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Being called a 'Guy'

(180 Posts)
Mazgg Fri 20-Oct-23 11:38:00

I have noticed recently when out with a male friend waiters (in several establishments) ask "What can I get you guys".
We are both in our 80s and it seems comical to be classed as Guys. When with a female friend it's usually Ladies, which is fine. What's wrong with just asking "what can I get you" with a smile?
Oh dear, now I sound like a grumpy old woman!

AGAA4 Fri 20-Oct-23 14:22:31

I prefer in a restaurant being asked if we are ready to order. No need for "guys, girls or folks"which some may not like.
In other situations surely you plural is enough.

Galaxy Fri 20-Oct-23 13:57:53

I hate being told not to worry about things as there are other more important things going on.
Today I have given some thought to whose bin was blowing down the street and whether the Tesco man would cope in this weathergrin.

Witzend Fri 20-Oct-23 13:52:52

sodapop

Germanshepherdsmum

I don’t mind ‘guys’ but can’t stand women being called, or calling themselves, ‘girls’.

Or even worse GSM ' girlies' makes me cringe.

When she was well over 80 dh’s old aunt still referred to her bridge-playing cronies of much the same age as ‘the girls’. 😂

Ailidh Fri 20-Oct-23 13:49:42

I don't mind "guys" but "girls" is just patronizing and twee.

nanna8 Fri 20-Oct-23 13:37:41

There are more things to worry about than this these days, I don’t really care that much.

Visgir1 Fri 20-Oct-23 13:30:27

Agree guys if fine by me ladies tad patronising.
Can't see any problem.

MerylStreep Fri 20-Oct-23 13:26:33

RosiesMaw

I really feel I have other things to worry me and actually find “guys” preferable to the slightly patronising “ladies”.
But each to their own.
Why do people get so uptight about trivialities?
“Can I get” as opposed to “May I have” for instance , so what?
We’re not all Victor Meldrew clones.
Lighten up, maybe?

I couldn’t agree more 😊
Btw, op, it’s been around for some years. In my own experience 30 years +

fancythat Fri 20-Oct-23 13:25:37

I dont mind "guys" at all.
I have spent quite a lot of my life around men, in a working capacity. [that still doesnt sound quite like I want it to sound].
"Guys" suits me fine.

Hithere Fri 20-Oct-23 13:21:01

Its slang, no harm done.

Guys has morphed to be gender neutral

Aldom Fri 20-Oct-23 13:15:43

In the 1970's my husband had a Californian colleague. He and his wife, who were good friends of ours, referred to us and everyone else as 'Guys'. So it's not new.

TerriBull Fri 20-Oct-23 13:06:35

I also really like it, all the younger generation in our family use it in an inlusive, affectionate way so used to it out and about. Different generation, different terminology. Preferential to ladies and gents.

sodapop Fri 20-Oct-23 13:04:10

Germanshepherdsmum

I don’t mind ‘guys’ but can’t stand women being called, or calling themselves, ‘girls’.

Or even worse GSM ' girlies' makes me cringe.

Urmstongran Fri 20-Oct-23 12:55:07

I don’t mind it at all. Sounds cheery and friendly to me whenever it’s been used and I always feel warmly included by it.
😊

RosiesMaw Fri 20-Oct-23 12:48:28

I really feel I have other things to worry me and actually find “guys” preferable to the slightly patronising “ladies”.
But each to their own.
Why do people get so uptight about trivialities?
“Can I get” as opposed to “May I have” for instance , so what?
We’re not all Victor Meldrew clones.
Lighten up, maybe?

grandtanteJE65 Fri 20-Oct-23 12:42:54

I too detest being called a guy. To me the word is derogatory when used of men and not applicable at all to women.

I am sadly afraid ours is the last generation to feel this way about the word guys when used in sentences like " How are you guys?"

Perhaps it is just the fashion right now and will fade away, as some of the seventies and eighties catch words have done.

Chestnut Fri 20-Oct-23 12:42:29

Just as a sidenote, one thing I really do hate is 'sick' for good or cool. What do these young people say when they are unwell or vomiting, off sick, or something is in really bad taste which we would describe as sick (i.e. Jimmy Savile). It's a horrible word that I associate with negative things so how on earth did it turn into something so positive?

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 20-Oct-23 12:40:07

I don’t mind ‘guys’ but can’t stand women being called, or calling themselves, ‘girls’.

Chestnut Fri 20-Oct-23 12:38:48

I really don't like guys but it is used all the time by everyone now. If you said in response 'actually, I'm not a guy' you would get a funny eye roll and they'd think you were a grumpy old bag. Sometimes you just have to bite your lip. You won't make any friends or change anything by saying it! It seems to be a substitute for 'people' these days.

Aveline Fri 20-Oct-23 12:37:14

As ever, it ain't what you say but the way that you say it. 'Guys' sounds friendly and informal. I even don't mind 'girls' if it's said kindly.
Once at a formal dinner the waitress coming round with the vegetables referred to us as, 'Sir' and 'Dear'. We loved it! It was so funny but intrinsically well meant.

Blossoming Fri 20-Oct-23 12:35:45

I don’t mind, used to hearing it at work.

MayBee70 Fri 20-Oct-23 12:29:28

I really don’t have a problem with it. I do cringe if I say something to someone and their reply is ‘oh bless’.

Nannarose Fri 20-Oct-23 12:09:35

I still remember the first time this happened to me - and it was in 1974! I was doing my Health Visitor training and the new Health Education officer (what a title!) came to do a lecture, and called us (all women, age 22 to about 50) 'guys'!!!

Wheniwasyourage Fri 20-Oct-23 12:08:27

I prefer “folks” too. I am not a guy!

DamaskRose Fri 20-Oct-23 11:59:31

Don’t really like Guys but so many people seem to use it nowadays and as Katie59 says, as long as it’s said with a smile …

Katie59 Fri 20-Oct-23 11:56:39

If it’s a group of ladies I would say “ladies”, a mixed group I would say “folks, but as long as it is said in a cheery way “Guys” is OK