Darlin

[gritsar]

It's a southern thing. I have a place for those people that don't understand that to go.

 

[Rozzie]

It is inappropriate to call someone darlin' unless you are dating them, married to them, or related awfully closely to them.

Call me darlin' and you are SURE going to get some raised eyebrows. If you're male coworker & do so a second time, you'll have a harassment complaint leveled against you faster than you can blink. With females, it'll depend on the context and your response after I tell you not to call me that again...

Edited to add: The same goes for sweetheart, honey, or anything similar...

 

[redhen]

Quote:

Too true.

Tell them they can kiss your grits!

 

[Moxiechick]

Being from the north, it isn't something I was raised with and therefore don't use the terms myself. I have been called those words many times though, when visiting the south, and I've always found it endearing.
Now that I think back, it has always been a woman using those terms. If called any of those names by a male, it could be creepy unless in a very obviously non-creepy context. (Does that even make any sense?)

 

[Rozzie]

Oh, and if you're a female over 70 or so, you get a free pass and can call me darlin' or honey. I take it differently from that demographic.

 

[eenie114]

I like it when people use terms like that with me!

My best friend's mom always calls me ''dear'', and my aunt calls me ''hon'' or ''dear'', and my grandma calls me ''sweetie''.
Just makes me feel that much more loved.

Don't worry about the crabs in this world.

 

[Rozzie]

Quote:
It's not a matter of being crabby. It's a term of endearment used between people with a certain degree of closeness in a relationship. That may be a grandparent, a parent, an aunt, an uncle, an elderly neighbor lady that you've known for years, or it may be a spouse or an SO.

Many people are from regions (or families, or professions) where interpersonal relationships are more formal. You don't cross certain lines of familiarity. For many people, such terminology is an example of a line you don't cross. Don't put your hands on me, step back out of my personal space, and reserve your terms of endearment for those whom you actually have that type of relationship with. It's simple, really.

If you live in a part of the country where this type of thing is common, then it's a bit different. However, don't be surprised when people are offended. It's no different than stepping too far into someone's personal space. If you stand six inches from me, don't be surprised when I tell you to step back. If you call me by names that aren't appropriate for our level of a relationship, don't be surprised if I tell you that it's inappropriate. No different at all.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
I have pretty much the same opinion. I don't like it when someone younger than me calls me "honey", etc. I don't get visually offended, but it does annoy me. Anyone older than me saying it is fine.

 

[draye]

Well, folks for what its worth, that type of thing doen't offend me, but.......



I really get offended when people get offended................

Does that make sense?

 

[AngieChick]

Oh, it's fine, Hon, call me Darlin' all you want.

It really is a Southern thing. I got used to it when I lived in TN, and took it with me when I moved out West. Sadly, it's gone away now (well, I still call little kids Sweetie, and they are just going to have to deal with it). But, I see that you are from SC? If it's a transplant complaining, they are just going to have to get over themselves. It's like complaining when people from the Upper Peninsula of MI say "aye" after everything, you are not going to change it and you may as well just get over it and move on.

Personally, I miss it. I don't think that the people are any nicer or ruder there, but there are some terms that I just miss hearing.