Pet Names: Innapropriate? Okay? Creepy?

[M]

I decided to make this thread tonight because I have a science teacher--who is male--that refers to ALL females in his class as 'babe', 'baby', 'honey' and 'hun'. We're all either Juniors or Seniors, so we're young adults, and not children who would accept pet names such as this without question.

I personally get a little angry when someone calls me these names. Not so much 'babe', because it's usually used sardonically, but the others--especially baby--grate on my nerves. I've heard you can get in a lot of trouble for using these terms in a professional setting.

I also don't like being called those names by women, but it happens more often so I'm use to it. Being called these names by my male science teacher is sort of disconcerting, although I do like him and think he's a nice guy. Just these nicknames, GAH!

I have seen many woman get highly offended by being called these names by a male--it seems to give off a very condescending vibe.

So. What do you think? Do you not care? Do you find them appropriate? Is it different from man-to-woman to woman-to-woman? Man-to-man? Woman-to-man?

Wadayathink?

[R. Deloro]

Those names are said to express caring and consideration, at least that's what they are trying to express. No way to tell how person receiving them perceives them, there are no mind-readers.
The person giving them is, of course, expecting a happy or likewise considerate reaction...or something. Or maybe not. Whatever. It all depends.

But it is basically that

[broelle]

people should just be more creative and branch out from the babe/baby-ness.
except I like calling people baby love, hahah

[Breezee]

I actually like babyluv (that spelling I got from a book and it stuck, hah).
But unfortunately nobody calls me that. *sigh*.

[R. Deloro]

babyluv =D

see, now THAT is creepy

[broelle]

I will call you baby love if you'd like.

[unityofeffect]

I think it totally depends on the person and tone. I have some friends who use these terms and I have even used them on occasion but only with specific people who I am close to. I don't think it's appropriate in the work place or the classroom. Your teacher sounds way out of line. I agree that these terms, especially if used only towards women, can be very condescending.

[Camille]

I don't really mind if it's a women who's older than me, I've had female teachers call me "honey" and "dear" before. But if it's a man... it's kind of creepy. I agree with Emma, I think you should just talk to him after class one day. He doesn't know he's offending anyone, but if he did, if he's a good guy, I'm sure he'll stop.

[M]

I don't think it bothers me enough to actually call him out on it. I dunno. Maybe I will when I think it gets too out of hand.

[Sorcha]

Hmm it really depends, I mean my teachers regularly call us by our nicknames or shorten our names, but 'baby' is a bit much really...
x

[Papalopolis]

I am a teacher and may I say it is definitely not okay to call students by pet names ever. End of discussion.

I have about seventy pet names for my wife. The most unusual would have to be "Snooklington." Before you judge, say it out loud... the cadence, the texture... such a beautiful word. If anyone wants to take it, possibly to name their cat, by all means do.

I'm always introducing new pet names, to spice things up. Spice things up? That's not what I mean. I mean, to keep things fresh. The most recent one is "Frangipane" because her name is Angela, and the word Frangipane has the word angi in it. I Even wrote a country song about it:

Chorus:

FRANG-i-PAAAAN,
I'm a one woman man
And that woman's name is FRAAAAN-i-PAAAAN

I wish I could remember the first (only) verse. It was really funny.

[Jasmine Kalay Cardinal]

Ok, this probably not only makes me a bad feminist, but a bad person in general, but I LOVE PET NAMES. I love them almost unconditionally. Because, sadly, the name Kelly doesn't exactly generate it's own nicknames (except for Kel, and that's just lazy) and so, I love pet names. It just gives me warm toasty feelings inside. In fact, even if they are all condescending and evil and mean and inappropriate, I still really enjoy them and try to get them into daily conversation. Most of my friends have pet names, and even if they don't have specific ones, they still get a honey or a sweetheart or a dear or a darling. I guess it's just a quirk.

[M]

Probably just a quirk, because a male teacher calling his female students baby hardly makes one warm and tingly inside!