Ladies, what don't you like to be called by men?

[Maximilianus]

I'm conducting this little poll because I'm curious to find out if ladies really like to be regarded as chicks, babies, honeys, or whatever nickname men often pronounce when addressing someone of the opposite gender.

Personally, I prefer the word lady because it gives me an idea of independence from men. I dislike the word woman because I feel it has an implication that they depend on men, and I feel the same about the word female. And I also imagine there may be a chance that someone may not like the word lady.

And how about these phrases that sound so empty to me like "come on baby", "shake it baby", "hold on baby", "come here baby" and everything ending in baby. Isn't it a way to diminish the feminine condition and nature?

Most of you may think... they are just words and phrases that people already got used to... but in any case I still prefer to address my opposite gender as ladies. And I prefer to be more creative, or at least try to be, if I'm ever to conquer a lady's attention.

So... how about you? I would like your opinions, please.
If you are a lady, what don't you like to be called by men?
If you are a man, what words/phrases don't you like using to address a lady?

(Please take the poll too).
Thanks.

[Zee.]

Anyone who isn't my boyfriend, calls me by my name or else they get a kick where it really hurts.... :smash:

kidding ;)


"Baby" is cute, i don't know why a lot of girls don't like it. I think it's very affectionate.

As far as friends are concerned, i sometimes get "miss c" because my name is quite long and hard to pronounce.
I also, sometimes, get called "lady" for some reason. "Hey lady" etc, i have no problem with it




Personally, I prefer the word lady because it gives me an idea of independence from men. I dislike the word woman because I feel it has an implication that they depend on men


But we are women. Calling a woman "woman" if you are greeting her, isn't appropriate though and not too common

[Maximilianus]

If you are called a miss and a lady, then you must be. ;)


But we are women.

I know. It may be the connotation that twisted-minded societies have put behind the word... maybe it's just me. I may be wrong... I am often...

[Zee.]

I know. It may be the connotation that twisted-minded societies have put behind the word... maybe it's just me. I may be wrong... I am often...


" woman " is one of my favourite words, I think

[kasie]

'Darling', 'Dear', 'Sweetheart' - patronising wotsits! :flare: Those terms have been reserved for the Few, the very favoured Few. I've been known to reply through clenched teeth - 'I'm not your darling'...

And as for 'chick' - my mum used to call me that!

My husband once addressed a woman as 'madam' and was roundly told, 'Don't you madam me!'

[TheFifthElement]

I picked nearly all of them. Depending on the context almost all 'pet' names for women can be derogatory and the only way to be safe is to call people by their given name. You missed 'sweetheart' and 'love' from the poll too, oh and 'bird'. Sweetheart really makes me want to puke, 'love' less so but perhaps because culturally in the area where I live 'love' is a common term used in a friendly and not demeaning way, so in my local area if someone said to me, "excuse me love... I wouldn't ever take that as offensive. Chick, in some areas is used in the same way so I guess again it rather depends on context. Bear in mind, in the same area the word 'c*ck' is used as an affectionate term for a man "..are you alright c*ck? or 'cocker', and I have known of situations where people using the term in its colloquial, friendly manner have been told by call centre staff that they'll hang up if they 'speak to them that way again', which is quite funny. Note, I can't actually write the whole word on this site without it getting ****'d out, which would make it very convoluted to talk about male chickens if I needed to :D

Lady I think is acceptable depending on the context. So if you were introducing people to each other you might say 'and this lady is xxx' and that would be okay. After introductions I would then expect people to use either other's names.

[motherhubbard]

I have a name and that's what I prefer to be called. My husband will often call me Wife, which I rather like. I'm at an age where I'm called 'ma'am.' I don't really like that, but I just keep getting older so I better get used to it. It is more polite 'hey lady.'

[1n50mn14]

It's all in the delivery.

I've got an old Greek man at my market who greets me with 'lady' and it's very polite and nice.

My boyfriend often uses baby, honey, etc, and while they're a bit cliche, it's meant sweetly.

Chick I've often had directed to me quite nicely, especially when I was in the U.K, it seemed.

[Emil Miller]

It doesn't really matter what men call women, provided they are in a relationship and it is meant as a term of endearment. I used to call my German girlfriend Gift Zwerg which in English means poison dwarf but only because she was very small. Another one from China I sometimes referred to as Frogs Legs for the same reason. They were both sensible enough not to take it seriously. With regard to other women I have always called them by their first name.

[JBI]

I guess the terms "dame" and "lass" have finally bitten the dust? Bogart, You are out of luck!

[*Classic*Charm*]

I guess the terms "dame" and "lass" have finally bitten the dust? Bogart, You are out of luck!

Bogart can call a woman whatever the hell he wants :D

For any sort of pet name, it really comes down to the context. Any of those names can come across as derogatory depending on who is saying it and in what way. Even still though, I'm more put off by someone I don't really know calling my be a short form of my real name than by one of those terms. Those pet names when said by someone else are just words, but the short form of my name implies familiarity and people only call me that when they know me well.

I have no problem with female or woman either. The prefixes fe- and wo- (which aren't prefixes at all) don't have any specific meaning, let alone one that implies dependency. I remember having a discussion in a class once about feminists who tried to have the spelling of "woman" changed to "womyn". Silly.

[Mathor]

Bogart can call a woman whatever the hell he wants :D


:nod::nod:

[TheFifthElement]

I guess the terms "dame" and "lass" have finally bitten the dust? Bogart, You are out of luck!

Lass is still pretty common where I live. Tends to be used like 'love' as a friendly/affectionate term.

[Virgil]

It doesn't really matter what men call women, provided they are in a relationship and it is meant as a term of endearment. I used to call my German girlfriend Gift Zwerg which in English means poison dwarf but only because she was very small. Another one from China I sometimes referred to as Frogs Legs for the same reason. They were both sensible enough not to take it seriously. With regard to other women I have always called them by their first name.

:lol: I tried calling my wife something silly like that once and I got struck with a baseball bat across the head. :p Of course it had to do with her weight. :D

[*Classic*Charm*]

What about broad? I think that one's kind of funny.

[Emil Miller]

:lol: I tried calling my wife something silly like that once and I got struck with a baseball bat across the head. :p Of course it had to do with her weight. :D

Always a touchy subject with women but I can believe that some New Yorkers have a problem in that direction; when the Chinese woman I mentioned moved to New York she actually had to buy her underwear from a children's store because the normal womens sizes were too big.

[Olga4real]

If you want to really piss me off you should call me sweety or female, especially the last one. Also honey, babe and the rest are accepted only from someone who is close. I love when he calls me "my girl" in that special voice which makes my heart melting. :-).
I am actually looking for a special name for him, the pet name nobody else called him before.
Any suggestions?

[Stargazer86]

It completely depends on who's saying it. If it's my boyfriend or a close friend whom I've known for years, that's fine. But I don't like being called by a term of affection by casual acquantances much less perfect strangers.

There are several elderly residents where I work who refer to any woman or girl who is younger as "lady" or "mija" I think it's sweet, polite, and respectful.

So generally, I'll only answer to my name, Miss, or mija (or lady if they speak limited English) especially if I'm at work.

[Niamh]

I selected other rather than an individual one for a reason. I hate being called babe (ugh) chick (chicken for some reason i'm okay with), bird, moth, the missus, my woman... i dont mind doll because my dad calls me that, but then, i think thats the only person i'd allow call me doll.
Oh and i also hate being hollered with "ma'am". different spelling to mam obviously but every time some one says that to me in the airport, i feel like saying "do i look like your mother?"

[Emil Miller]

If you want to really piss me off you should call me sweety or female, especially the last one. Also honey, babe and the rest are accepted only from someone who is close. I love when he calls me "my girl" in that special voice which makes my heart melting. :-).
I am actually looking for a special name for him, the pet name nobody else called him before.
Any suggestions?

How about Buggerlugs ?

[*Classic*Charm*]

i dont mind doll because my dad calls me that, but then, i think thats the only person i'd allow call me doll.

:) My mother always calls me Doll, so I'm in the same boat- no one else would ever be permitted to call me that.

[Olga4real]

How about Buggerlugs ?

If you would be so nice to explain it's meaning but it does not sound too nice after first reading.

[MarkBastable]

Whatever a guy says, he's in the wrong - that's just the way it is with broads.

[Scheherazade]

It all depends on the person and the context... Doncha think?

[Emil Miller]

If you would be so nice to explain it's meaning but it does not sound too nice after first reading.

To be honest, I don't know what it means. One of the guys I used to work for often used it to describe someone he didn't like. So perhaps it isn't suitable for your purpose after all. I just like the resonance of the word.

[motherhubbard]

Whatever a guy says, he's in the wrong - that's just the way it is with broads.

:lol::goof:

[IJustMadeThatUp]

It all depends on the person and the context... Doncha think?

I agree!

Although I HATE 'The Missus' UGH! I think it sounds awful.

[kratsayra]

It all depends on the person and the context... Doncha think?

it definitely does.

but in general, I think I'd feel pretty uncomfortable with the ones listed. I'd be okay with "darling" or "dear" or some such though. and if the person is older, I really don't mind much as long as they mean it with some degree of respect.

"Honey" is what my parents (now divorced) called each other. I could not possibly use it myself for that reason. Just the thought of it makes me cringe, it reminds me of their tense relationship with each other.

the pet names that my boyfriend and I use are entirely gender neutral and completely of our own devising. they would make no sense to anyone else, and sometimes they probably don't even make sense to us. It's probably pretty weird, but I like it.

[Maximilianus]

First of all I want to thank everybody for taking part in my first poll since I joined Lit Net. Highly appreciated!

My husband once addressed a woman as 'madam' and was roundly told, 'Don't you madam me!'
I know of someone claiming not to have been called a madam in all her life, until it happened, and she was so pleased that she even said "Hey you're the first person to call me a madam, thank you so much" :p
Same cause, different effects...

I picked nearly all of them. Depending on the context almost all 'pet' names for women can be derogatory and the only way to be safe is to call people by their given name. You missed 'sweetheart' and 'love' from the poll too, oh and 'bird'. Sweetheart really makes me want to puke, 'love' less so but perhaps because culturally in the area where I live 'love' is a common term used in a friendly and not demeaning way, so in my local area if someone said to me, "excuse me love... I wouldn't ever take that as offensive. Chick, in some areas is used in the same way so I guess again it rather depends on context. Bear in mind, in the same area the word 'c*ck' is used as an affectionate term for a man "..are you alright c*ck? or 'cocker', and I have known of situations where people using the term in its colloquial, friendly manner have been told by call centre staff that they'll hang up if they 'speak to them that way again', which is quite funny. Note, I can't actually write the whole word on this site without it getting ****'d out, which would make it very convoluted to talk about male chickens if I needed to :D

Lady I think is acceptable depending on the context. So if you were introducing people to each other you might say 'and this lady is xxx' and that would be okay. After introductions I would then expect people to use either other's names.
If you had a name like "Prudence Goodwyfe" you wouldn't be so safe (saw it on The Simpsons, so not my devise :p)
Apparently I missed many, including their variants, like sweetie, girlie, deary, babe, lassie and whatnot.
I would hate to be called a "c*ck" ... yuck ... :lol:
Whenever you need to refer to male chickens you can always say "male chickens" :p

I guess the terms "dame" and "lass" have finally bitten the dust? Bogart, You are out of luck!
I like them both, but I have a preference for "lass"... which is not really important here given the fact that I'm a man. :p

:lol: I tried calling my wife something silly like that once and I got struck with a baseball bat across the head. :p Of course it had to do with her weight. :D
Virgil, Virgil, what were you thinking about? :goof:

What about broad? I think that one's kind of funny.
Given the original connotation of the word, I wouldn't address anyone a broad. I wouldn't even call a broad a broad, if you know what I mean (the very fact of their profession is no excuse for disrespect... unless they like being addressed like that). I too dislike the way it sounds, though maybe its connotation has changed with the mingling of time.

If you want to really piss me off you should call me sweety or female, especially the last one. Also honey, babe and the rest are accepted only from someone who is close.
No fully qualified gentleman pisses a lady off. That's why I thought of this poll in the first place... to know what ladies prefer and be a better gentleman. :angel:

I selected other rather than an individual one for a reason. I hate being called babe (ugh) chick (chicken for some reason i'm okay with), bird, moth, the missus, my woman... i dont mind doll because my dad calls me that, but then, i think thats the only person i'd allow call me doll.
Oh and i also hate being hollered with "ma'am". different spelling to mam obviously but every time some one says that to me in the airport, i feel like saying "do i look like your mother?"
"Moth" sounds terrible to address a lady, and "missus" and "my woman"... well I can't tell which of the three sounds worse. And about "ma'am", independently from spelling, some people tend to pronounce it without the "long a sound" involved, which makes it sound even more similar to "mam". If I were a lady I wouldn't like to be a stranger's mother either.

