Why do women get offended when I call them dear?
 

Why?

Sounds patronising? But I don't mind being called "dear" if it is in a nice way with good intentions...

I dont I just think you sound like a prat :)

Lol. I never use dear in a convo. Sometimes darling though.

i say Dear a fair bit, but no one gets offended. Maybe its because I am a woman though. And it could be the way you say it. :D

Like with anything, depends how it's put across

Shush dear :)

Would you say it to a bloke?

Why do you call them dear? Its a bit too familiar. IMO

Where's WOMBAI when you need her...

edit: oh wait she already posted, I thought she didn't because I didn't recognize her avatar...

LET THE SHOWDOWN BEGIN !

No because you're meant to say it to women!

Like many other things - it is the context in which it is said! Men and women call each other dear all the time as a term of endearment! But when a man says it to a woman he hardly knows - it is often meant in a patronising way - hence why most women don't like it! Men who use it that way though - aren't worth listening to!

Here we gooo...

Aye its all about context...but who says dear these days? sounds like Alf Garnett...my dear

They also don't like when you call them "birds" or "walking shag" or "dick eater"

Michael Ball - the best avatar in town! :hugesmile:

i don't mind being called dear rofl.

I use it in a chamring way ;)

Its patronising and it sounds like an animal.

Hinny is worse than dear though :D

Calm down dear, it's just a commercial


Christ, pissed myself off now....

the best is "love" by a long way



"You alrite luv?"

They love it!

Maybe the people Inone is offending are Post-Feminist Feminists?

Because they are 'cheap'.:joker:

Dear oh dear

Trust me call them "love" they will prefer it :)

They love it really. All the dears out there :tongue:

I call anyone dear, regardless of gender. But it's usually meant in a condescending tone, so, y'know...

Love is better.

Or sweetheart...I like that for some reason.


Hinny, duck, dear, lass, lover (?! got called it at work yesterday) I hate...

But men don't like being called numb nuts, they don't like that term of endearment at all! :nono:

No they won't! :hugesmile:

Yep :)

I come home and say alrite love to my mum she HATES it.

Seems only builders say it often.

Doesn't offend me in the slightest Joe dear! :)

Are people really offended by being called dear??

Nah, it doesnt offend me...I just dont really like it :)

The ones with their trousers half-way down their backsides - the experts on good taste! :joker:

Yep for sure..


how are ya love?

I know you work in a bar the same as me.. I've just been thinking about all the "pet names" I get called and can't really think of one I don't like. I never used to like "doll" but I have a female friend who calls me doll all the time so I kinda like it now..
Actually, I'm not to keen on "pal" It's always the younger ones that call me pal and it makes me feel kind of asexual..lol, if you know what I mean. Maybe a bit mannish!!

I like love I say it all the time to men and women

As I said, I got 'lover' yesterday...I didnt like that

Hinny...pet...anything like that

Never had pal...

But the worst of all... OI! :laugh:

Nah.. lover isn't good :nono:
Oh christ! I know what I hate! "haw blondie"

Tits...also...is annoying as hell.

God, you get called all sorts when you work in a bar :laugh2: