The word "dude"

[ainsley]

Would you rather they call you Lebowski?

Sorry. That was dumb. Cracked me up, though.

That was over the line.  Mark it a zero.

My wife and I usually are referred to as "you ladies" in retail settings, but sometimes they will say "you guys" to us.  I think it is just a colloquialism that people use like they do in the south of the US with y'all.

Y'all ready to order?
You guys ready to order?
You ladies ready to order?

All asking the same thing:  Are you people ready to order.

But, dude?  Not something I want to be referred to in any way by anyone.

[Shawn Sunshine]

 

[Shawn Sunshine]

Oh Course Iron Man...Woman?

[Ellesmira the Duck]

The only peoe that it doesn't bother me when they say it are those I've already told somewhere along the line or those that pretty much treat me as female in every other regard. The context does matter, though if I feel like people even use male pronouns in my general direction I cringe. Recently in class one of my professors was addressing a male student who sits behind me and guestured toward him (and in a round about way me) and I could feel my heart skip a beat. =P

[Alexis2107]

I am as firey as my red hair, I never had anyone call me "dude" yet after coming full time... I would just roll my eyes and give them a really sarcastic response.  It's like, really? dude? xD although, I don't like people calling me chick either.  I like more respectful titles if cannot call me by my name.  I'm not a dude or a chick, I am a ma'am, lady, Miss, or simply Lexi.