Although I HATE 'The Missus' UGH! I think it sounds awful.
My ears tell me the same!

Olga and Brian, this I found for Buggerlugs, and there's a fifth meaning I dare not post here for fear of being banned. Anyhow if you feel interested here's the link: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=buggerlugs
Buggerlugs

Grumpy person - usually older, can be attributed to any person who is being a grumpy pain in the bum.
Affectionate term for a child
An affectionate term for a female friend, if you're from up north!
In British English, a term used as a polite euphemism for the stronger "bugger". Often the word is changed as the speaker realises his/her audience. Usually an exclamatory remark (as in "Oh buggerlugs!")
- check link if you want it -



the pet names that my boyfriend and I use are entirely gender neutral and completely of our own devising. they would make no sense to anyone else, and sometimes they probably don't even make sense to us. It's probably pretty weird, but I like it.
Very nice to have an internal language that only belongs to both of you.

[Janine]

Originally Posted by Maximilianus

Personally, I prefer the word lady because it gives me an idea of independence from men. I dislike the word woman because I feel it has an implication that they depend on men

I agree with this Max. I once had this really adorable boyfriend when I was about 28 and he referred to woman as ladies and I really thought it was sweet and respectful. He was originally from the South so maybe that is a trait in his state...Southern hospitality. I don't like the other titles above at all. I would have chosen this or Other.

[Maximilianus]

I agree with this Max. I once had this really adorable boyfriend when I was about 28 and he referred to woman as ladies and I really thought it was sweet and respectful. He was originally from the South so maybe that is a trait in his state...Southern hospitality. I don't like the other titles above at all. I would have chosen this or Other.

Thanks for taking part, Janine.
Remember that in some way I'm a southerner too :p

[kasie]

I've just remembered - I was absolutely delighted when a maitre d' in an Australian hotel called me 'Dear Lady'. I have always wanted to be called Dear Lady but somehow never expected it to happen in Australia! :)

[Emil Miller]

Olga and Brian, this I found for Buggerlugs, and there's a fifth meaning I dare not post here for fear of being banned. Anyhow if you feel interested here's the link: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=buggerlugs
[]

I just checked it out and will never use it again.

[Virgil]

Whatever a guy says, he's in the wrong - that's just the way it is with broads.

:lol: I wish I had thought of saying that!!


I agree with this Max. I once had this really adorable boyfriend when I was about 28 and he referred to woman as ladies and I really thought it was sweet and respectful. He was originally from the South so maybe that is a trait in his state...Southern hospitality. I don't like the other titles above at all. I would have chosen this or Other.

I think it depends on the tone of how one says lady. How's this, from say a police officer directing traffic: "Hey lady, move your a$$."

[prendrelemick]

I have no idea how to address members of the opposite sex anymore. I want to be friendly, not too formal but respectful, i don't want the word to have any conotations of oppression, ownership, sexual frisson or mysogeny, but I would like to be gender specific.

What does that leave? apart from buggerlugs

[Maximilianus]

I've just remembered - I was absolutely delighted when a maitre d' in an Australian hotel called me 'Dear Lady'. I have always wanted to be called Dear Lady but somehow never expected it to happen in Australia! :)
Dear lady sounds both respectful and affectionate, I believe.

I just checked it out and will never use it again.
Neither will I... though it has a few good connotations, that fifth one may lead to a misinterpretation, therefore to a communication crisis.

I think it depends on the tone of how one says lady. How's this, from say a police officer directing traffic: "Hey lady, move your a$$."
If I were a lady I wouldn't like to be caught by that cop in a traffic jam. :D

I have no idea how to address members of the opposite sex anymore. I want to be friendly, not too formal but respectful, i don't want the word to have any conotations of oppression, ownership, sexual frisson or mysogeny, but I would like to be gender specific.

What does that leave? apart from buggerlugs
Maybe the safest would be to ask each particular lady how she wants to be addressed. Something like "may I call you lady?" and if she says no then "may I call you by your name?" or even "may I call you somehow?", and if she says she doesn't like to be called anything then... just... don't call her anymore... because there would be no way to call her at all.

[Janine]

I think when it comes down to it and the person gets to know me, I like best being referred to by my name. I don't like a nickname particularly, so please go with my full-first name. I feel on equal footing with others, if they use my real first name. I can't stand one of my librarians, because she seems to have a condesending attitude when she refers to me as Ma'me. I think that is how you spell it...not sure now...like Yes, Ma'me, no Ma'me...it makes me feel old.

[Homers_child]

I'd say, if you are introduced to them but you don't know them that well, it's probably best to just use their name.

If you don't know them, if the woman is a complete stranger, I would think 'Miss' would be the most appropriate. I'm just starting to appear older (18) and a guy politely called me Miss in a store, and I was rather flattered. I guess I just like formality in a way, rather than someone just addressing me.

If you're asking about a girlfriend, I'd say any of those are fine. It would really depend on what she likes to be called and you're comfortable with. I've been a fan of 'honey'. It sounds sweet. Not so much of 'baby'. It always makes me think of drunk guys trying to hit on girls. But it depends on the deliverary of course.

[Janine]

hahah...I just realised I totally voted backwards to my desires. I thought the wording of the question was different...duh... I abhor being called Baby or Chick, so I imagine if I had voted right I would be with the majority. I like best to be called 'Lady', if it's someone new or barely known to me; if a steady boyfriend, 'honey' is endearing; otherwise I like to be called by my name. I wish I could redo my dumb vote.

[Olga4real]

To be honest, I don't know what it means. One of the guys I used to work for often used it to describe someone he didn't like. So perhaps it isn't suitable for your purpose after all. I just like the resonance of the word.

I think I would just use his name. No matter how many other people have called his name, I know for sure that nobody else can call him the way I do. Nobody else can love him the way I do.

[Nightshade]

FOr some reason I really dont like lady, ma'am or egypt Miss or Madmesoille ( spelling? frensh miss). I did originally object to Love and chick and chuck and Duck but Ive got used to it its the collequial round here and not really gender specific ( love and chuck that is ). Though I have never heard a man call a man love. The one that really brought me to a standstill the firs time I heard it was 'me lover'. I was working in a chariy shop and I was doing a shift with an oldish woman Id never worked with before and we had the radio on and she suddenly grabs me and dance with me me lover.. and waltzs me across the shop. She was suprisingly strong. I thought she had run mad. till I realised 'me lover' was the colloquial where she was from originally ( her husband came in and said the same thing later.


I picked nearly all of them. Depending on the context almost all 'pet' names for women can be derogatory and the only way to be safe is to call people by their given name. You missed 'sweetheart' and 'love' from the poll too, oh and 'bird'. Sweetheart really makes me want to puke, 'love' less so but perhaps because culturally in the area where I live 'love' is a common term used in a friendly and not demeaning way, so in my local area if someone said to me, "excuse me love... I wouldn't ever take that as offensive. Chick, in some areas is used in the same way so I guess again it rather depends on context. Bear in mind, in the same area the word 'c*ck' is used as an affectionate term for a man "..are you alright c*ck? or 'cocker', and I have known of situations where people using the term in its colloquial, friendly manner have been told by call centre staff that they'll hang up if they 'speak to them that way again', which is quite funny. Note, I can't actually write the whole word on this site without it getting ****'d out, which would make it very convoluted to talk about male chickens if I needed to :D

Lady I think is acceptable depending on the context. So if you were introducing people to each other you might say 'and this lady is xxx' and that would be okay. After introductions I would then expect people to use either other's names.

never heard the male chicken one but that is amusing

Lass is still pretty common where I live. Tends to be used like 'love' as a friendly/affectionate term.


What about broad? I think that one's kind of funny.
Unless you happen to be broad then it is NOT funny :nod:

How about Buggerlugs ?
:lol: My mum and her family uses this as an affectionate name for the rest of us in the family. Then again my mum is the same lady who used rember remmeber the day you die as a nursery rhyme. Not to mention

[Emil Miller]

I've just remembered - I was absolutely delighted when a maitre d' in an Australian hotel called me 'Dear Lady'. I have always wanted to be called Dear Lady but somehow never expected it to happen in Australia! :)

I bet he says that to all the Sheilas.

[TheFifthElement]

:lol: My mum and her family uses this as an affectionate name for the rest of us in the family. Then again my mum is the same lady who used rember remmeber the day you die as a nursery rhyme. Not to mention

I think buggerlugs is quite common in the North. I remember my Dad used to use it generally when we were being a bit silly or cheeky, but always in an affectionate way.

Chuck, yes that's common. I call my kids chuck all the time. My Mum used to call people chucky-duck which is another very Northern phrase. As is petal. Also pet is common in the North East.


Whenever you need to refer to male chickens you can always say "male chickens" :p
I guess you could, but then we might be in danger of implying that male chickens are in some way subordinate to female chickens, which could in turn lead to a male chicken mass uprising. You can't be too careful about these things, you know ;)

[Nightshade]

And I suppose alot of these are better that the Egyptian ..
Oi you with the flesh! which is gender nutral and ok for kids but not so pleasent when you are an adult.

[rozreads]

When my H calls me by my name I know I'm in trouble! And speaking of Bogey, remember in African Queen how he called Katherine H. "Miss." That was the most respectful word to him. Then later when they are about to get married she had to ask his first name. I go with 'woman,' it sounds very grown up, especially if it sounds like you are The woman.

[papayahed]

I agree with whoever else said it depends on the context. Sometime ago on litnet someone took offense to me using the term "chick", I forgot why or who but I still use it occasionally when refering to other women.

Just recently a supplier started to call me "babe". I had to tell him it wasn't appropriate. If I would have known the guy in any other context besides work it might have been ok.

And since I moved down south I've been introduced to "Miss Papaya". All the ladies are "Miss _____", it's seems very genteel and southern. My other southern favorite is "Darlin'" but it has to be said with that southern accent and by someone I know and like.

[*Classic*Charm*]

A customer at work called me "kid" today. "Thanks, kid". I'm your friggin bank teller and NOT a kid. That bugged me.

[papayahed]

oh, I forgot A coworker tried to give me the nickname "Double D". I nipped that one in the bud.

[Niamh]

oh, I forgot A coworker tried to give me the nickname "Double D". I nipped that one in the bud.

:eek: they didnt!!!

[*Classic*Charm*]

oh, I forgot A coworker tried to give me the nickname "Double D". I nipped that one in the bud.

Please tell me you fixed that by calling him "No Nuts" and making it literal with your foot.

[Nightshade]

oh, I forgot A coworker tried to give me the nickname "Double D". I nipped that one in the bud.

Obvioulsy they are now the Double D. Dead Dummy!

[Petrarch's Love]

I think any of those terms could be either really annoying or OK depending on the context. I've noticed that the problem for me and, I would imagine, a lot of women, when it comes to these kinds of terms of "endearment" is when they are used in a depersonalized or objectifying way. The huge issue I have with being called something like "babe" or "baby" is that it is, more often than not, an indication that the guy isn't interested in me or who I am at all. It's just a fill in the blank term for any woman. If you're already in a relationship with a man and you've already formed a bond and established that he knows, respects, and cares for you, then it doesn't bug a woman as much if he occasionally calls her by something other than her name, though probably the more personal or particular a pet name is, the more either a man or a woman likes it because it reinforces that the person really has him or her in mind (Though there are exceptions. Really, Virg., how could you fall into the old weight trap?). If, however, you're just dating a guy and he refers to you as "baby" (the one that sets me off the most personally) more than using your real name, then you start to get the feeling you're not special to him. He would call any woman the same thing, and you are just any woman to him...just some "baby" or "chick" or "honey" that makes a nice accessory to his life. I once went on a couple of dates with a guy who was such an extreme example of this problem (actually, he was an extreme example of many problems...not sure how we got to date 2) that when, at the end of the second date, he said "hey, babe, let's go up to my place" I actually was curious enough to ask if he remembered my name. He didn't. Needless to say I told him "later babe." :rolleyes:

Incidently, this thread has the song "Don't Call Me Baby" stuck in my head. Don't suppose anyone here knows it? I think it came out about 2000 in my freshman year of college, with sort of a heavy disco beat and there used to be a group of girls in my dorm who would get together and sing along to the refrain and lines like "behind my smile is my IQ" together in goofy dancing quasi-feminist solidarity.

