Do you hate when people use hun, dear, etc.?

Question

I absolutely can't stand people who say "hun" and "dear" with everything. It feels like they are talking down to you as they are older and wiser. It's also comical to hear an 18 year old call you hun/dear, which just happened to me a couple minutes ago. It gets on my nerves incredibly, anyone else feel the same?

By the way the using hun and dear in your answer is not creative, original, or funny so don't bother. If you really feel the need to be hilarious go for it though. I won't laugh but whatever helps you get your kicks in life, I won't judge...

Oh by the way this was not geared toward spouses saying this to eachother at all. More towards people who are younger/not much older using it all the time.

Answer 1

Sometimes it is just normal for the area you live in. Oft times it is just a person trying to be nice or get on familiar ground with the person they are speaking with. Usually no harm is intended. Lighten up!!

Answer 2

Hun People

Answer 3

What really bothers me is "You guys" in a restaurant. That is FAR too familiar a term for my tastes for someone I don't even know to be using to refer to me.

I always swore that if I EVER owned a restaurant, the number one rule for my servers, when addressing patrons, would be "Folks". 1 warning only, and the next time, you're fired. They would sign to that acknowledgement as well, so there would be no recourse or excuses available for them.

I guess I am a little bit offended anytime someone tries to be "too familiar". Hun, dear, guys, dude, any of those could apply...

Answer 4

OMG!!!! I feel the same way. Most people think I'm b****y b/c I hate that, but I will actually tell little girls at the check out not to call me that. I really hate it when some one who is obviously 5 years younger than me calls me honey or sweetie. It is very degrading and demeaning. I've gotten where I just act like I own the place and look down my nose at the check out girls just so they won't do that...even tho I don't like treating people that way.

Answer 5

Sweetie, why are you making an issue about this? If you don't like people calling you hun or dear... well, then ... thumb them down ;)

Honestly though - sometimes it can be annoying depending on who says it - to me, if a lady calls me "baby" or "hun" or "honey" or "sweetie" or "dear" or "honeybuns" or "shnookums" or "sexy stud" or "studmuffin" or "big man" or "babe" or "pimp" or "gangsta" or even "iguana" - I don't mind at all... but if it's my little brother calling me "baby" or if it's some random guy I just met who says that to me, then yeah I'm a bit annoyed... cuz it's just kinda awkward.

So to summarize, perhaps words like "hun" and "dear" may seem a bit excessive or unwarranted at times, especially if the person just met you, but I wouldn't say that I hate this. Perhaps if someone gets on your nerves with it, you can just gently say, "excuse me, but I'd rather you not call me that."

But I'm curious, do you think it's OK for someone to call you "sweetie" or "young lady"?

Answer 6

Gosh, sorry, I do it out of habit when talking to a much younger person. It's my way of letting them know I appreciate them as fellow human beings. It's not meant as a put-down at all.

When our paper-girl comes to the door soaking wet or cold, I thank her for the paper and often say, "Bless your heart, hon!" or something of the sort. Guess I should smarten up, huh?

Thought I was being nice. I also tip well. Does that count?

Answer 7

Sometimes it just grates on my nerves. I totally agree with you--especially when younger girls do it. There's something about "hun" that ticks me off bad. "Dear" isn't so bad, though. I guess mostly older ladies use it, which is fine. When young girls use "hun" I do find it really condescending and want to slap them lol.

Answer 8

Well I hate it, I feel the exact same way you do. I especially hate it coming from females. And some do try to talk down to you when they say that crap...But I do believe that some people are just used to saying it and don't mean anything by it. But I can't stand it either way.

Answer 9

i think this mainly comes from someone who has been in a long relationship...i call my wife hun or dear or sweetie instead of her name....now that i mention it i think the last time i ever called her her name was about 7 years ago and that was just because i called her at work and didnt have a direct number and it was an emergency... its intended to be nice not an insult so lighten up a little....

Answer 10

i like it, unless it is an older man doing it to me. it's funny when some 18yr old boy does it to me on-line. it softens messages sometimes. i hang out on bird's yahoo answers these days cuz my job is boring, and i find when people say "you don't know enough to have a bird" it sounds better with a "hun" or "dear" in front of it.
i myself don't use it. don't feel comfortable.
when someone uses it, i picture a 40lb overweight 55yr old woman doing it. it's more like they are insulting themselves to make themselves seem warmer and more loveable than putting me down when they use it to me?

when guys do it at me it is "hitting on me' and if the guy is married too i threaten to tell his wife!

Answer 11

Yes, I had a whole falling out over it with a childhood friend of mine. We saw each other after a LONG time and she just kept talking to me like that. She is younger too, and here I am--been married, had kids, divorced, single mom and she is trying to give me advice and saying hun after everything. I told her it bothered me, and she got all pissed off and said that she talks to everyone at work like that. I think at work especially that is very unprofessional. So...yeah it bugs me. : )