How many of you people use them?  You know what I mean, calling perfect strangers honey, dear, sweetheart, etc. 

Me? I can't bring myself to get comfortable with using them except with my dog, but then I call him just about everything but his name.

Do you like when people you don't know use them with you? 

I drop "Thanks, hon!" all the time. Bagged my groceries? "Thanks, hon!" Made my meatball sub? "Thanks, hon!" Hold the door for me?  "Thanks, hon!"

And yeah, the dog gets called everything except his name here, too! Hugs, Devlyn

Not even close in my case. I don't even like calling people by their names! (My skin crawls every time someone calls me by my *ahem* real name, so I guess that has something to do with it.) I usually just tap someone on the arm if I want to get their attention. I would never EVER call someone "hon!"

If I have known the person for a long time, like some of the cashier ladies at the supermarket, I will occasionally drop a "hon'" or a "sweetie."  But I prefer to use first names.

Often use 'Hon' for people who serve, help whatever me.

I'm exceptionally polite as my fellow staff members will attest

I don't use them. I don't even give compliments out. I think now I have a reason to though..... I want to try and say "Brother" or "Old sport"  .

Quote from: SaveMeJeebus on August 17, 2013, 05:08:02 AM
I don't use them. I don't even give compliments out. I think now I have a reason to though..... I want to try and say "Brother" or "Old sport"  .

How about "Champ"

  Personally I can't stand them I grew up in south Florida and in the old days it was quite common.Now with our more homogenized population English and its slang is now pretty much gone except in certain areas with older folks who were raised here. 

I love when people say "honey" or "sweetie" or whatever. I'm sure it would be creepy coming from a guy on the bus or something, but in a business exchange or a restaurant it always makes me feel good.

That said, I don't talk like that. I'm overly polite most of the time and I'm quite sure having a habit of using such terms would offend somebody sooner or later.

I don't know.  I have found myself using those endearing terms like honey or dear perhaps too lightly now that i am an old girl and feel somehow entitled.  I have been rightly called out on it by some friends that may be a bit more politically correct or consider it condescending.  While I enjoy being called a girl and love being honey or lovey there are folks who think I may be lacking in respect for feminist perspectives.
BTW we have two neutered Australian Shepard dogs that i also call every sweet name in the book.  My dog Emmet gets tons of compliments about his looks and is often misgendered so I will use it and say things like "yes he is so pretty people just assume he is female, I wish I had that problem";-)  And whats with the humping?  These guys lost their nuts as puppies but enjoy humping away at either end of each other.  Of course I know it is more about pack dominance.  When it happens at the dog park I say "yes I love my gay dogs"  ha ha ha.  I walk my guys in every parade in town