[Maximilianus]

I can't stand one of my librarians, because she seems to have a condesending attitude when she refers to me as Ma'me. I think that is how you spell it...not sure now...like Yes, Ma'me, no Ma'me...it makes me feel old.
Probably she's just trying to be polite when addressing you, and if you dislike it mayhap you can tell her, in a polite way, that you don't like being called a ma'am. By the way, ma'am is the correct spelling.

hahah...I just realised I totally voted backwards to my desires. I thought the wording of the question was different...duh... I abhor being called Baby or Chick, so I imagine if I had voted right I would be with the majority. I like best to be called 'Lady', if it's someone new or barely known to me; if a steady boyfriend, 'honey' is endearing; otherwise I like to be called by my name. I wish I could redo my dumb vote.
Mistakes happen :p

I think I would just use his name. No matter how many other people have called his name, I know for sure that nobody else can call him the way I do. Nobody else can love him the way I do.
:nod: :nod: :thumbs_up


I guess you could, but then we might be in danger of implying that male chickens are in some way subordinate to female chickens, which could in turn lead to a male chicken mass uprising. You can't be too careful about these things, you know ;)
I know :)

I've noticed that the problem for me and, I would imagine, a lot of women, when it comes to these kinds of terms of "endearment" is when they are used in a depersonalized or objectifying way. The huge issue I have with being called something like "babe" or "baby" is that it is, more often than not, an indication that the guy isn't interested in me or who I am at all. It's just a fill in the blank term for any woman. If you're already in a relationship with a man and you've already formed a bond and established that he knows, respects, and cares for you, then it doesn't bug a woman as much if he occasionally calls her by something other than her name, though probably the more personal or particular a pet name is, the more either a man or a woman likes it because it reinforces that the person really has him or her in mind (Though there are exceptions. Really, Virg., how could you fall into the old weight trap?). If, however, you're just dating a guy and he refers to you as "baby" (the one that sets me off the most personally) more than using your real name, then you start to get the feeling you're not special to him. He would call any woman the same thing, and you are just any woman to him...just some "baby" or "chick" or "honey" that makes a nice accessory to his life. I once went on a couple of dates with a guy who was such an extreme example of this problem (actually, he was an extreme example of many problems...not sure how we got to date 2) that when, at the end of the second date, he said "hey, babe, let's go up to my place" I actually was curious enough to ask if he remembered my name. He didn't. Needless to say I told him "later babe." :rolleyes:
You did well to dispatch that guy. Something similar happens in my country when a lady is addressed by a man as a "cosita" which in English is the same as calling someone a "thingie". And some ladies keep the habit of calling a man they like a "papi" or "papito", that is "daddy" in English, as though not having enough with one father and looking for another. Human nature being objectified, or so I feel it. And it also happens that they don't learn your name first, before calling you one of those nicknames. So people objectify people everywhere in a similar fashion.


a group of girls in my dorm who would get together and sing along to the refrain and lines like "behind my smile is my IQ" together in goofy dancing quasi-feminist solidarity.
I want to point out "behind my smile is my IQ". Very great concept!

[JuniperWoolf]

I hate it when people call women the b-word (not "baby"). It makes me sad. I rather like being called a "chick." It's like the famale version of "dude" to me. "Lady" makes me feel like I'm being yelled at by a cab driver (as in "Hey lady! Get out of the road!").

[prendrelemick]

It seems that northern Britain has loads of pet names that are fowl. chick, chuck, chicken, hen, hin, hinny, and ducks.
I call my daughters "Me lover" but it essential to use an exaggerated west country accent when doing so.

[Maximilianus]

It seems that northern Britain has loads of pet names that are fowl. chick, chuck, chicken, hen, hin, hinny, and ducks.
I call my daughters "Me lover" but it essential to use an exaggerated west country accent when doing so.
I didn't know that fowl, hen, hin and hinny were somewhere in use to address a lady. Thanks for sharing the info. I wouldn't call a lady by these ones though.

[TheFifthElement]

Incidently, this thread has the song "Don't Call Me Baby" stuck in my head. Don't suppose anyone here knows it? I think it came out about 2000 in my freshman year of college, with sort of a heavy disco beat and there used to be a group of girls in my dorm who would get together and sing along to the refrain and lines like "behind my smile is my IQ" together in goofy dancing quasi-feminist solidarity.

Ugh, thanks Petrarch I'll have that song in my head all day now. Madison Avenue, boy does that seem a long time ago :D

[Niamh]

Ugh, thanks Petrarch I'll have that song in my head all day now. Madison Avenue, boy does that seem a long time ago :D

Yeah that songs been in my head since i first posted in this thread.

[Janine]

It must be a regional thing; because quite frankly, I have never heard anyone around her call a woman chick. It sounds totally strange to me.

Thanks, Max, for answering my post (couple back). Yes, I did definitely get mixed up on the voting...oh well....

As far as that librarian is concerned, if I asked her not to call me Ma'am she would be really nasty and defensive with me...no, let it be; she has her ways...somedays she is nice and other days she is downright defensive and strange; it's when she is annoyed at something, she calls me Ma'am. I find it rather irritating, but I just ignore it. I try my best to avoid her and check out with someone else. All the other librarians are very nice.

[Nightshade]

Hummm Janine about the librarian thing, I know I am supposed to call men sir and gentleman ( and frankly it bugs the life out of me ) and women are Lady and Madam. I cant do it though without cringing so when evere I have to force myself to because of the presence of senior mangmnet I end up coming across as wierd.

[Janine]

Hummm Janine about the librarian thing, I know I am supposed to call men sir and gentleman ( and frankly it bugs the life out of me ) and women are Lady and Madam. I cant do it though without cringing so when evere I have to force myself to because of the presence of senior mangmnet I end up coming across as wierd.

Nightshade, that's a shame it's so strict at your library. It isn't like that at mine at all. Most of the people working there are casual and they don't have such a rule; a few are really nice and friendly, too. It's only involving this one library aid; she is not even a full-fledged librarian, to my knowlege. She just likes to act like an authority and scold people. She is always trying to get me on some offense, such as taking out too many things at once; most times she has been proven wrong, because the computer didn't register it right away or she used it wrong. I think only once I failed to bring something back; I am proud to say I am a pretty upstanding user of the library. That's what kills me when she gets on my case. It can be so annoying and I notice she uses Ma'am in a certain stern tone of voice when she is doing this or thinking she is the head of the library, which she is not! She is the main one to always yell at the kids, even if they make a whimper. I find her totally annoying. One could try to be nicer.

[Virgil]

I can't understand why some of you don't like the term madam. I will call everyone by their proper name unless of course I don't know it. On those occaisions I don't know who I'm talking to, I will use "miss" or "madam." I would think both are respectful terms. I have no intention of slighting people, so if I am please let me know.

As to my wife, I call her by an endearing form of her name or a shortened form of her name. None of the above in the poll.

[Nightshade]

Nightshade, that's a shame it's so strict at your library. It isn't like that at mine at all. Most of the people working there are casual and they don't have such a rule; a few are really nice and friendly, too. It's only involving this one library aid; she is not even a full-fledged librarian, to my knowlege. She just likes to act like an authority and scold people. She is always trying to get me on some offense, such as taking out too many things at once; most times she has been proven wrong, because the computer didn't register it right away or she used it wrong. I think only once I failed to bring something back; I am proud to say I am a pretty upstanding user of the library. That's what kills me when she gets on my case. It can be so annoying and I notice she uses Ma'am in a certain stern tone of voice when she is doing this or thinking she is the head of the library, which she is not! She is the main one to always yell at the kids, even if they make a whimper. I find her totally annoying. One could try to be nicer.
Well i isnt a rule excatly but reffering to people as this woman and this man is kind of rude. ... SO its excuse me librarin this lady has an issue she wants to report... or Ahem the lady back there is taking her bad day out on me... make her go away please! Although I have gotten smarted the library is glass front so when certain customers who are particaully difficult or who have issues with me start up the drive I mysetiously get 'busy' and dissapeare from the counter area, if I can.

[Janine]

Well i isnt a rule excatly but reffering to people as this woman and this man is kind of rude. ... SO its excuse me librarin this lady has an issue she wants to report... or Ahem the lady back there is taking her bad day out on me... make her go away please! Although I have gotten smarted the library is glass front so when certain customers who are particaully difficult or who have issues with me start up the drive I mysetiously get 'busy' and dissapeare from the counter area, if I can.

Oh, I see what you mean, Nightshade. You are on the other end working in the library. You could hardly yell out, hey you? haha.. I guess a lot of the people in my little local libary know me by name. I pretty much make it a habit to learn their names, because I am usually like that; I like people. Also, I go there so often I might as well feel comfortable and at home. I even now know the security guard's name; he's Tom and I will ask him what he's reading or how his day went. He is a very nice older man. I usually kid around with the other librarians, but I guess there is always one fly in the ointment, so to speak, right? Once I did show this tempermental woman my grand-daughter's photo and then she was nicer, well for awhile. I just don't care for her calling me Ma'am.

Virgil, isn't Madame a designation for a married woman or an older woman? I remember in the 60's, 70's with Women's Lib, they were making a big deal out of using Miss; they said one should be called Ms instead; pretty silly, if you think about it.

[Lynne50]

I work in a library too. I always refer to our female patrons as Miss or Ma'am, and the male patrons as Sir or Son, depending on their ages. I guess it's better than 'Hey You!" A few years back, a colleague of mine would address all of us, all women, by Miss Lynne, Miss Joan, etc. It was cute for awhile, but then it got kind of old. She was using it as a term of endearment, so I didn't say anything. However, just recently, a African American girl came to work at the library as a page. She reshelves books and magazines and works very hard. Well, she started to call all of us, Miss Lynne, etc. It made me very uncomfortable so I had to tell her that I was a coworker and she had to drop the Miss. We all use our first names, even with our bosses, so I definitely wanted her to do the same.

Well, now back to the other names I like to be called. First, my husband calls me Hon, but I don't really like Honey. I know a dog named Honey. Then there was a boyfriend, way back in another life, who called me Babe. I liked that very much. At the time, it was flattering. Now, ever since our kids were born, we're just plain old Mom and Dad. I call my husband Dad and he calls me Mom.

One last question? Why do some people call their boy children 'Mom"? Can't figure that one out?

[Lady Otter]

Bogart can call a woman whatever the hell he wants :D

For any sort of pet name, it really comes down to the context. Any of those names can come across as derogatory depending on who is saying it and in what way. Even still though, I'm more put off by someone I don't really know calling my be a short form of my real name than by one of those terms. Those pet names when said by someone else are just words, but the short form of my name implies familiarity and people only call me that when they know me well.

I have no problem with female or woman either. The prefixes fe- and wo- (which aren't prefixes at all) don't have any specific meaning, let alone one that implies dependency. I remember having a discussion in a class once about feminists who tried to have the spelling of "woman" changed to "womyn". Silly.

I'm in limbo (despite an advanced age) between getting my M.A. status at my university and being an alumnae. Which means, I cannot access my beloved Oxford Dictionary. I'd love the roots of woman, lady, lass, female, etc. Alas(s), I must wait a semester.

In the meantime, I prefer She-who-must-be-obeyed. Unfortunately, I have a teenager, and it doesn't seem to work very well.

[JuniperWoolf]

I can't understand why some of you don't like the term madam. I will call everyone by their proper name unless of course I don't know it. On those occaisions I don't know who I'm talking to, I will use "miss" or "madam." I would think both are respectful terms. I have no intention of slighting people, so if I am please let me know.


Well, I don't really like the term "madam" because that is what we call female pimps here (I don't feel slighted by you though, I'm pretty sure you're not calling me a pimp).

[Janine]

I work in a library too. I always refer to our female patrons as Miss or Ma'am, and the male patrons as Sir or Son, depending on their ages. I guess it's better than 'Hey You!" A few years back, a colleague of mine would address all of us, all women, by Miss Lynne, Miss Joan, etc. It was cute for awhile, but then it got kind of old. She was using it as a term of endearment, so I didn't say anything. However, just recently, a African American girl came to work at the library as a page. She reshelves books and magazines and works very hard. Well, she started to call all of us, Miss Lynne, etc. It made me very uncomfortable so I had to tell her that I was a coworker and she had to drop the Miss. We all use our first names, even with our bosses, so I definitely wanted her to do the same.

Well, now back to the other names I like to be called. First, my husband calls me Hon, but I don't really like Honey. I know a dog named Honey. Then there was a boyfriend, way back in another life, who called me Babe. I liked that very much. At the time, it was flattering. Now, ever since our kids were born, we're just plain old Mom and Dad. I call my husband Dad and he calls me Mom.

One last question? Why do some people call their boy children 'Mom"? Can't figure that one out?

Lynne, my daughter-in-law calls my grand-daughter 'Mommy' sometimes. I don't get that either. I never heard anyone do that before. I thought your husband called you 'Mom'. I found that unique and kind of cute. Did you really like being called 'Babe'? I don't like being called 'Babe' at all. I know this guy one year younger than I am' who still calls women 'Babe'. It rather annoys me sometimes.

