Please don't call me Dude

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I notice that calling anyone, man or woman, Dude seems to be the new fashion. Some of my younger colleagues will sometimes address me as 'Dude'!

It used to be that only young guys used Dude to address one another, more often in the stoner culture. Now younger women will use it on me, a 50 something matron!

Let me say here, I don't care for it. I am not a dude. You all are welcome to use my name, but please don't call me Dude.

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I love saying dude!! And the word seriously lol. Please don't make me stop😉

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
Funny, I am also 100% Northerner transplanted for a few years. LOL The Honey and Sweeties usually come from older folks, so I don't mind. A few times it was a 20-something....but I just let it roll off...

Don't forget waitresses. No one tosses around "hon" like a Southern waitress.

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Okay dude.

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:roflmao:

I hate Ma'am too, but I'm southern now so I'm starting to get used to it.

Whenever I comment that I'm not used to hearing it someone has to say "It's a sign of respect".

Yes, yes, yes, I KNOW that but in New England it means "You deserve respect because you're older than dirt so I'm going to call you Ma'am" Either that, or it means you're a judge. ;-)

No, dude, that's Your Honor.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Someone please explain to my why 'ma'am' and 'sir' are considered offensive? I don't use them as pronouns when I know the person. For example, to a fellow coworker, I wouldn't say, "Ma'am, can you get the blood sugar in room 3?" I would say, ", can you [please] get the blood sugar ..."

But, if there's a visitor who appears lost on the unit, I might say, "Excuse me ma'am, can I help you find your way?"

If I'm on the phone with a physician who writes an order I've asked for, I might end the phone call with, "Thank you sir!"

If a housekeeper comes in to change the trash while I'm in a patient's room, I might say, "Thank you ma'am!" if I don't know her name. I think getting offended over this is a bit ridiculous. Y'all need to understand that no one who was raised in the South thinks about age when using these honorifics. It's just a way to show respect and courtesy when addressing others. I understand some people don't see it that way and as I said, I won't use these honorifics with those who have expressedly asked me not to, but it's still peculiar to me.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I'm Chicago born and bred, but spent many of my formative years in small towns and down South. I'm also a Baby Boomer, so you have a general idea how old I am.

I would no more have called older people or my parents friends anything other than Mr. X or Mrs. Y than run down the middle of the street naked!

It was also "Yes, ma'am" and "No, sir". To this day, I still say it, pretty

much to everyone, older or younger. It's a habit, and not one I want to change.

That being said, my daughter and I call each other "Dude" all the time, mainly as in "Dude! The new season of Criminal Minds starts next week!!"

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I called my friends' parents Mr. or Mrs. except for "Aunt B." down the block; Mom's best friend, her kids are our "fake cousins," went on vacation with them, bla bla bla.

Nowadays kids just assume it is okay to first name adults. I don't like it. They aren't MY friends. I told my kids to ALWAYS say Mr. and Mrs. unless corrected by the parent.

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What about bro?

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Specializes in hospice.

Nowadays kids just assume it is okay to first name adults. I don't like it. They aren't MY friends. I told my kids to ALWAYS say Mr. and Mrs. unless corrected by the parent.

No they don't assume. My kids were instructed to call teachers and aides by Mr. or Ms. Firstname at school. So they're actively taught this.

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Ha! I love this thread.

Out in the wilds of Eastern NC, you won't even get a "hon", you'll get a straight "shug," short for sugar, or "cuss", short for cousin.

What's really funny is hearing them try to change the way they address people when a "fur'ner" (someone not from that town) walks through.

"Oh, just turn left at the fork, sh-sir." "Sh-Ma'am, you left your pocket-book (purse)." It sounds like they're cutting off a swear.

The only thing that bothers me is "Hey, you,"in that particularly snotty tone that means "low-life scum."

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Man, now I'm going to have to pay attention to people to see if there are any main type of general nicknames in NV.

I, personally, do a lot of sir / ma'am. In our Boy Scout troop the adults are referred to as Miss First name or Mr First name. Many of the kids have different last names than parents so we do this is avoid confusion or hurt feelings.

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I notice that calling anyone, man or woman, Dude seems to be the new fashion. Some of my younger colleagues will sometimes address me as 'Dude'!

Great thread!

But I don't think it's anything new.....I was first called "dude" by my friend's teenage daughter about 15 years ago. My adult nephew calls me "dude" everyday. Most of the younger nurses I work with use the term frequently as well, when addressing each other. It doesn't bother me a bit.

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