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Friday 5...Names we've been called

3/2/2012

6 Comments

 
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Brighton and Hove buses have informed their drivers they are not to call any of their passengers ‘babe’. This is after Jo Walters contacted her local bus service with the note she did not appreciate drivers addressing her as 'babe', 'love' or 'darling'. It wasn't a formal complaint, just a suggestion. 

But those buses, they’ve seen a PC trail and they’re blazing it down the bus lane, we are right behind them. The term 'babe' suggests to Squeamish Louise that the user might have taken a fancy to her and just makes Squeamish Kate plain cringe. Here’s a list of other names they have been called, don’t consider yourself good as fired if you’ve used them. Just due for some vigorous re-training.

1. Duck- this is a favourite of Squeamish Louise’s because it makes her think of T’North. No one calls you duck down south unless your name is Ed and they have very vivid CBBC memories…

2. Ma’am- Squeamish Kate got called this when travelling around New Zealand and Australia at the ripe old age of 20 at supermarket check outs. It cut her to her wizened quick. That term is for old ladies and The Queen.

3. Baby- This was a term occasionally used at a former place of work for one of the Squeamishes. It seemed always intended as an endearment, so whilst it was somewhat patronising they couldn’t help but take it with the grace intended.

4. Sweetheart- this immediately reminds Squeamish Kate of the Mike Leigh film Secrets and Lies, which she assures us we absolutely must watch. If ever she sees it written down she reads it in Brenda Blethyn’s voice.

5. Miss- Squeamish Louise says she understands the tricky choice for those in customer services betwixt Miss and Ma’am and if she had to choose would go for the latter as it’s not so oddly young.

Now you tell us, what apparent terms of endearment have you been called and why do you love or hate them?

6 Comments
Gareth
2/2/2012 06:07:04 pm

'Son' is the one that annoys me. Not quite as patronising or dubious as most of the ones aimed at women, but always seems to be used by thick-skulled troglodytes who you are ever so glad you don't share a direct genetic line with.

Reply
Not Squemish Neil
2/2/2012 06:25:19 pm

i call everyone by pet names, i know it some people dont like it, and professionally we are told not to but its part of the language i grew up with. women become hun or darling, and men become mate or dude. its something that is so ingrained in my head most of time i cant help it.
i quite often find people using my name to be quite formal, and so personally am genrally happier with a being called mate, pet, chuck, chick, love, dude, babe, hun or laa (all of which i have been called at work (Laa is a particularly scouse term)). although i do dislike more formal terms like Sir or Ma'am.
its one of those ticks of language that i cant seem to break out of, just as if something bad happens i still say 'oh god' or 'sweet jesus' despite the fact i have limited belief in those concepts.

Reply
Aaron
3/2/2012 05:03:38 am

I consider myself polite so I use "sir", "miss", and "ma'am".

So what do you expect a stranger to call you when your attention is needed? Lady?

Reply
Squeamish Kate
6/2/2012 04:30:12 pm

I can usually be alerted with an "excuse me" or tap on the shoulder, personally I am OK with miss, but we don't have an equivalent of sir...

Reply
Abby
4/2/2012 04:25:53 am

'Chicken' or 'puss-cat' are used in my household A LOT! I like them both because they're familial. I've been called 'sweetie' by Marion of Marion's caf - didn't mind. I really think it's about who says it, how familiar I am with them etc.

Reply
Squeamish Kate
6/2/2012 04:31:21 pm

I like Chicken! Yes a lot of it is about who says it...

Reply



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