[Virgil]

Well, I don't really like the term "madam" because that is what we call female pimps here (I don't feel slighted by you though, I'm pretty sure you're not calling me a pimp).

:lol:

From M-W:


Main Entry:mad·am
Pronunciation:\ˈma-dəm\
Function:noun
Inflected Form(s):plural madams
Etymology:Middle English, from Anglo-French ma dame, literally, my lady
Date:14th century
1plural mes·dames \mā-ˈdäm, -ˈdam\ : lady —used without a name as a form of respectful or polite address to a woman
2: mistress 1 —used as a title formerly with the given name but now with the surname or especially with a designation of rank or office <Madam Chairman><Madam President>
3: the female head of a house of prostitution
4: the female head of a household : wife

True, it can be the head of a house of prostitution, but it's predominantly a term for a woman of rank. Plus the etymology is quite noble. The prostitution reference is an outgrowth of cynicism and turning a noble thing on its head. Plus madam is the female compliment to the masculine "sir."

[Maximilianus]

Well, I don't really like the term "madam" because that is what we call female pimps here (I don't feel slighted by you though, I'm pretty sure you're not calling me a pimp).
There are Spanish- and Italian-speaking places where the term "madama" is used to refer to a female pimp. I believe the French equivalent "madamme" is also used the same way in some places. So it's logical if the English "madam" has a similar usage, and it's logical that many ladies dislike the word because of this unfortunate connotation. However I agree with Virgil that this is not the main meaning of the word and the word itself has a respectable etymology, somewhat profaned by people with a twisted mind.


One last question? Why do some people call their boy children 'Mom"? Can't figure that one out?

Lynne, my daughter-in-law calls my grand-daughter 'Mommy' sometimes. I don't get that either. I never heard anyone do that before. I thought your husband called you 'Mom'. I found that unique and kind of cute.
In Spanish-speaking countries parents often call their daughters with the equivalent for "mom" and "mommy", and their sons with the equivalent for "dad" and "daddy".

Doing a web search I found that sometimes the word "mom" is used as an adjective to describe something that is really great, nice, kind or helpful. So we could fairly say "This boy is so mom" and it would be correct though I dunno in which exact places the word is really used with this meaning.
However, based upon this alternative meaning of "mom", I believe that if every parent wants their offspring to be great, nice, kind and helpful, then this must be a reason to call them "mom". Just a theory, though I believe it makes some sense.

[prendrelemick]

I think the anglo saxons had "man" for human being, male or female. Female humans became "wife-man" shortened to wiman, then woman. Males were called "weapon-mans." I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

They also had "quean" for a female, which sounds rather nice I think.

The song in my head, since reading this thread is "Whats new pussycat" unfortunately.

[Nightshade]

is that pronounced Queen?

And I dont like miss or MAdam because more often than not when its addressed at me to dat anyway I am either in some kind of trouble or being patronised.

[Janine]

anyone want to call me princess?....hahaha...queen sounds a little too matronly to me...but 'royalty' in any form would feel nice somedays....LOL

[LMK]

That's why I usually request...Duchess...

[Janine]

That's why I usually request...Duchess...

hahah..how 'bout 'Most Esteemed Duchess'.....:lol:

[papayahed]

True, it can be the head of a house of prostitution, but it's predominantly a term for a woman of rank. Plus the etymology is quite noble. The prostitution reference is an outgrowth of cynicism and turning a noble thing on its head. Plus madam is the female compliment to the masculine "sir."

Yeah, still don't like it. Madam seem so very matronly and stale.

[Niamh]

I can't understand why some of you don't like the term madam. I will call everyone by their proper name unless of course I don't know it. On those occaisions I don't know who I'm talking to, I will use "miss" or "madam." I would think both are respectful terms. I have no intention of slighting people, so if I am please let me know.

As to my wife, I call her by an endearing form of her name or a shortened form of her name. None of the above in the poll.

miss i dont mind. but with madam americans pronounce it more ma'am and as i've said, "Mam" is what i call my mother.

[Janine]

I don't like Madame or Ma'am. I don't think anyone in my entire life has ever called me Madame. Maybe it's regional. No one has ever called me chick either; this I would hate! I do recall people I knew calling me babe, but it was more in the spirit of fun, nothing really serious. My last boyfriend called me by my name and I guess I did call him honey or darling ocasionally and only at home, if I felt particularly warm towards him, but not too often. Mostly, I called him by his first name.

[Maximilianus]

Would any of the posting ladies like to be called "gal" or "femme"? If I were a lady and had to choose I would go with the latter but.... I am no "femme" :p Besides there is a slang connotation for this word and... you know how slang is... always dirtying words that sound more or less nice.


anyone want to call me princess?....hahaha...queen sounds a little too matronly to me...but 'royalty' in any form would feel nice somedays....LOL
Okay, here I go: How have you been today, princess Janine? ... :p

That's why I usually request...Duchess...
As you wish, Duchess LMK ... :)

[Virgil]

miss i dont mind. but with madam americans pronounce it more ma'am and as i've said, "Mam" is what i call my mother.

Hmm. I guess I use both madam and ma'am.

[Maximilianus]

I think the anglo saxons had "man" for human being, male or female. Female humans became "wife-man" shortened to wiman, then woman. Males were called "weapon-mans." I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.


... I'd love the roots of woman, lady, lass, female, etc. Alas(s), I must wait a semester...

I didn't know this and now I do, so I wanted to share what I found. For example, the words "male" and "female" are not etymologically related (check below). another thing I didn't know is that ladies were originally loaf kneaders.

Etymologies:

WOMAN: Old English wīfmann, from wīf (‘adult female’, Modern English wife) + mann (‘human being’).

MALE: Middle English male, borrowed from Old French masle, malle (Modern French mâle), from Latin masculus (“‘masculine, a male’”), diminutive of mās (“‘male, masculine’”).

FEMALE: From Old French femelle, from Mediaeval Latin femella (“‘a female’”), from Latin femella (“‘a young female, a girl’”), diminutive of femina (“‘a woman’”). The ending was remodelled under the influence of "male", to which "female" is not etymologically related.

LADY: From Middle English lavedi, from Old English hlǣfdīġe, originally literally ‘loaf-kneader’

LASS: From Middle English lasse < Old Norse *lasqa (“‘an unmarried woman’”). Cognate with Scots lassie.

[Lynne50]

Max, a loaf-kneader!! Where are we supposed to stay, in the kitchen!!!

[Maximilianus]

Max, a loaf-kneader!! Where are we supposed to stay, in the kitchen!!!

Of course not, Lynne. You ladies can stay wherever you want. I was just giving the origin of the word ;). In any case, apparently, the first ladies were loaf kneaders. With the mingling of time ladies acquired other professions and abilities, what's more than good ;), and even men became loaf kneaders, what's good too, though not myself (I'd like to learn however. It would be particularly interesting to knead a loaf for a lady :p)

[Haunted]

I'm a bit confused by the questions. Are these terms used in directly addressing women by men? I don't think any man in his right mind would ever address a woman directly by saying, "hi chick, how are you". Chick is a word used to address a third person — she's a hot chick...

So, if a man says to me in greeting, "hi chick", he's dead meat. But if he says to his drinking buddy, eyeing me (with a wink), "she's a hot chick", ha, I LOVE IT

I have no problem with baby, it's endearing. Honey is touch and go, "I miss you honey", is ok, but "can you get me a beer, honey?" is not so ok.

Lady is genteel but a bit formal. "You're a beautiful lady" only works in an early stage of a relationship. "May I kiss you lady?" That script just doesn't work.

Madam? ughh! I hate to be ma'am'd! It has a connotation like "honey" but worse. "Can I help you ma'am?" just sounds ugly. Then if they think they've already done enough for you, they'd say, "yes ma'am" with irony.

[BienvenuJDC]

I don't like Madame or Ma'am. I don't think anyone in my entire life has ever called me Madame. Maybe it's regional. No one has ever called me chick either; this I would hate! I do recall people I knew calling me babe, but it was more in the spirit of fun, nothing really serious. My last boyfriend called me by my name and I guess I did call him honey or darling occasionally and only at home, if I felt particularly warm towards him, but not too often. Mostly, I called him by his first name.

Chick is a reference that I THINK came from the Hispanics.

'Chica' is girl!

[LMK]

hahah..how 'bout 'Most Esteemed Duchess'.....:lol:

ooh, I like that one!


Okay, here I go: How have you been today, princess Janine? ... :p

As you wish, Duchess LMK ... :)

Now, see how easy that is? It just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?...wink...

Thanks for humoring me!

~L

[Maximilianus]

Now, see how easy that is? It just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?...wink...

Thanks for humoring me!

~L

It does roll off the tongue ;) ... you're welcome :)


I don't think any man in his right mind would ever address a woman directly by saying, "hi chick, how are you".
Not every man is in his right mind. Some suffer from an overdose of self-esteem. :rolleyes:


Lady is genteel but a bit formal. "You're a beautiful lady" only works in an early stage of a relationship. "May I kiss you lady?" That script just doesn't work.
... unless the man who wants to kiss you is a medieval reenactor, in which case you can pretend he's a knight in silver armor, adding a romantic zest to the relationship :)


Chick is a reference that I THINK came from the Hispanics.

'Chica' is girl!

True, "chica" means girl in Spanish, but remember that chick is also a contraction for chicken. It would be good if we could ask the first person who had the idea of using "chick" to address ladies as to which of both meanings was intended :confused:

[Haunted]

... unless the man who wants to kiss you is a medieval reenactor, in which case you can pretend he's a knight in silver armor, adding a romantic zest to the relationship :)

I'll take that from a real knight any day... ;)

[Maximilianus]

I'll take that from a real knight any day... ;)

Hmm... who knows... probably a real knight suggested the idea in the first place ;)

[crystalmoonshin]

It depends on who uses what.
While I actually like being called "babe" or "baby", I DON'T like it when it's from strangers. "Miss" would be both appropriate and acceptable.

And I feel a sense of euphoria when people to whom I am close to call me honey, darling, missy, sweetie pie, loveydude (which I first heard from my sister), etc. Basically any form of endearment is very much welcome IF AND ONLY IF used by people I enjoy being with. Otherwise, I get those as insults.

I especially hate it when men call women "chicks". It somewhat carries a connotation that a woman is meant to be food for men's fantasies, :flare: well at least to me. Even friends won't be spared a cold shoulder or a kick or a punch from me if they use that word to address me.

I am flattered when guys call me "lady". Friends and relatives tell me I'm SO childish and everytime I'm addressed as a "lady", I feel matured :D. (But it's kinda disappointing to learn its origin. HMPH!)

There's this one guy who said to me, "See you around, my fair lady." It was the first time a guy called me a fair lady but HIS fair lady???:rolleyes: I absolutely hate phrases with possessive pronouns like "my girl", "my woman" or whatever "my" phrase coming from a guy. Do men want to be called "my man" by women???

I'd rather be called "girl" than "woman". The latter sounds rigid and too sophisticated. Lassie's cute, too. :)

[Nightshade]

Do men want to be called "my man" by women???


Eh, thats a bit My man Jeeves-ish isnt it?
:p

[Niamh]

Chick is a reference that I THINK came from the Hispanics.

'Chica' is girl!

Or of course it may have come from the fact that mothers have a tendancy to get called mother hens if they are very fussy with their kids so may be teh term "chick" was a reference for an unmarried girl? also as pointed out, its short for chicken and chicken is used widely as a term of endearment. :) For example, " How are you feeling chicken?" is commonly used here. were we would have the term "chick" we do have other winged animals used in reference to girls ans usually as someones girlfriend. "Bird" and "moth" (pronounced with out the T sound *cringe* )I hate these as much as a girl calling her boyfriend "me fella" or another girl "young wan".

[Haunted]

There's this one guy who said to me, "See you around, my fair lady." It was the first time a guy called me a fair lady but HIS fair lady???:rolleyes: I absolutely hate phrases with possessive pronouns like "my girl", "my woman" or whatever "my" phrase coming from a guy. Do men want to be called "my man" by women???

Sayings like "my fair lady", "my girl" etc are just sayings. The possessive is not supposed to be taken seriously and personally. When you hear that from someone, they're just being playful and friendly. Most of the time they really don't mean to "have" you. These are nuances, not to be taken literally.

Sometimes, in certain extreme situations, you want to get rid of someone, you'd say, "I got to run, my dear" and that's unisex, you can say that to a guy, a woman can say that to another woman, even when that person isn't that dear to then, again, it's just a saying.

