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AIBU

"Sweet"

(146 Posts)
ninathenana Wed 17-Mar-21 11:31:36

I've just had an ex offender trying to sell me goods at the door.
Good that he's trying to make a living but he really raised my hackles by calling me sweet. I said can you not call me that. Oh, it's just another way of saying mate. It's what people say these days, like I'm some old fogey who wouldn't understand.
I wouldn't have been happy with dear or love either. Needless to say I didn't buy anything. Though I have in the past.
Am I being an old fogey ?

polnan Thu 18-Mar-21 10:43:32

no cold callers!

However, if someone, in the past! called me Duck, I tended to say quack,quack, it amuses me!

what would we all prefer to be called then?

I don`t much care for darling from a stranger,, but then

better than a foul word.

brazenp75 Thu 18-Mar-21 10:42:51

They are not always what they say, and you shouldn't have opened the door to them. Keep safe. Put a 'no cold callers' sticker on the door.

Camelotclub Thu 18-Mar-21 10:42:24

I got one of those stickers to put by the front door, no cold callers, religious groups, etc. It seems to have worked! Someone called once and I just pointed to it and they left. Cheap as chips on ebay.

Mamma66 Thu 18-Mar-21 10:40:41

FannyCornforth sounds like you’re from my neck of the woods? (Mansfield)

NannyDaft Thu 18-Mar-21 10:37:24

I just don’t want anybody at my door trying
to sell anything !

Cossy Thu 18-Mar-21 10:37:00

It’s one of my biggest bugbears ! I’m female, I’m 62, I’ve been called, Mate, dear, dearie, darling’, love, lovie, Sweetheart, “young lady” and pet, and I HATE anyone calling me this if I don’t know them, is rude !!

Urmstongran Wed 17-Mar-21 19:21:18

My dad used to say he didn’t mind what he was called as long as it wasn’t late for dinner.

To be honest I think you’re being a bit precious OP. Offended enough not to make a purchase because of how he addressed you - really?

Buy something, or not. That’s your prerogative.
But a decision not to buy, based upon his over-familiarity?
Yes, I do think you were being unreasonable.

It might have been a scam call but that’s a different kettle of fish anyway. Because, if it wasn’t, where was your compassion?

Newatthis Wed 17-Mar-21 18:53:44

Be careful with callers claiming they're ex offenders (they're id is nothing to go on). Some are being trafficked. I had 2 on 2 consecutive day, I bought from the first then explained to the 2nd that I didn't need anything, he got very abusive and I felt very threatened.

H1954 Wed 17-Mar-21 18:31:19

I am regularly volunteering at a Vaccination Centre and as you can imagine this involves "herding" people in the right direction. I call the men 'sir' and the women ' madam'. Will that do?

BlueBelle Wed 17-Mar-21 18:23:41

Well better than the scam caller I had today telling me about my ‘wifi problem’ I was very sweet going ‘oh yes’ ‘really’ ‘fancy that’ etc then she must have caught on I was taken the ‘p’ as she very sweetly said ‘ idiot woman’ and slammed the phone down

lemsip Wed 17-Mar-21 17:55:04

Blossoming

None of them are legitimate.

www.safelocaltrades.com/consumers/advice/doorstep-pedlars

I have read through this info and sent it to several elderly friends. thank you Blossoming.

HurdyGurdy Wed 17-Mar-21 17:33:15

I don't mind any colloquial terms of endearment used when someone doesn't know my name.

Rather that than Miserable Old Sow.

And I don't but at the door, in Covic times or otherwise

Maggiemaybe Wed 17-Mar-21 17:26:51

Did you mean Sweety, timetogo?

I was going to say I’ll happily answer to anything well-meant. Sweetheart, dear, love, pet, darling, guy, girl, babe, madam, lady, gorgeous (a particular favourite, and oh, so true grin).

But I’d draw the line at Sweaty.

Jaxjacky Wed 17-Mar-21 17:22:10

nina I’ve been called sweet before, from an acquaintance in Bristol, not particularly fond of it, but had worse. If that’s the only reason you didn’t make a purchase it’s a shame.

FannyCornforth Wed 17-Mar-21 16:50:31

Sweaty?

FannyCornforth Wed 17-Mar-21 16:49:53

Ooh! Cross post!

FannyCornforth Wed 17-Mar-21 16:49:15

VQ it's 'me ? duck' here!

timetogo2016 Wed 17-Mar-21 16:48:33

Exactly Judy54.
My dh comes from the Black Country and he calls me sweaty,friends of ours come from Derby and they call me Duck.
Doesn`t bother me at all,at least they are being nice which imo is all that matters.

vampirequeen Wed 17-Mar-21 16:39:22

You wouldn't like living around here. Everyone is 'love'.

annodomini Wed 17-Mar-21 16:34:55

When a salesman referred to 'the young lady' I turned round and said, 'Where? I don't see a young person'. @Love, 'dear', 'darling' are just used because the speaker doesn't know my name and I can't complain, but 'young lady' is meant to butter me up - and I'm visibly not young!

Blossoming Wed 17-Mar-21 16:15:30

None of them are legitimate.

www.safelocaltrades.com/consumers/advice/doorstep-pedlars

Gannygangan Wed 17-Mar-21 16:04:25

Some of the ex-offenders are legitimate.

However they certainly shouldn't be out and about at the moment and no doubt will be scammers

jusnoneed Wed 17-Mar-21 15:59:07

Nottingham Knockers as they are called down here, there was a large group of them around Somerset a couple weeks ago - many warnings on FB groups. Many say they are looking out for likely burglary chances etc. Some of them get quite nasty when told to leave the premises.

Anyone I don't know starts calling me "sweet" "hun" "darling" gets my hackles rising lol.

Ladyleftfieldlover Wed 17-Mar-21 15:46:48

I am nearly 68 and was referred to as ‘young lady’ in the local cafe today, by a very much older man! I didn’t mind a bit. My neighbour (70 year old lady) always calls me ‘sweet’.

BrightandBreezy Wed 17-Mar-21 15:41:19

I had someone claiming to be an ex offender before lockdown last year. When I said politely that I didn't want to buy anything he was quite rude. Later in the week there was a message on local news warning that this was some kind of scam. Very difficult sometimes to know who is genuine.