What do you think about people calling you "honey"?

[Hellllllo Nurse]

I am in my forties, but a lot of people (such as waitresses, sales clerks, cashiers) call me "honey" and "sweetheart" all the time. I think this is fine, when the person is older than me, but I get annoyed when someone who is young enough to be my daughter calls me "honey." Males never call me by these names (with the exception of my husband!)

Occasionally, a subordinate at work will call me "honey. " I tell them immediately not to refer to me that way. But when a waitress does it, I let it go. I'd like to ask them not to, however.

I have only rarely referred to anyone as "sweetheart," and when I have, it's been a child, or a pt in a very vulnerable, hurt state, who is seeking reassurance and protection.

What's your opinion on this?

[underpaidrn]

I am Southern through and through and you may call me Honey any ole time! We say it so often down here that no one means any offense by it. If this is the only problem some people have, they have it quite easy. As far as Ma'am and Sir go, I was raised to say both to my elders and still do. It was a term of respect for both. Ma'am is a contraction of Madam and is meant in a respectful manner. Both of my daughters, who are in the military, say Ma'am and Sir and are the delight of older people when they meet them. Perhaps that's what's wrong with today's youth. Not enough respect for their elders. The one thing that rankles me more than anything is younger people calling me by my first name. You never did this when I was a child as it was considered a term of disrespect. Just my opinion on things.

[smk1, LPN]

depends on the context and age of the person. I once saw a nurse at an assisted living calling all of the CNA's "girls". She is about 40 and some of the CNA's are 50-60's. Seemed very inappropriate and disrespectful in this case.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Where I live, it is used by all, regardless. I understand that it is a geographical thing and it does not offend me in the least, even when used by one younger than I. You couldn't remove the "honey" off their lips here any more than you could their Mountain Dew.

Nah... I have bigger fish to fry.

I agree and also agree with those who made comments about:

CONTEXT

There has been a thread about this before and at the risk of repeating myself, I have to say we DO call our elderly patients "Honey, sweetie", etc.

Unless someone requests us not to, of course.

Ma'am was hard to get used to . . .. but I'm not going to make a big deal out of it.

It does bother me a bit that I can't say "Good luck girls" to my daughter's softball team . . .you MUST call them "ladies".

Sometimes political correctness rubs me the wrong way more than "Honey".

steph

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

I so wanna work with you!

:lol2:

I used to get a little frustrated when people referred to my unit as the "crazy peoples' floor." We're neuro/neurosurg, not psych. Lately, though, I'm beginning to think they may not be referring to our patients. Oh, well, if the shoe fits...

It occurs to me that my previous post was more about how I address people than how I feel about being addressed. "Honey," or "Hon" seems pretty popular among restaurant servers and doesn't bother me. I've actually heard it from male servers a time or two, but I'm supremely confident in my masculinity. Well, I try not to let it bug me, at least.

One of our medicine residents I occassionally run into always greets me "Good morning, sir." He appears to be foreign-born, and I suppose he comes from a more formal culture than I'm used to. Seems a bit odd, at first, but it's nice to see someone respect his elders, even though I'm still adjusting to the idea of being an elder.

One think I notice is that while I almost always sign my name Michael and introduce myself that way, 99.99% of the people I meet call me Mike. I don't mind a bit, but I fell in love with the last person who routinely called me Michael.

I do sign my charts "Mike..." though. Every second counts.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

I'm 'justavolunteer' on a pt. unit. I have had nurses call me 'dear', 'sweetie' and other such terms because they are so appreciative of my help. Compared to some of the things I was called in the military by my superiors, I'll take 'honey' or 'sweetie' any day!

baaaaaaaaaaahahaah !! Yeppers, I must agree !

I agree and also agree with those who made comments about:

CONTEXT

There has been a thread about this before and at the risk of repeating myself, I have to say we DO call our elderly patients "Honey, sweetie", etc.

Unless someone requests us not to, of course.

Ma'am was hard to get used to . . .. but I'm not going to make a big deal out of it.

It does bother me a bit that I can't say "Good luck girls" to my daughter's softball team . . .you MUST call them "ladies".

Sometimes political correctness rubs me the wrong way more than "Honey".

steph

Agree there as well. PCness takes the joy out of things, doesn't it?

Ah well.

As for Ma'am, Sir, etc... I still love to address ppl this way.. even at MY old age! :chuckle

Guess that's still the strict military and Austrian upbringing in me.

Taught my children to do the same, and ppl are amazed when they actually hear a young person with some respect..even though they are no longer so "young". But they, too, enjoy using these, and the pleasant reaction it brings from those they address. :)

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

baaaaaaaaaaahahaah !! Yeppers, I must agree !

Agree there as well. PCness takes the joy out of things, doesn't it?

Ah well.

As for Ma'am, Sir, etc... I still love to address ppl this way.. even at MY old age! :chuckle

Guess that's still the strict military and Austrian upbringing in me.

Taught my children to do the same, and ppl are amazed when they actually hear a young person with some respect..even though they are no longer so "young". But they, too, enjoy using these, and the pleasant reaction it brings from those they address. :)

I do LOVE hearing kids say "Ma'am" and "Sir" . . . .I think it teaches respect.

steph

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

I call people younger and older than me "ma'am" and "sir." That's just how I was brought up. I was also taught that "honey" and "dear" are never used with a person who is older than you, so it just sits weird with me.

My former NM cannot stand it when someone says "you guys." She told me that when she and her husband are out at a restaurant, if a waitress refers to them as "you guys" she witholds the tip.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

. I don't mind a bit, but I fell in love with the last person who routinely called me Michael.

I do sign my charts "Mike..." though. Every second counts.

Hi Michael! :flowersfo

My name is long . . . S t e p h a n i e . . . . I don't mind shortening it to "steph". My grandparents called me "stevie" or "stevielynn". Grandma also called me "sugar".

My family is from Arkansas and Oklahoma . . . . I'm used to terms of endearment.

steph

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I call people younger and older than me "ma'am" and "sir." That's just how I was brought up. I was also taught that "honey" and "dear" are never used with a person who is older than you, so it just sits weird with me.

My former NM cannot stand it when someone says "you guys." She told me that when she and her husband are out at a restaurant, if a waitress refers to them as "you guys" she witholds the tip.

I have to admit I don't like being called "Dude!" :trout:

steph

[EmmaG, RN]

I do LOVE hearing kids say "Ma'am" and "Sir" . . . .I think it teaches respect.

steph

That's how I raised my kids... however, while I was attending my daughter's graduation from Army basic, I watched in fascination when a fellow civilian stopped her to ask a question. She snapped to, just about yessir'd him to pieces...

After he went on, I looked at her and asked, "WHO are you and what did you do with my daughter???"

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

That's how I raised my kids... however, while I was attending my daughter's graduation from Army basic, I watched in fascination when a fellow civilian stopped her to ask a question. She snapped to, just about yessir'd him to pieces...

After he went on, I looked at her and asked, "WHO are you and what did you do with my daughter???"

Well, that is typical . . . ..kids behave in public with all the great stuff you've taught them and then feel comfy enough to not do that at home. So, we are surprised by their polite behavior.

People compliment my kids all the time . . .and I think the same thing. "Who are you and where is MY kid?".

steph

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

I'm not certain exactly when, but somewhere in the past decade or so, "cops" became "police officers" and started holding the door for me instead of asking what I was up to. I must say, "Can I see your license and registration, sir?" takes a little of the sting out of it.