Not to go off subject, people at a workplace, in passing, may say: "hey, how's it going" and they keep walking. Now that's not a question to be answered, they're not rude, it's a greeting and a polite acknowledgement of your existence. Most likely they are preoccupied, they have a meeting to go to, or more importantly, they're en route to their cup of coffee.

[plainjane]

No one but my S.O is allowed to call me anything aside from my name. For a stranger, or casual acquaintance to call any woman.....honey, baby, or any of the ones mentioned in this thread is patronizing or sexist, whether subliminal or not.

[Emil Miller]

Even friends won't be spared a cold shoulder or a kick or a punch from me if they use that word to address me.

I am flattered when guys call me "lady". )


A lady would never use kicks or punches.:)

[Maximilianus]

loveydude (which I first heard from my sister)
Didn't know this one... sounds nice, I believe :)

I especially hate it when men call women "chicks". It somewhat carries a connotation that a woman is meant to be food for men's fantasies, :flare: well at least to me. Even friends won't be spared a cold shoulder or a kick or a punch from me if they use that word to address me.
It's a very comprehensible feeling. Too many hungry men out there wanting to eat persons of their opposite gender. Me wonders if they have any other thing to do with their time, apart from eating.

I am flattered when guys call me "lady". Friends and relatives tell me I'm SO childish and everytime I'm addressed as a "lady", I feel matured :D. (But it's kinda disappointing to learn its origin. HMPH!)
Origins are just that, origins ;)
As I said before, "lady" is actually my preferred term to address a... lady :)

I absolutely hate phrases with possessive pronouns like "my girl", "my woman" or whatever "my" phrase coming from a guy. Do men want to be called "my man" by women???

I do... if she is whom I'm thinking about right now :brow: ... :p

Eh, thats a bit My man Jeeves-ish isnt it?
:p
It may be seen that way :p

Sayings like "my fair lady", "my girl" etc are just sayings. The possessive is not supposed to be taken seriously and personally. When you hear that from someone, they're just being playful and friendly. Most of the time they really don't mean to "have" you. These are nuances, not to be taken literally.
True... in most cases. There are people out there wanting to possess others, you know :brow:

Sometimes, in certain extreme situations, you want to get rid of someone, you'd say, "I got to run, my dear" and that's unisex, you can say that to a guy, a woman can say that to another woman, even when that person isn't that dear to then, again, it's just a saying.
True, mostly a saying. They don't "dear you" that much.

Not to go off subject, people at a workplace, in passing, may say: "hey, how's it going" and they keep walking. Now that's not a question to be answered, they're not rude, it's a greeting and a polite acknowledgement of your existence. Most likely they are preoccupied, they have a meeting to go to, or more importantly, they're en route to their cup of coffee.
... or they don't care at all about you, and just pretend to care a little to merely satisfy society's politeness rules (or hypocrisy?) ... me wonders ... who cares about whom, when, and why? :brow:

[crystalmoonshin]

A lady would never use kicks or punches.:)

Well, I'm a lady warrior. :p And I admit that I am un-ladylike. Still, it pleases me when someone calls me a lady. It's as if that someone sees my feminine side despite my seemingly boyish ways.

[Maximilianus]

A lady would never use kicks or punches.:)


Well, I'm a lady warrior. :p And I admit that I am un-ladylike. Still, it pleases me when someone calls me a lady. It's as if that someone sees my feminine side despite my seemingly boyish ways.

Circumstances, and not protocol, define what to be a lady or a gentleman is, I believe. At times, the best way to be a lady or a gentleman is to kick and punch :)

[Haunted]

Circumstances, and not protocol, define what to be a lady or a gentleman is, I believe. At times, the best way to be a lady or a gentleman is to kick and punch :)

OUCH :redface:

So, Max, are you that good a gentleman? :lol:

[Stargazer86]

wow...I can't believe "chick" is winning on this poll. I've never seen chick or chica as being offensive.

I'm sure some of these have different connotations depending on where you live

[LadyW]

I know of a few women who don't like being addressed in such a way because they find it quite patronizing.

Personally, I really don't mind it at all... I think alot of men find that it's just a natural part of conversation, and they don't mean any harm by it.

I suppose it can be quite endearing/complimentary (especially from friends and acquaintances.) Alot of my male friends refer to me as "darling", "m'dear" or something similar.

However, I must admit... I wouldn't be offended as such, but I'd be quite taken aback to hear "chick." That's not something that's used very often around here.
Also, although it doesn't rattle my cage too much, I'd much prefer it if men didn't refer to their girlfriend/ their friend's girlfriends as "my bird"/"his bird."

[Stargazer86]

I know of a few women who don't like being addressed in such a way because they find it quite patronizing.

Personally, I really don't mind it at all... I think alot of men find that it's just a natural part of conversation, and they don't mean any harm by it.

I suppose it can be quite endearing/complimentary (especially from friends and acquaintances.) Alot of my male friends refer to me as "darling", "m'dear" or something similar.

However, I must admit... I wouldn't be offended as such, but I'd be quite taken aback to hear "chick." That's not something that's used very often around here.
Also, although it doesn't rattle my cage too much, I'd much prefer it if men didn't refer to their girlfriend/ their friend's girlfriends as "my bird"/"his bird."


As I was saying, I think a lot of it is regional.

I've never heard of calling someone a bird. What exactly is that in reference to?

Chick and chica are used here quite frequently which is why I was surprised that it seems to bother some people. Girls say it to other girls and it's fine for guys to say it to.

I would find darling patronizing and condescending. m'dear wouldn't bother me though

[LadyW]

As I was saying, I think a lot of it is regional.
I've never heard of calling someone a bird. What exactly is that in reference to?
Chick and chica are used here quite frequently which is why I was surprised that it seems to bother some people. Girls say it to other girls and it's fine for guys to say it to.
I would find darling patronizing and condescending. m'dear wouldn't bother me though

I think "bird" is just British slang; I have no idea where it comes from actually.
But yes, you're quite right, it's certainly a regional thing.

Alot of females address other females in the same way (especially old women, it would seem.)

Haha, now I've only been called "darling" by one of my closer friends... so he can get away with it I suppose.

[Niamh]

I've no problem with Darling, my dear/ dearie, honey, sweetie, petal (although pet i dont like)... and i detest Luv, especially if its accompanied by a thick dublin inner city accent. :sick:
Bird is not just a british thing, we say it in Ireland as well. But yes, a lot of these things would be regional. Chick, would be a real american thing, although as previously mentioned, chicky would be said in parts of england as a sign of affection from friends, family and neighbours, but its a localised thing like my love/ my lover is in sumerset.

[JuniperWoolf]

I love it when older guys call me "my dear," but when younger guys say it, it sounds slimy (unless the guy is a Newfie, then it's more like "m'dear" and as natural as breating).


A lady would never use kicks or punches.:)

Sounds like you've never met a Canadian woman! :D

[Maximilianus]

OUCH :redface:

So, Max, are you that good a gentleman? :lol:
As I have written on my profile some time ago (when I joined Lit Net, actually), I believe I'm good but not good enough, so I'm trying to be a better man in the sense that there's always a detail requiring to be refined ;)
On the other hand, I am very sure that you are that good a lady :D

wow...I can't believe "chick" is winning on this poll. I've never seen chick or chica as being offensive.

I'm sure some of these have different connotations depending on where you live
True, because it's all about what people are used to hear.

I wouldn't be offended as such, but I'd be quite taken aback to hear "chick." That's not something that's used very often around here.
As Star and Niamh already pointed out, chick is very American (you can hear it in many movies) and I very much doubt that Brits will ever make a habit of it.

I would find darling patronizing and condescending. m'dear wouldn't bother me though
Curiously "dear" and "darling" are very much related. In other times darling was spelled "dearling", which comes from Old English "dēorling", corresponding to dear + -ling.

I think "bird" is just British slang; I have no idea where it comes from actually.
Probably British men want women to make them fly, which could be very much accomplished by a good kick in the... ahem... you know where :p ... :lol:

Sounds like you've never met a Canadian woman! :D

Hmm... sounds like Canadian women must kick a$$ :D

[kasie]

I think "bird" is just British slang; I have no idea where it comes from actually.....

Anglo Saxon/ Old English: 'brid' - an unmarried young woman, root of the word 'bride'. :)

[TheFifthElement]

As Star and Niamh already pointed out, chick is very American (you can hear it in many movies) and I very much doubt that Brits will ever make a habit of it.

Chick is fairly common in North West England, around Liverpool/Manchester/Lancashire. It isn't meant in quite the same way as the American use of the term - it'd be used as an affectionate reference, so you wouldn't say 'she's my chick' or 'look at those chicks over there' but instead when speaking to someone you might say 'how are you chick?' in a fond/friendly/affectionate way. So much like the term 'love' or 'chuck' or 'pal' I guess. As per Haunted's comment:


I don't think any man in his right mind would ever address a woman directly by saying, "hi chick, how are you".

Actually that's exactly how they'd say it here! So whether it's offensive or not will come down to context/intent really.

[MarkBastable]

As Star and Niamh already pointed out, chick is very American (you can hear it in many movies) and I very much doubt that Brits will ever make a habit of it.


If my seventeen-year-old son and his contemporaries are anything to go by, Brits have already made a habit of it.

Thirty years ago, I suspect my dad would have said that Brits would never make a habit of using 'guy' rather than 'bloke' or 'fella' or 'lad'. These days I feel rather raffishly retro if I use 'bloke'.

[Emil Miller]

Circumstances, and not protocol, define what to be a lady or a gentleman is, I believe. At times, the best way to be a lady or a gentleman is to kick and punch :)

Behaviour determines the use of the terms Lady or Gentleman. I would suggest that at the point where a male or female resorts to kicking and punching, they simply become a man or a woman.

[papayahed]

Behaviour determines the use of the terms Lady or Gentleman. I would suggest that at the point where a male or female resorts to kicking and punching, they simply become a man or a woman.

erm, so I can't be a lady defending myself against a mugger or rapist? Do I regain my ladyhood once I stop kicking and punching or is it gone completely and forever?

[Haunted]

As I have written on my profile some time ago (when I joined Lit Net, actually), I believe I'm good but not good enough, so I'm trying to be a better man in the sense that there's always a detail requiring to be refined ;)
On the other hand, I am very sure that you are that good a lady :D

Thanks Max. Now doesn't that make me feel like a lady :D


Chick is fairly common in North West England, around Liverpool/Manchester/Lancashire. It isn't meant in quite the same way as the American use of the term - it'd be used as an affectionate reference, so you wouldn't say 'she's my chick' or 'look at those chicks over there' but instead when speaking to someone you might say 'how are you chick?' in a fond/friendly/affectionate way. So much like the term 'love' or 'chuck' or 'pal' I guess. As per Haunted's comment:



Actually that's exactly how they'd say it here! So whether it's offensive or not will come down to context/intent really.

Good to know! I'll make an exception when I visit those parts. Actually as I said in an earlier posting, I don't mind being referred to as chick at all, just never been directly addressed by anyone. When my girlfriend and I were getting into costume jewelry, I came up with the name Chic Chicks for ourselves and even took out that domain name.

[MarkBastable]

As Brian Bean's post about behaviour suggests, the terms 'lady' and 'gentleman' aren't merely about gender - they're about judgement. To those who use the terms or would like to be referred to in that way, not all women are ladies and not all men are gentlemen. There's a codified and, frankly, pretty snobbish set of values that distinguish ladies and gentlemen from ordinary men and women.

In other words, anyone who refers to a woman as 'a lady' is making a moral and social assessment of her worth. And I don't see how that differs in principle from making the same assessment and then referring to her as 'a b*tch' or 'a slut'.

Which is why I don't use the words 'lady' and 'gentleman'. They represent the practical application of a high-handed and condescending presumption.

[Haunted]

erm, so I can't be a lady defending myself against a mugger or rapist? Do I regain my ladyhood once I stop kicking and punching or is it gone completely and forever?

My rule of thumb is, if a lady is in a forest and confronted by thugs and she kicks and punches and beats them to a bloody pulp AND no one sees her, then she's still a lady :lol:

[Maximilianus]

Anglo Saxon/ Old English: 'brid' - an unmarried young woman, root of the word 'bride'. :)
Aww, I was going to post this... you evil, evil, kasie .... :lol:

Chick is fairly common in North West England, around Liverpool/Manchester/Lancashire. It isn't meant in quite the same way as the American use of the term - it'd be used as an affectionate reference, so you wouldn't say 'she's my chick' or 'look at those chicks over there' but instead when speaking to someone you might say 'how are you chick?' in a fond/friendly/affectionate way. So much like the term 'love' or 'chuck' or 'pal' I guess.
So it's used there as an affectionate form of direct addressing... interesting to know... thanks for sharing :)

If my seventeen-year-old son and his contemporaries are anything to go by, Brits have already made a habit of it.

