The women who work at Dunkin Donuts call me honey. Sweetie. But not darling. I think it’s a regional thing. It irritates me, but I’m not sure why.
I don’t particularly care about the implied intimacy, because that’s not their intention. They call everyone honey and sweetie.
Perhaps it’s a vocation thing. A question of station in the world.
But then again, I worked behind a counter for almost 15 years, and I wouldn’t have dared use anything short of someone’s name or Sir, Miss and the like.
The only time I call people other than my better half anything like sweetie, darling or the like is when I’m channeling my inner gayboy. And then it’s more like:
Oh, honey, that’s a fabulous fur/sparkly thing/outfit.
And it’s almost strictly directed at a man in a dress.
