when strangers call you things such as love, honey, brother, sister, sweety/sweetheart, etc.?

Me, it doesn't bother me most of the time, IDC what people call me, everyone seems to have their own nickname for me anyway, so why should they be any different?

Coming from strangers, it's pretty silly. Some use it because they're not good at remembering names. Some use it because they think they're supposed to, as they were raised that way. Some use it to talk down to others, which just makes me roll my eyes. All in all, it's pretty cheesy coming from a stranger.

I save that kind of stuff for those who are close to me and even then, they're used sparingly.

around my area, it's common to call people hon, sweetie, etc

It doesn't bother me at all. I do it myself in fact. I could be wrong but it seems it is more common in the south.

I see it as just being friendly.

how is that for an answer sweet cheeks?

It works for me, Sugar.

ahhh thank ya, honey bun

:P I have noticed that it happens more in the south. The south is much more friendly as well though, maybe that has something to do with it.

the other day, I was leaving a store and a man held the door open for me. I said "thank you hon" and he said "you are very welcome"

it was like a normal exchange. No weird looks from his wife or anything It was very natural

I don't think it's odd if people don't use those names, but I don't think it's strange when people do either.

More friendly than what? Does someone saying "hi honey" make them friendlier than a person just saying "hi?"

No, but down south strangers smile and say hi more often than up north, I've noticed.

I think it really just depends on the area. I haven't really noticed it more in the south, though. I've found friendly people all over the place.

it seems they are more openly friendly and can strike a conversation with a stranger at any time...I know I do all the time. Especially in a long line

I went to NY once and felt like I was in a pin ball machine. I always said "I'm sorry" if I bumped into someone and people gave me the strangest looks

Last time I was in NYC, people were very friendly. As were people in Northern California. Probably even more so than the last time I ran into strangers in NC. Then again, I live in an area that I don't really consider the south and people are extremely friendly, even more than any place I've been much farther south. Then there's VA, which is definitely farther south, which is a very unfriendly place as a whole.

I do it all the time to people and have no problem when they do it to me. I actually kind of like it.

Yup, they are much friendlier down south than up north.

Then again, I'm in love with the south, so that could have something to do with it. :P

well I can only speak of my own experience. And this is what I've experienced.

Of course not everyone in the south is friendly and there are friendly people up north. But my experience is in general, the south does seem friendlier and more open to talk to strangers

It may be a thing with large urban areas too - I moved to Columbus and if I talk to people in the grocery they act surprised and nervous

never knew I was that scary

I'm from Philly and don't really think of Maryland area as the south iin the same way as Ky, Tenn or Ga

being called hunnie or sweety don't make me no nevermind

Yes, yellowrose. We're all speaking from our own experiences I'm sure.

I moved to downtown Annapolis and found it more friendly than when I was living in the suburbs in VA. I can always strike up a random conversation with people here with no problem. Couldn't really do that in VA. People were so much more uptight there. Then again, go a little farther west to DC and it's very uptight there as well.

I hate being called Dear by strangers. Almost always it's by older female sales clerks. I don't know why, but it feels very patronizing (matronizing?) to me.

People are friendlier in the South, pah. Unless they know you're a "Yankee." Then they call you that every other word.

People are friendlier (i.e., nosier) in small towns in general. Southerners like to call Northerners cold when what we really are is respectful of strangers' privacy. In the North and in cities, your life is your own business, not every passing stranger's.

you got some southern girl in ya huh? You would do great in my area lol