Thirty years ago, I suspect my dad would have said that Brits would never make a habit of using 'guy' rather than 'bloke' or 'fella' or 'lad'. These days I feel rather raffishly retro if I use 'bloke'.
Times they change, don't they? :rolleyes:

Behaviour determines the use of the terms Lady or Gentleman. I would suggest that at the point where a male or female resorts to kicking and punching, they simply become a man or a woman.
If we are talking about everyday behavior, then I totally agree. Now, I wasn't talking about habitual conduct, but about special circumstances where it would be necessary to deliver kicks, punches, and the like. You don't cease being a gentleman or a lady just because you kick someone who kicked you first.

erm, so I can't be a lady defending myself against a mugger or rapist? Do I regain my ladyhood once I stop kicking and punching or is it gone completely and forever?
This is what I was talking about! Circumstances and not habit! In such case you don't need to regain anything because there's no compromised ladyhood. Soon ago, there was this young girl here who was attacked by a pair of rapists. She was a martial artist, so she took them down after a sovereign beating, and held them both against the ground until the police came. If she had waited for the police without a previous action from her, she would have been raped and probably murdered soon after. Did she compromise her ladyhood? No, she took action to preserve herself and it's what every person should do. You can't just wait for the police to do it all. They are not so many, and not so near... especially when you need them the most.

Thanks Max. Now doesn't that make me feel like a lady :D
And what else would you need to feel like one? :D

I came up with the name Chic Chicks for ourselves and even took out that domain name.
Is it your personal web page with that name?

As Brian Bean's post about behaviour suggests, the terms 'lady' and 'gentleman' aren't merely about gender - they're about judgement. To those who use the terms or would like to be referred to in that way, not all women are ladies and not all men are gentlemen. There's a codified and, frankly, pretty snobbish set of values that distinguish ladies and gentlemen from ordinary men and women.

In other words, anyone who refers to a woman as 'a lady' is making a moral and social assessment of her worth. And I don't see how that differs in principle from making the same assessment and then referring to her as 'a b*tch' or 'a slut'.

Which is why I don't use the words 'lady' and 'gentleman'. They represent the practical application of a high-handed and condescending presumption.
Actually, I would even use the term "lady" to address, for example, a prostitute, what suggests that I don't make moral assessments of people's worth whenever I use it. Instead, I use it as a form of respect and endearment because I believe that prostitutes, regardless of their profession, can be valuable human beings and, as such, they deserve to be respected.


My rule of thumb is, if a lady is in a forest and confronted by thugs and she kicks and punches and beats them to a bloody pulp AND no one sees her, then she's still a lady :lol:

She's still a lady even if someone sees her doing that :thumbs_up
All ladies should be fighters, in forests and cities and everywhere else, because if they were, there wouldn't be so many rapists at large.... more likely, they would be well drowning in their own sickness... and in their own bloody pulp... what would be just a lovely scenery. :)

[Emil Miller]

erm, so I can't be a lady defending myself against a mugger or rapist? Do I regain my ladyhood once I stop kicking and punching or is it gone completely and forever?

Of course, providing you don't make a habit of kicking and punching outside of those and similar extreme circumstances.

[Haunted]

Is it your personal web page with that name?

It wasn't a personal website and I don't have that domain name anymore. That chic chick hatched and moved on :p

[papayahed]

Of course, providing you don't make a habit of kicking and punching outside of those and similar extreme circumstances.


hmmmm, So I guess being a Rockette is out too?

[BuckyKev]

I am not a female, so I didnt vote. But I rarely hear anyone call or greet a female by any of the above choices.

"Hey Honey" I have seen hundreds of times on TV, but in real life I hear the women say it to men - almost never the other way around.

"Hey Chick." I know only 2 people that do this, and they only do it with specific people.

"Hey Lady" - I have only heard a variable other to this, "Hey Ladies" ... which was always when someone was greeting a group of females whom they were trying to get acquainted.

"Hey Baby." I have never seen this used except on TV, and on the TV the person used it always got a slap for it...



.... With "Hey Chick" being the main one I have heard, I don't see how someone could take offense from it. :|

[Nightshade]

Umm when its a complete starnger or someone you are trying to have a professional conversation with chick luck duck love babe etc can be offputting to say the least.

[Maximilianus]

It wasn't a personal website and I don't have that domain name anymore. That chic chick hatched and moved on :p

Good for the chick! :thumbs_up :)

[Beautifull]

why would any girl special to a man want to be called something that a man calls any girl he sees and doesn't know? Chick. Please!

[Maximilianus]

why would any girl special to a man want to be called something that a man calls any girl he sees and doesn't know? Chick. Please!

True, when we are special we deserve an exclusive nickname of our own. Something original that wouldn't be said to refer to anyone else... unless your man uses "chick" only with regard to you... which would be odd, I believe. Of course, in very close relationships. In others, like friendships, it can be used as an affectionate term, as happens in many places, according to previous posters :)

[kasie]

Aww, I was going to post this... you evil, evil, kasie .... :lol:.....

:bawling:

How can you be so unkind to me? Don't you know I am a Lady (she said in her best David Walliams accent, twirling her lacy parasol.....)

Though, come to think of it, I have just inherited the post of Family Witch - so.... Watch It. :eek2:

[Beautifull]

True, when we are special we deserve an exclusive nickname of our own. Something original that wouldn't be said to refer to anyone else... unless your man uses "chick" only with regard to you... which would be odd, I believe. Of course, in very close relationships. In others, like friendships, it can be used as an affectionate term, as happens in many places, according to previous posters :)

mmm....but chick just can't....slide for me...does anyone feel different?

[Maximilianus]

:bawling:

How can you be so unkind to me? Don't you know I am a Lady (she said in her best David Walliams accent, twirling her lacy parasol.....)

Though, come to think of it, I have just inherited the post of Family Witch - so.... Watch It. :eek2:

Family Witch!... Some rank indeed... Any beheading lately? :lol:

[kasie]

Nothing so gross - I just put the 'Fluence out, think Thoughts in your direction.

[Maximilianus]

Okay :nod:
Though I don't really need it... as I was just kidding... :D

[blazeofglory]

I'm conducting this little poll because I'm curious to find out if ladies really like to be regarded as chicks, babies, honeys, or whatever nickname men often pronounce when addressing someone of the opposite gender.

Personally, I prefer the word lady because it gives me an idea of independence from men. I dislike the word woman because I feel it has an implication that they depend on men, and I feel the same about the word female. And I also imagine there may be a chance that someone may not like the word lady.

And how about these phrases that sound so empty to me like "come on baby", "shake it baby", "hold on baby", "come here baby" and everything ending in baby. Isn't it a way to diminish the feminine condition and nature?

Most of you may think... they are just words and phrases that people already got used to... but in any case I still prefer to address my opposite gender as ladies. And I prefer to be more creative, or at least try to be, if I'm ever to conquer a lady's attention.

So... how about you? I would like your opinions, please.
If you are a lady, what don't you like to be called by men?
If you are a man, what words/phrases don't you like using to address a lady?

(Please take the poll too).
Thanks.

In point of fact this is a simply matter of understanding. Yes, honeys, babes are very sweet words, and only when affectionate ones use these words, not all.

This does not take away their sense of independence at all.

[Annamariah]

Finns avoid addressing each other directly as much as possible, so I don't know what I might be called :D

[Maximilianus]

This does not take away their sense of independence at all.
That's true, though many of them just dislike some of these terms to be used to address them.

Finns avoid addressing each other directly as much as possible, so I don't know what I might be called :D
I'm curious :nod:
So you say there's practically no word in Finnish to address women, other than their names? You don't have equivalents in Finnish for "baby", "honey" and the like, as in other languages? In such case, you the Finns must be really polite when talking. Very interesting. Where I live people have lost almost all sense of politeness.
However, I bet there must be a word for saying "lady"... unless there isn't any... is there?

[The Comedian]

So where are all the broads in this thread? Broads! More broads!

[Maximilianus]

So where are all the broads in this thread? Broads! More broads!

They won't hear you. They never came.

[Janine]

Max, this is really funny; last night, I was speaking to my male friend on the phone, about your thread and then I thought of what he could call me. I heard it used in a play and I thought it was really endearing, sweet the way the guy said it; might be his delivery. He called the woman, (not his girlfriend or wife mind you, but merely his friend), 'Beauty'. I told my friend he could call me 'Beauty' anyday; then I added "I will, from now on, refer to you as Beast!" We got off the phone laughing our heads off. Today he called me to bestow my new nickname on me and say... "Beast was leaving this phone message." We should have a lot of fun with these titles of exaltation and admiration; what do you think? See what you started, Max! LOL

[Maximilianus]

Max, this is really funny; last night, I was speaking to my male friend on the phone, about your thread and then I thought of what he could call me. I heard it used in a play and I thought it was really endearing, sweet the way the guy said it; might be his delivery. He called the woman, (not his girlfriend or wife mind you, but merely his friend), 'Beauty'. I told my friend he could call me 'Beauty' anyday; then I added "I will, from now on, refer to you as Beast!" We got off the phone laughing our heads off. Today he called me to bestow my new nickname on me and say... "Beast was leaving this phone message." We should have a lot of fun with these titles of exaltation and admiration; what do you think? See what you started, Max! LOL

:lol: Beauty and the Beast! :lol:
I began a title revolution :p
Wait until I come up with new revolutionary threads... next episode next week, same time, same channel :lol:

[Annamariah]

I'm curious :nod:
So you say there's practically no word in Finnish to address women, other than their names? You don't have equivalents in Finnish for "baby", "honey" and the like, as in other languages? In such case, you the Finns must be really polite when talking. Very interesting. Where I live people have lost almost all sense of politeness.
However, I bet there must be a word for saying "lady"... unless there isn't any... is there?
Surely there are words you can use to address people, it's just that they are rarely used. For example Finnish equivalent to "honey" woud be "kulta" ("gold"), but it is mostly used when you're in a relationship.

If a random guy you've never met comes to talk to you, he wouldn't say "Hey babe", he'd probably start with saying simply "Hi". That's what I mean when I say we Finns avoid addressing each other directly.

When in many languages and cultures it's normal to include the other person's name in conversation every once in a while, Finns don't do that. Usually we only use each other's names when we need to get their attention. If I were to meet you, I guess I'd only say "Hi Max" if you were looking in another direction and didn't see me. If you already saw me there, I'd probably just say "Hi" :) It makes a Finn uncomfortable to talk to someone who repeats your name in every other sentence :D

And about "lady", there isn't really a word for that in Finnish. When America's Next Top Model format was turned into a Finnish reality show, many of Tyra's lines were directly translated (like "I have eleven beautiful girls standing in front of me..."), and I have to say that many of them sounded really formal and awkward in Finnish (mostly because in Finnish spoken and written language are very different, and the translations were written language). When in the American show the judges often say "Hello ladies", in the Finnish version they had to say "Hei tytöt", "Hi girls" because we don't have that word "lady" :D

[Maximilianus]

Surely there are words you can use to address people, it's just that they are rarely used. For example Finnish equivalent to "honey" woud be "kulta" ("gold"), but it is mostly used when you're in a relationship.

If a random guy you've never met comes to talk to you, he wouldn't say "Hey babe", he'd probably start with saying simply "Hi". That's what I mean when I say we Finns avoid addressing each other directly.

When in many languages and cultures it's normal to include the other person's name in conversation every once in a while, Finns don't do that. Usually we only use each other's names when we need to get their attention. If I were to meet you, I guess I'd only say "Hi Max" if you were looking in another direction and didn't see me. If you already saw me there, I'd probably just say "Hi" :) It makes a Finn uncomfortable to talk to someone who repeats your name in every other sentence :D

And about "lady", there isn't really a word for that in Finnish. When America's Next Top Model format was turned into a Finnish reality show, many of Tyra's lines were directly translated (like "I have eleven beautiful girls standing in front of me..."), and I have to say that many of them sounded really formal and awkward in Finnish (mostly because in Finnish spoken and written language are very different, and the translations were written language). When in the American show the judges often say "Hello ladies", in the Finnish version they had to say "Hei tytöt", "Hi girls" because we don't have that word "lady" :D
I will have to keep all this in mind. It will help me avoid bad manners if I ever visit Finland :)

Thank you very much, lady Anna ;)

[Annamariah]

I will have to keep all this in mind. It will help me avoid bad manners if I ever visit Finland :)

Thank you very much, lady Anna ;)

Don't worry, as long as you speak English I think you'll be forgiven :D

Now that I've said that people here don't like to address each other directly and therefore words like "babe", "chick" and so on are used, I must admit that there has been a debate much like this topic going on in Finland these past days.

