helen or Ray, and so on. I couldn't understand how parents could/would allow that. It just seemed strange.

Wmak,
How about this one: You are minding your own business at some public place when a gorgeous, tall, leggy twenty-something charges at you squealing, "Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God It's YOU". She embraces you. More squealing, "We had SO MUCH FUN, didn't we? GAWD I miss you!" People begin sideways glances at you. Couples whisper and chuckle in your direction. Women my age glare the "Cradle Robber" glare at you. You smile and try for a "friendly" hug

Then comes the real clincher. Louder than her squeals she demands, "You Do remember me, don't You?" "It's me Angelica Ramirez. You had me for two years!" The "cradle Robber" glare has now turned into the "cradle robbing insensitive bastard I hope you get what you deserve" glare.

The four - feet tall Angelica Ramirez that you recall weighed about seventy pounds and was all elbows and knees (Retired Middle School teacher here). She was a good student and a bit shy; now she would make paint peel right off the walls.

Plan A is to say loudly, for all to hear, something or anything about school days/good student/are you at university?/ blah blah, but she cuts you off, "Gotta go. I really do miss you. Maybe I'll come and see you. Are you still in the same room?" "Bye Mr. F!"

It is nice to be remembered, isn't it?

Mr. F

I suppose I hold the record on here for using the word darling. It's a term of endearment as far as I'm concerned.

I first heard it from my favorite uncle [who's sadly passed on] to me it was a comforting way of saying "I'm loved and one of the gang if you like"

He could have called me "shit for brains" as he did to a lot of fellow workers and colleagues

But he didn't, darling was what he called me and I thank him for that.

You all now think I'm a soppy old fart, well I dont care DARLINGS

I use Hon occasionally at work. It helps that I am 15-20 years older than most of my co-workers. I can't use the excuse of being Southern even though I can use y'all properly in a sentence. The furthest south I have lived is a little town south of Seattle. LOL

Ma'am doesn't bother me at all. My 11 year old did almost 4 years in taekwondo. They use Sir and Ma'am as responses to the Master Instructors. It is a form of respect.

Teachers are ONLY called Mr. or Mrs. Even my son's teachers, I cannot call by their first names. It feels weird to me.

Agree. Hate that too.

Seriously? We're near the same age and we would've earned a look just this side of a back hand across the face. I was shocked the first time someone addressed their parent by their name.

And then you finish your beer and where the hell is Todd?

Oh, that is the worst to me - that's the only one that makes me go sideways. "Boss" is what the inmates in the Texas Department of Corrections (probably in California too) call the guards and block tenders. It's aggressively disrespectful to a supervisor - the people who say it want to see if you catch the reference - and I always (sorry, but I can't help myself) instantly unload on anyone who says that, usually with some variation of " *****, we're not in the Eastham Unit anymore and I don't **** you in the *** anymore, so you need to quit calling me that right now." I tend to lean toward them a little when I say it.

Usually they don't use the word anymore after that.

Sorry, mea maxima culpa, but that's the one that does it for this normally pleasant and friendly person.

Hi Rusty how are doing mate ?

Nothing disrespectful was intended when you used the words mate or darling, so no harm done on your part - if you were born and bred in Lincolnshire England you would know that these words are used commonly in an friendly & affectionate way. Along with Duck if its a young female.

There are many words around the world that are mistaken - for example " on my way to work this morning I passed a tanker load of Semen (Indonesian for Cement)

I am dying for a Fag (English for Cigarette) not to be used in the States lol

Next time hit the old ball buster with "Bro"

I hate, hate, HATE, being called 'guy'. I completely understand you Mocker. I'm Robert and people think I like being called Bob. If I wanted to be called Bob I would introduce myself as Bob.

Being called mate or darling, who cares? I see the term 'mate' as we here in the states would call someone 'friend'. I liked it when people called me mate while traveling through London. Don't sweat it. The dude was having a bad day and took it out on you.

When a lady calls me darlin I respond that is the nicest thing anyone called me all day...... catches them off guard all the time.

For all you people that hate being called guy. Can you elaborate on why? I am not getting it.

One person. Some people are NEVER happy, and if it wasn't "mate" it would be something else. Sad he felt the need to tell management. It says more about his pathetic state of mind, than anything else. You can only be who you are, and you seem like a nice person. All you can do is be polite and considerate. It's just sad we live in a time when it seems that so many people are looking for an excuse to be offended. I got in trouble once for saying "see ya later, guys" in a happy manner, to a mixed group. it is a local colloquialism in these parts, to refer to EVERYONE as "guys" when it is said in that manner. When used that way it's not gender specific. I was in Cinci at the time and not St. Louis. After that I tried not to say that. But too bad it wasn't taken in the manner intended, in a casual situation. All that crap does is take the spontaneity and fun out, and replace it with self consciousness. One reason why I very rarely entertain these days. Got too tired of invited people over for a nice evening, and instead would spent the week prior taking calls asking what I was serving because this person was gluten-free, that one is a vegan, etc. couldn't afford to have a separate entree for each individual. Sad, isn't it

Guy is a name. It's not mine. Simple. What's confusing you Gary?

You go Mutt!

"Lighten up, Francis"
...is the only possible response.

Stripes
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083131/quotes?item=qt0483074

Once you realize that what words others use to greet you with or what title they use to refer to you (even if it is the c-word) has no real meaning in your life you will be truly be free. Fucking poetic no? -- stickyfrog You are free to use this pearl of wisdom to advance yourself or line your bird cage.

I hate it when people say, "Richard, don't be a Dick."

This:

I think that is funny but don't refer to the loo as a John or I will get really mad.

Am I the odd one out in that I never use "sir", "Ma'am", or any of those other terms? The guy that the OP was typing about was just in a bad mood or just a plain di^%head. Kinda odd that someone should get so upset about local slang....

While I wouldn't have a problem with mate I don't like it when a woman or girl calls me hon, or darling. I don't respond but the first thing in my mind is I only have one and that's my wife.

Yes ma'am. I'll try to remember that ma'am.

For me it all comes back to my 8th grade art teacher Mr. Penna who was a complete tool and called every male student guy in an annoyingly chummy way

Not 'guy' but 'guys'...

I hated it anyway (no particular reason, just did) but getting called 'guys' (plural) even when I'm on my own? That's just plain stupid... made me hate it even more

I think the situation can demand certain titles. I'm a teacher and part of the code is that students either call me Sir or Mr.name Also if you're in a formal setting or the military then titles become very important.

All in all though in casual situations...I want genuine, kind, and casual to define the interaction. If I called someone sugar or hun it would sound unnatural on my tongue and either count as flirting or being creepy.

You know how some folks can just 'get away' with certain things because of their personality. Some folks are touchers, usually women, but some men do it as well. I just cannot pat someone's shoulder as I tell a joke or gently touch someone's arm when I'm making a point. Because it isn't genuine or authentic for me, it is forced. Some folks can do it naturally, even to me when talking and I hardly notice.

I'd rather be called mate in a natural way than be given some corporate greeting that a company forces all their front of line staff to say when interacting with customers. I mean, sir/ma'am is alright as it is generally used. But the crap you get nowadays being called the next 'guest' or whatnot is annoying to me because it lacks authenticity.

Give me real, even if it isn't good enough!

Edit P.S.

Also I try not to use any terms for referring to anyone! There's no need. Try saying goodbye or have a nice day without any sir/ma'am/mate etc. Perhaps it is a bit terse or could be seen as too informal, but like any good Holmes fan I know that very few people hear the dog that ISN'T barking in the night.

or 'bruv' - that'll wind him up