Are there any women out there who feel this way? When I meet a man online for a relationship, him calling me "Dear" or "Hon", feels like he's talking down to me.

If it's someone I know, I don't mind it. If it's a stranger, it's annoying. The same with any other cute little name such as baby, sweetie, cutie and so on.

i get that alot too, but from another site, they are mostly from other countries, and are asking for money, i am not sure i consider it talking down to me but more like wanting to be in a relationship so badly they start using terms of endearment from day one. i want to take things a little slower and then start using the terms of endearment later on.

Thank you. I think I feel better. It's like they can't remember my name.

I think you're right about the other countries.

I notice it a lot from Americans, too.

I like those terms to be used only by the person with whom i'm involved romantically.

I'll give southerners the benefit of the doubt, however, because I realize some of them use those words regularly and generally. If it's anyone else, it creeps me out.

I'm one of those people who calls people 'hon' a lot.. Its just a habit, and a lot of people where I'm from do it too...

I don't use it as a term of endearment.

I don't really mind when people talk that way to me, although if its a guy I do wonder if he really even knows my name....

I was just going to say I hear it everyday being that I'm down south so I really don't pay much attention to it.

I will say though that if it is an ongoing thing from a stranger, then I start to get a little uncomfortable.

If it's online and they don't know my name, I just accept it as a part of the salutation. It sure beats, "Hey there, Hot Stuff". However, online, I do NOT appreciate a greeting that starts with "Babe". Too many inferences of intimacy and degradation and such.

I feel the opposite way. It's one of those cute little names and someone should actually know me before using it.

the ones i have talked to claim to be american but after talking with them for a while i can tell they are NOT american

Well, lil honeys...I am screwed! I was born and raised to speak that way......it don't matter if you are 8 or 80...to me you are all still sweeties/honeys/babydolls...you get the picture. But, after 40 years of talking that way...not much chance I can change that pattern now.

I can only speak for myself when I say no offence or disrespect is meant by it...I was taught that it was a good thing to be politely complimentary....(and yes, I do remember names)

It's good to know I'm not alone. It was getting kind of creepy. I've even had 2 men talk like they're ready to marry me when we haven't even met, except online. That's creepy!

"the ones i have talked to claim to be american but after talking with them for a while i can tell they are NOT american"

I agree with you trgirl. I've even asked them where they're from. They say us and I know better.

I really don't like nick names or pet names at all,but thats just me.

Well, a few in this thread have said they do it. Granted, they're doing it because they call everyone that. But still, they're in the US .

Well, lil honeys...I am screwed! I was born and raised to speak that way......it don't matter if you are 8 or 80...to me you are all still sweeties/honeys/babydolls...you get the picture. But, after 40 years of talking that way...not much chance I can change that pattern now.

I can only speak for myself when I say no offence or disrespect is meant by it...I was taught that it was a good thing to be politely complimentary....(and yes, I do remember names)

Well, Krupa, it's nice to hear from a man but everyone that understands some of us have a creepy feeling about it, might think about easing up a little for comfort. It'll help a bit

Just consider the opposite end of the spectrum.....If I was from up north...I would probably refer to you ladies as "Youse guys" or "You'ns"...If I had been raised with no sense of respect, it would be "b*!ches" or "Ho's" (I hate it when guys talk like that...shows a total lack of respect)

So, all things considered...there are plenty of worse references "Dear" or "Hon"

Just my perspective Baby....(since I don't know most of your names...I gotta call you something...and it ain't gonna be Ma'am)

But, I do understand your point.....the only way I can see around it is to issue name tags to everyone.....

Better still pet names are used in order to prevent the infamous faux pas of calling someone by the wrong name