In Finland it is normal to call strange men "uncles" and women "aunts". Not to their face (no one would try to catch your attention by calling "hi aunt!"), but when they are talking about someone to another person. For example in a bus a mother might tell her child to "go sit next to that aunt there". Also people of certain professions are often called aunts or uncles, for example kindergarten teachers, mailmen, lunchladies... Librarians are often called "library aunts".

What causes some debate is that many people feel old when they here someone talk about them this way. I admit it was a shock when I first heard myself being referred to as an aunt when I was only a teenager, maybe 14 years old :p Now that I work in different libraries I hear myself being called an aunt almost every day and I have gotten used to it, so I don't take any offence. Really, those who refer to me as an "aunt" or a "library aunt" are mostly mothers and fathers who are talking to their children, so it's perfectly understandable. I mean, from a little child's point of view anyone over 12 years old is practically an adult, so it's natural for them to think of them as "aunts" and "uncles".

So I don't mind being called an aunt. Being referred to as a "woman" would sound too cold and clinical, to a child I'm hardly a "girl" anymore (though I feel like one myself and don't mind if older people refer to me as one) and "miss" is just too formal in Finnish.

[Maximilianus]

Don't worry, as long as you speak English I think you'll be forgiven :D

Now that I've said that people here don't like to address each other directly and therefore words like "babe", "chick" and so on are used, I must admit that there has been a debate much like this topic going on in Finland these past days.

In Finland it is normal to call strange men "uncles" and women "aunts". Not to their face (no one would try to catch your attention by calling "hi aunt!"), but when they are talking about someone to another person. For example in a bus a mother might tell her child to "go sit next to that aunt there". Also people of certain professions are often called aunts or uncles, for example kindergarten teachers, mailmen, lunchladies... Librarians are often called "library aunts".

What causes some debate is that many people feel old when they here someone talk about them this way. I admit it was a shock when I first heard myself being referred to as an aunt when I was only a teenager, maybe 14 years old :p Now that I work in different libraries I hear myself being called an aunt almost every day and I have gotten used to it, so I don't take any offence. Really, those who refer to me as an "aunt" or a "library aunt" are mostly mothers and fathers who are talking to their children, so it's perfectly understandable. I mean, from a little child's point of view anyone over 12 years old is practically an adult, so it's natural for them to think of them as "aunts" and "uncles".
"Aunt" and "uncle" are terms very much used in Spain as well (it would be "tía" and "tío" in Spanish, respectively). But in Spain it's even used to address people directly, so you can hear indirect address going like "who's that uncle over there?" and direct address of the type "hey you, uncle, come over here!".

In my country the same goes on with "vieja" and "viejo" which, put into plain English, mean "old woman" and "old man". Terms even used (especially used) among teenagers talking to/about each other, maybe because they want to "grow old" faster? Who knows... what I believe is that being called an "old woman" when you are clearly young is weirder than being called an "aunt" :p

At least you Finns still observe more politeness in your language habits ;)


Being referred to as a "woman" would sound too cold and clinical, to a child I'm hardly a "girl" anymore (though I feel like one myself and don't mind if older people refer to me as one) and "miss" is just too formal in Finnish.

I feel the same about being called "man" myself. Thanks so much for sharing a piece of your country's culture, "aunt Anna" :p :D

[Janine]

:lol: Beauty and the Beast! :lol:
I began a title revolution :p
Wait until I come up with new revolutionary threads... next episode next week, same time, same channel :lol:

Yeah, really! My friend is having such a fun time with his new title - he even roars like a beast. Yes, see what you started, Max! :lol: By the way, you can refer to me as 'beauty' anyday of the week, too... I rather like it.

I call my grand-daughter a variety of endearing names - precious, beautiful, blue eyes, sweet pea, sweetie pie, cutie pie....but then, she is only one years old. :)

[Maximilianus]

Yeah, really! My friend is having such a fun time with his new title - he even roars like a beast. Yes, see what you started, Max! :lol: By the way, you can refer to me as 'beauty' anyday of the week, too... I rather like it.
Okay "beauty", I will call you "beauty"... but don't call me "beast", deal? ... not even once in a week... it doesn't have the same appeal.... :lol:

[Janine]

Okay "beauty", I will call you "beauty"... but don't call me "beast", deal? ... not even once in a week... it doesn't have the same appeal.... :lol:

oh OK......grrrrr......:lol::lol::lol::D

[Maximilianus]

oh OK......grrrrr......:lol::lol::lol::D

:lol: :lol: :D

[Annamariah]

"Thanks so much for sharing a piece of your country's culture, "aunt Anna" :p :D

Anytime :D To me one of the best things about an international forum like this is the opportunity to learn more about different countries and cultures :) "Aunt Anna" or "Anna-täti" just loves learning new things :D

[Maximilianus]

Anytime :D To me one of the best things about an international forum like this is the opportunity to learn more about different countries and cultures :)
To me too ;)

"Aunt Anna" or "Anna-täti" just loves learning new things :D
So does "Uncle Max" :D .... would that be "Max-setä" in Finnish? Is "setä" the Finnish word for "uncle"?

[Annamariah]

To me too ;)

So does "Uncle Max" :D .... would that be "Max-setä" in Finnish? Is "setä" the Finnish word for "uncle"?

Yup, that's it :) "Setä" is the form of "uncle" you can use referring to any male, but when it comes to real relatives, "setä" is always your father's brother. Mother's brother would be called "eno", but that word is never used in addressing strangers. "Täti", however, applies to both parent's sisters. I don't really have any idea why there is a difference between maternal and paternal uncles but all aunts have the same name...

[Faineant]

...

"Round here we call them birds, not *****es"

Ha!

This is rather ridiculous.

[Maximilianus]

Yup, that's it :) "Setä" is the form of "uncle" you can use referring to any male, but when it comes to real relatives, "setä" is always your father's brother. Mother's brother would be called "eno", but that word is never used in addressing strangers. "Täti", however, applies to both parent's sisters. I don't really have any idea why there is a difference between maternal and paternal uncles but all aunts have the same name...

"eno" also means "a large river", right? Like "Lätäseno"?

[Annamariah]

"eno" also means "a large river", right? Like "Lätäseno"?

In Laplandish language, yes, a big or a fast-flowing, rapid river :) Someone's been doing some research :D

Eno meaning mother's brother might come from a word "enä" which means "big", referring to mother's brother's importance children's lives in past days. (Word "enä" doesn't exist by itself, but it's in words like "enemmän" and "enää", "more" and "anymore")

(I really should get an etymological dictionary of my own :D)

[Maximilianus]

In Laplandish language, yes, a big or a fast-flowing, rapid river :) Someone's been doing some research :D

I've been researching because I'm curious :D
So Lapland is the Northern province, right? Laplandish would be a Finnish dialect? Are there many dialects there?

Eno meaning mother's brother might come from a word "enä" which means "big", referring to mother's brother's importance children's lives in past days. (Word "enä" doesn't exist by itself, but it's in words like "enemmän" and "enää", "more" and "anymore")

(I really should get an etymological dictionary of my own :D)

Finnish sounds as an interesting tongue. Professor Tolkien once said he had become "quite intoxicated with its sounds". I suppose that's why he picked it to be somewhat a basis for his Quenya.
Is it true that Finnish stresses words always on the first syllable? Are there any exceptions?

[Morden]

I don't know why it is so difficult for men to just avoid using all pet names (dear), terms of affection (honey), fruits (peach), mildly derogatory 'just joking' terms (broad), diminishing terms (dearie), distancing terms (the Missus). and others, when speaking to and referring to women other than their loved ones. And I would never use 'broad.' Not never!

I don't think any man should regard himself as that much of a god that women should swoon at his feet and automatically forgive him his language.

But then again I am just an old f**t by now. :brickwall

[papayahed]

A coworker sometime refers to his wife as "My Bride", kinda cute, no? (they've been married 20+ years)

[Virgil]

A coworker sometime refers to his wife as "My Bride", kinda cute, no? (they've been married 20+ years)

I had a co-worker who referred to his wife as his first wife. :lol: He was only married that one time and though he had been married something like 20 years he felt it should always be a consideration. I never did meet his wife, so I don't know what she thought of it. Of course he said it with a twinkle in his eye.

[Janine]

Papaya, I've heard men use that term My Bride before and I thought it was rather sweet too. It's like they stay eternally young; well if they were married young, that is.

Virgil, I am not sure about that guy calling his only wife his first wife. That would spook me; I would think either I don't have long to live or else I am dombed in some other way. I don't particularly think it's too funny. But the guy is probably a kidder and he just is making a sort of joke. Hope his poor wife doesn't hear it.

I know this married couple, who always crack me up. She is Jewish and he is Christian, so his wife refers to him (very lovingly) as the Gentile. They both are nice people who love to be sweet with each other. I always got such a kick out of it, but that was personal to them, so no offense was ever intended.

[Annamariah]

I've been researching because I'm curious :D
So Lapland is the Northern province, right? Laplandish would be a Finnish dialect? Are there many dialects there?

Finnish sounds as an interesting tongue. Professor Tolkien once said he had become "quite intoxicated with its sounds". I suppose that's why he picked it to be somewhat a basis for his Quenya.
Is it true that Finnish stresses words always on the first syllable? Are there any exceptions?

Yes, northern part of Finland is called Lapland, but Lapland extends to Sweden, Norway and Russia too. There's the northern dialect of Finnish, but there's also a whole different language called Sami. I'm not sure which one the word "eno" meaning "river" comes from, though.

There are several dialects of Finnish. They are divided into eastern and western dialects, or more spesifically into seven different groups. All the dialects are different, but not different enough to prevent Finns from understanding each other. Dialects are mostly spoken, and most of the written text is in "standard language" that is the same everywhere. Everyone knows the standard language, but no one really speaks it. As I've mentioned before, in Finnish written and spoken language are rather different.

Yes, the stress is always on the first syllable. The only exceptions would be some loanwords that come from other languages, but mostly even those are "Finnished" so that they fit the Finnish pronunciation :)

[grace86]

:) It depends on what the circumstance is on whether or not I dislike being called something. If it is a relationship sweet kind of thing..I don't think I'd mind being called any of the options on the poll....now...if it is some guy just hitting on me.....well...that's different.

[Maximilianus]

I don't think any man should regard himself as that much of a god that women should swoon at his feet and automatically forgive him his language.
Agreed! :thumbs_up

But then again I am just an old f**t by now. :brickwall
I'm sure you're not, but even if you were, your opinion is valuable as well :)

A coworker sometime refers to his wife as "My Bride", kinda cute, no? (they've been married 20+ years)
Very cute :)

I had a co-worker who referred to his wife as his first wife. :lol: He was only married that one time and though he had been married something like 20 years he felt it should always be a consideration. I never did meet his wife, so I don't know what she thought of it. Of course he said it with a twinkle in his eye.
Often a wife keeps for herself whatever she thinks about her husband, for obvious reasons, unless they've reached some sort of agreement about certain jokes... when they are just jokes :rolleyes:

Papaya, I've heard men use that term My Bride before and I thought it was rather sweet too. It's like they stay eternally young; well if they were married young, that is.

Virgil, I am not sure about that guy calling his only wife his first wife. That would spook me; I would think either I don't have long to live or else I am dombed in some other way. I don't particularly think it's too funny. But the guy is probably a kidder and he just is making a sort of joke. Hope his poor wife doesn't hear it.

I know this married couple, who always crack me up. She is Jewish and he is Christian, so his wife refers to him (very lovingly) as the Gentile. They both are nice people who love to be sweet with each other. I always got such a kick out of it, but that was personal to them, so no offense was ever intended.
I have heard some men referring to their wives as "my bride, my wife and my lover". Some of them surely mean it so as to apply it outside of a sheer comment, while others say it in a condescending way, so as to deceive their wives while they have their furtive adventures outdoors :rolleyes:


:) It depends on what the circumstance is on whether or not I dislike being called something. If it is a relationship sweet kind of thing..I don't think I'd mind being called any of the options on the poll....now...if it is some guy just hitting on me.....well...that's different.

Thanks for posting and taking the poll! :)

[Virgil]

Virgil, I am not sure about that guy calling his only wife his first wife. That would spook me; I would think either I don't have long to live or else I am dombed in some other way. I don't particularly think it's too funny. But the guy is probably a kidder and he just is making a sort of joke. Hope his poor wife doesn't hear it.


Yes he was a kidder. I never saw the wife so i don't know what her reaction was.

[Maximilianus]

Yes, northern part of Finland is called Lapland, but Lapland extends to Sweden, Norway and Russia too. There's the northern dialect of Finnish, but there's also a whole different language called Sami. I'm not sure which one the word "eno" meaning "river" comes from, though.

