Casual banter in shops, hotels and restaurants.

soop I thought it was only me who got myself wound up about being addressed as such,if I am paying for a service of any kind I expect to be spoken to in the Queen's English thank you very much.(rant over)

I've never dined in a restaurant with Mr soop– but I'd like to. Seriously, yes, it's annoying and tiresome, but I can live with it. More important things to worry about, but I know how you feel.

I have an American DDiL so being addressed as 'you guys' is normal.
I think we have to accept that language changes and usually the young things mean well

I'm not a guy - but hey, I ain't no doll neither!

glamma the hotel receptionist enquired...have you guys had a good journey? Okay, she didn't at that point know our name. Once we'd checked in and all that jazz, we were handed the room key and were still referred to as you guys. Later, as we waited to be seated in the restaurant [ our name was on the list because we'd made a booking] the lady in charge, and the waitress, and the bar person addressed us all evening as you guys. It's not a sin. It's just a tad flippant.

So long as the tone is friendly, I don't mind if people are not formal. I sometimes think young people find it difficult to feel 'equal' to older people and they use their own casual way of speaking out of nervousness. I'm sure I was often gauche when I was young, and I see it in DD3 now. It is not rudeness, but a kind of awkward shyness.

At least, that's my take, so hey ho!

I was addressed by a chugger the other day " Hi Miss,do you have a spare minute?"

"I am not a miss and I don't have anything spare"
Honestly, I'm 66! I'd much rather be a madam

I don't mind how I'm addressed as long as its polite and friendly, I haven't been addressed as Madam anywhere for long time. I prefer things casual and feel uncomfortable in a formal setting anyway.. each to his own I guess..

My younger son usually says something along the lines of Hi Guys when he arrives home, I don't mind it, it's preferable to being ignored.

One of the things I like about France, is that I am always 'Madam'!
I never minded 'dear' or 'love' in England.

It's here to stay, I'm afraid. A generation of children are now being called guys by their teachers. Just before I retired I would cringe at hearing, 'Listen up, guys.' from the young NQT in the next room. He was a very popular teacher so who am I to quibble?

At least they are not addressing everyone like my daughter's friend's mum addresses me on the rare occasions we meet. She calls me 'babycakes!' Yeurgh!

But some banter has to be better than surly no eye conact monosyllabic "service"(sic)

Different terms of endearment in different parts of the country also amuse me "hen" is common in Scotland.

I like being called 'hen'.

A former colleague of mine used to say 'I know I'm no chicken but don't call me hen!'

I found this quite amusing about both sexes being addressed as 'guys'. Just remembered it and wondered if I could find it again. Fortunately I'd bookmarked it. It's in a blog in The Economist.

I had a little rant about this on another thread. I said yoof today only had one way of addressing everyone but I got jumped on by English teachers who said it's all covered in GCSE. I'm glad I'm not the only one who takes exception. I like the regional endearments, love, my lover, petal, flower, chuck, ducks and the rest.

In Stoke on Trent a friendly address is "sug" (as in sugar) Like "Duck" or "me duck" in Leicestershire. "Chuck" when you get further north to Manchester and Lancashire. "My Lover" is a similar greeting for the far south west. "Pet" in the very Northeast. I have no objection to these. Does anyone have any more?

Really doesn't bother me, in fact it is usually endearing / amusing. Better,mas gracesmum says, than the old, no contact of any sort service.

I don't mind being addressed as "You guys" actually it makes me feel quie young, what I object to is being called "My lovely" in the Post Office when cashing my pension, makes me feel like a little old lady...

I'd forgotten 'pet'. And 'honey' in the US of A. And the luvvie 'Darling'.

Cupcake? Honeybun? Bach (in Wales)?

Hen in the West of Scotland.