Don’t call me Hun.
A few days ago I contacted a shop owner on a costumer service note. I have never spoken to this person before. The chat that followed points to one of my Pet Peeve’s that are running rampant in Second Life.
Shop Owner: ok honey gonna send that to you right now
Shop Owner: ok hun sent
Imagine if this was real life. I go to the customer desk at a store and ask for help. No rep in the world would dream of calling me “Hun” in that situation. It’s rude and condescending, not to mention totally inappropriate. Yet, in SL, it seems to be the norm.
If you don’t know me you are not allowed to call me Hun, Honey, Baby, Darling, Doll, Sweetheart or any other moronic nick name you can dream up.
My name is Kissowa. Don’t call me Hun.
[Imagine if this was real life. I go to the customer desk at a store and ask for help. No rep in the world would dream of calling me “Hun” in that situation.]
Actually, they would and they do, more often than you’d think. What some people reserve as a term of endearment to those they know well, others use as an address. Rather than sir/ma’am, some use hon, dear, whatever. It varies by location but people often add something like that to the end of their sentences.
[It’s rude and condescending...]
Only if you take it that way. For many people it’s a huge part of their speech and it’s not at all used condescendingly. Whereas you assume they’re being rude, they know they’re just being friendly. I’ve been called boss, champ, dear, hon, sweetie, sweetheart, dear heart, doll, babe, and more. It doesn’t bother me, and I don’t vilify those that say it, because I know the spirit in which it was said.
Kissowa Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 04:39
It’s very possible that this is a culture difference between Sweden and America, but if a rep here called me “Hun”, s/he would have serious problem with their boss at the end of the day.
I also find that the majority of people that us “Hun” and the likes to people they don’t know (I’m referring to SL now) are people who generally walk around with a air of being a little bit better. You can tell they are oh-so-bothered to have to deal with you, but mask it with throwing these terms around. I approach all unknown people with a level of respect, I expect them to give me the same in return.
I’m totally with Kiss on this. I hate it, I hate the way people think this term of endearment makes them seem sweet or friendly. I think it’s making an assumption that said person can be that intimate with me.
I think you’re right that there’s a difference in America, as it happens all the time here. I just reply with a tight lipped ‘dear’ and a look of disdain when it happens to me.
In SL, where there’s no way to show your emotions, it bugs me to no end. There’s an inherant assumption that I’m accepting your term of endearment to a stranger with a smile, when I’m really thinking about dropkicking you.
It’s considered rude in Australia too, although it does happen (and I hate it when it does).
Really? This is very interesting, it seems that it’s very rude in Europe and Australia but perfectly fine in USA. Wonder how it is in the rest of the world.
Hey Hun!
I agree. VERY few folks get to have that kind of dialog with me. Anyone taking such liberty will get a prompt and curt “WTF is your problem” type of response. I for one certainly do not accept the use of any terms of endearment from the general sheeple. That is a priviledge, not a right – RL or SL.
Don’t like that? Good. Piss off.
Howls,
Snarl