Being called 'dear' by total strangers

[Stevie]

  I've noticed that when interacting with older males (my age) like mechanics and contractors that some of them talk to me in a flirtatious manner using terms like dear and sweetheart, I flirt back sometimes and have gotten price breaks and stuff done for free. 

[Stevie]

A lot of guys use dude a lot. My brother is one. He calls everyone Dude. He has been really good with not calling me " little dude", which is what he used to call me, since I transitioned. But he calls everyone else dude. My dad tells him he's not "dude" he's "dad". He also called my grandma dude once after she had told him once before not ever to call her that again, and she smacked him on the head with a wooden spoon. Lol. 😂😂

[Faith]

creepy can be pretty obvious. I have to work on my 'that's not appropriate' responses.

We stopped at our dance club today to say hi to a few people. One guy I know comes over and gives me a hug. ok, some guys hug. he ended the hug with a handshake.  Then comes the comment of how I'm looking good, and another hug.

creepy meter went up.

I stepped towards my wife a bit and we finished talking, no more hugs ... whew. Maybe it was me but I tend to trust my gut and it was turning over.