There are several dialects of Finnish. They are divided into eastern and western dialects, or more spesifically into seven different groups. All the dialects are different, but not different enough to prevent Finns from understanding each other. Dialects are mostly spoken, and most of the written text is in "standard language" that is the same everywhere. Everyone knows the standard language, but no one really speaks it. As I've mentioned before, in Finnish written and spoken language are rather different.
Thanks for explaining. Now I know a lil more about linguistics :)


Yes, the stress is always on the first syllable. The only exceptions would be some loanwords that come from other languages, but mostly even those are "Finnished" so that they fit the Finnish pronunciation :)

Hmm... so the Finns finish words with a "Finnished" finish :p :D

[Annamariah]

Hmm... so the Finns finish words with a "Finnished" finish :p :D

Yup, and it's better to be Finnish than finished :p

[Virgil]

Yup, and it's better to be Finnish than finished :p

:lol: Good one!!

[Maximilianus]

Yup, and it's better to be Finnish than finished :p

I have a hunch that being finished must be painful :cold:, so I'd rather be "Finnished" :D :lol:

[Annamariah]

I have a hunch that being finished must be painful :cold:, so I'd rather be "Finnished" :D :lol:

Your smiley could as well be Finnished than finished, we do have some cold winters here, you see :lol:

[Maximilianus]

Your smiley could as well be Finnished than finished, we do have some cold winters here, you see :lol:

Believe it or not I was talking to the smiley lately... and guess what it told me when I asked about its birthplace! ... up there in the north of the planet... :lol:

[JuniperWoolf]

"Honey" makes me feel like a wife, which would be alright if I was a wife and my husband were the one calling me such, but in any other context it would seem awkward.

[Maximilianus]

Wow, first thread I created has been revived!
Auld lang syne when I was born a member http://smilys.net/other_smilies/smiley5183.gif

[BienvenuJDC]

Isn't "chick" a derivative from the Spanish... "Chica"? which mean's girl?

[JuniperWoolf]

Oh yeah, another quick point of reference: calling us "chick" is usually okay, but calling us "hen" usually isn't. :p

[OrphanPip]

Haha, I almost always use babe as a term of endearment for some of my male friends. Now that I think of it, I don't think I have ever used a pet name for a female friend.

I think chick is etymologically related to the older expression chicken for a young girl or boy. (Chicken in old gay slang means a teenage boy)

[Maximilianus]

There're Spanish speaking places where women are sometimes called "pollita" which curiously and literally means "little female chicken."

One may assume that the first person who decided to address women this way was a native English speaker adopting "chick" as a short for "chicken" and then the term was borrowed by some Spaniard, with an equivalent intention. Or one may assume what Bien suggested a few posts above. It appears difficult (if not impossible) to accurately attest the very first use of certain terms in particular contexts, and where the idea came from.

Anyway, and regardless of intention, there's the evident language link among the terms above mentioned :)

[Paulclem]

"Dear" was missed off the list. Or does it mean that "Dear" is universally acceptable?

[Maximilianus]

I skipped several terms unintentionally, and mentioned the ones that came to mind first. I should have put more thought on the preparation of the list.

[Themis]

Personally, I don't think any of these terms are derogatory per se. It really depends on who's using them to what end.

That being said, I don't like being called "baby" by most men - but my father has been doing so since I was born. I can't say I actually like it, but it's impossible to get my father to stop and I do realize it's him being affectionate. I think if somebody else called me "baby" or "honey" or whatever, if I saw they were being affectionate and just couldn't quite understand what was wrong with the term, I wouldn't be angry with them. It's the intent that counts, after all.

[Delta40]

My Father used to call me Fanny Craddock (A restaurant critic and television cook) or Fanny Adams (an 8 yr old who was brutally murdered and dismembered in 1867)

What does it all mean?

[PoeticPassions]

Chick is kind of annoying... I agree with Juniper about 'honey,' though I don't think I would like being called that even by my husband (if I had one).

Not on the list, but I can't STAND 'babe.' Maybe because of a person that used to call me that all the time, or maybe because it just sounds so stupid. It associates me to people that say 'dude' all the time.

[Scheherazade]

Recently realised that "hun", "love", "darlin'" and "babe" do not make me happy. At. All.

[prendrelemick]

I said "Morning gorgeous" to my neighbour the other day because I knew she was feeling down.

I'm not sure it was the right thing to do though.

[Emil Miller]

The English comedian /presenter Jack Dee said that in the entertainments profession people are often referred to as Lovies.
He said: "I don't mind being called Lovie but I hate people who call me Ducky. There was some guy who was always calling me Ducky."
Pause..... "He's dead now."

[Paulclem]

I don't like being called babe, babes or darlin'.I've been called all three by young shop assistants, so I quite understand. I suppose it's better than being called the rather more plausible grandad and old git though.

I would also object to lover, sugar and sweetie. More serious terms of abuse I'm used to.

[Emil Miller]

I don't like being called babe, babes or darlin'.I've been called all three by young shop assistants, so I quite understand. I suppose it's better than being called the rather more plausible grandad and old git though.

I would also object to lover, sugar and sweetie. More serious terms of abuse I'm used to.

I suppose that any habitué of pubs in England gets used to 'darlin' pretty quickly but 'dearie' seems to have bitten the dust.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

My moniker, "Greatest Lover of All Time," has become tiresome. I get it, ladies, I'm a god. But I'm also modest, so just keep it "Greatest Lover."

[JuniperWoolf]

Not on the list, but I can't STAND 'babe.'

Me neither, it reminds me of the pig. Babe is one of my favorite childhood movies, but I still don't want my nickname to be after a pig (no matter how cute he is).


My Father used to call me Fanny Craddock (A restaurant critic and television cook) or Fanny Adams (an 8 yr old who was brutally murdered and dismembered in 1867)

What does it all mean?

:lol: Yep, that's a puzzling one.

[Maximilianus]

My Father used to call me Fanny Craddock (A restaurant critic and television cook) or Fanny Adams (an 8 yr old who was brutally murdered and dismembered in 1867)

What does it all mean?
Your father is quite a character... at dishing out nicknames, that is :p


Chick is kind of annoying... I agree with Juniper about 'honey,' though I don't think I would like being called that even by my husband (if I had one).

Not on the list, but I can't STAND 'babe.' Maybe because of a person that used to call me that all the time, or maybe because it just sounds so stupid. It associates me to people that say 'dude' all the time.
Whenever I've been called a "dude" I've strongly resented it. I feel it's among the ugliest English words and not because of the letters it's made of. It's just the way it sounds. It sounds so stupid, tasteless and maybe impolite to some extent... and all these trendy people uttering "dude" all the time as though it fitted their mouth machine guns like a charm :incazzato: I had to point out I hate the word :skep:

[Delta40]

I guess I feel there is a subtle difference in the use of endearments between friends and family as opposed to the use of them between strangers. If a guy in a pub called me darlin, baby or any of those terms, I would find it insulting whereas someone I love using those terms would be construed differently, if that makes sense.

[cl154576]

I still like my name most.

[papayahed]

Just recently a supplier started to call me "babe". I had to tell him it wasn't appropriate. If I would have known the guy in any other context besides work it might have been ok.

Seriously, I'm still fighting this battle with two coworkers. I think I've found a solution though. When a coworker calls me baby I answer back with "cupcake". That usually throws the guy off a little.

[Maximilianus]

Is "cupcake" often perceived as an offense? I was once called a "cupcake", and after reacting rather violently I realized it had been said as a word of endearment. I shouldn't have reacted without being completely sure of the word's connotation, as I must have made the friend feel bad :frown2: So what's a "cupcake" in the place where you live when applied to a person?

[papayahed]

Is "cupcake" often perceived as an offense? I was once called a "cupcake", and after reacting rather violently I realized it had been said as a word of endearment. I shouldn't have reacted without being completely sure of the word's connotation, as I must have made the friend feel bad :frown2: So what's a "cupcake" in the place where you live when applied to a person?


Cupcake is a term of endearment. I use it because it evokes the same response in guys that "baby" evokes in women. To me being called "baby" makes it seem like I'm not on the same level as the person calling me baby, like they have to watch over me.

[Maximilianus]

I get it. Thanks papaya :)

[JuniperWoolf]

Yeah, I got that all the time when I was a waitress. "Hey baby, bring me over an MGD." Okay, sure, then I can wedge the bottle down your throat. A-hole.

[Maximilianus]

You can't actually prevent a drooler from drooling over a beautiful woman. They just can't hold it. As a contrast, wedging a bottle down the a-hole's throat seems a more attainable goal :p

[PoeticPassions]

Whenever I've been called a "dude" I've strongly resented it. I feel it's among the ugliest English words and not because of the letters it's made of. It's just the way it sounds. It sounds so stupid, tasteless and maybe impolite to some extent... and all these trendy people uttering "dude" all the time as though it fitted their mouth machine guns like a charm :incazzato: I had to point out I hate the word :skep:

Oh, dude, tell me about it! :biggrin5:

hahahaha

[Emil Miller]

Oh, dude, tell me about it! :biggrin5:

hahahaha

Just another silly juvenile fad that will disappear in due course to be replaced by another.

[stephofthenight]

sweet cheeks- precious and I really hate when you walk in walmart and hear "damn babbbbbby yo b finnnnne" Im not sure rather It is so revolting because of their pathetic language skills, social skills, or the fact that when I think of fine, or hot I think of meat. IE thats a fine cut of meat, or I want it hot and juciy. Food words do not make good pet names. I really can not stand to be called angel though. It brings out the most non angelic part of me- my temper...

[prendrelemick]

Hmm.. food related names. a whole new can of weiners.



My mother used to call me "sausage" and don't the French call a woman "Mon petite chou" or My little cabbage.

[Emil Miller]

Hmm.. food related names. a whole new can of weiners.



My mother used to call me "sausage" and don't the French call a woman "Mon petite chou" or My little cabbage.

I once called a Belgian girl that and she slapped my wrist.

[tonywalt]

I usually say girl, like ''hey girl' but in a flirtateous context, only. It gets a positive result.

[TheFifthElement]

I suppose that any habitué of pubs in England gets used to 'darlin' pretty quickly but 'dearie' seems to have bitten the dust.

Only south of Watford. If you heard 'darlin' in a pub in Manchester it would be immediately followed by the sound of someone being propelled out of a window.

It's 'love' or 'chuck' round my way, both of which are unisex so none offensive to women :)

[papayahed]

I usually say girl, like ''hey girl' but in a flirtateous context, only. It gets a positive result.


ok, In the right context and tone I do repond positively to girl. Sme with darlin' but in addition to context and tone it must be said with a southern (US) accent.

[Emil Miller]

Only south of Watford. If you heard 'darlin' in a pub in Manchester it would be immediately followed by the sound of someone being propelled out of a window.

It's 'love' or 'chuck' round my way, both of which are unisex so none offensive to women :)

I can see that I'll have to extend my travels to the north of Watford.


ok, In the right context and tone I do repond positively to girl. Sme with darlin' but in addition to context and tone it must be said with a southern (US) accent.

I'm afraid that the southern (UK) accent of those who use darlin' leaves a great deal to be desired.

[tonywalt]

ok, In the right context and tone I do respond positively to girl. Sme with darlin' but in addition to context and tone it must be said with a southern (US) accent.

I'm very good with tone and can do a southern accent. I can also do a N'awlins accent, having lived there (I also juggle and can do 50 pushups).

Wow PH - this the first time you've agreed with me!

Tony

[Paulclem]

You could be pretty creative with food names.
My little:
vanilla slice
scrumptious toastie
jammy doughnut - (maybe not)
cheese souffle
bowl of crudites...

I hasten to add that I've never referred to women by any food based names. I'm still whole with nothing missing as proof...

[papayahed]

I'm very good with tone and can do a southern accent. I can also do a N'awlins accent, having lived there (I also juggle and can do 50 pushups).


Yeah, but can you name the Mercury 7 without looking it up?



Wow PH - this the first time you've agreed with me!

Ya gotta start somewhere. :p

[tonywalt]

Yeah, but can you name the Mercury 7 without looking it up?


Ya gotta start somewhere. :p

I can, but growing up on a British island I watched Dr. Who religiously and had delusions and disturbing plans for space (but really time) travel. My Tardis is still around but it needs alot of work.


Wait a sec- This is the first time we've agreed? I'm crestfallen(tongue out).

T.

[papayahed]

I can, but growing up on a British island I watched Dr. Who religiously and had delusions and disturbing plans for space (but really time) travel. My Tardis is still around but it needs alot of work.


Nice.




Wait a sec- This is the first time we've agreed? I'm crestfallen(tongue out).

T.

No, I'm sure there's something? right?.......erm...maybe?

[virginiawang]

I want to be addressed as a younger sister by my friend. I love him.