Here in Nova Scotia it's very common for people (mostly women) to use the word 'dear' even when they don't know the person they're talking to. The waitress may say, "what can I get you dear" or the cashier may say "hello dear, lovely day we're having wouldn't you say?" or "now dear, let me get that down from that high shelf for you". All casually friendly just because Maritimers are casually friendly. I don't mind it now although when we first moved here from British Columbia it was kind of weird because in BC most folks (in the lower Mainland where I lived) are too busy and stressed to want to even make eye contact. My mom on the other hand gets positively ballistic if someone makes the dangerous mistake of using it when speaking to her. Personally, I think there's lots more important and worrying things in life than for some friendly person to use words like 'gal' or 'dear'.
Sometimes I get the feeling that too many folks are on the look out for something to get riled up about. For example, in Florida a 12 year old girl is being sued because during the course of some stupid kids game, she pinched a boys backside and the boy's mother is planning on continuing with battery charges which means the kid got hauled off to 'juvey' and will probably have to do community service, take classes of some sort and submit to drug testing. Do you think this could be handled some other way? I smell a 'pay day' plan here.
Sad but true.
Oh, back to the topic:
Flattery on your looks ?
Where did you say that bakery is, IKE?
Seriously tho'...
....as for receiving flattery, a gal at the gym complimented me on my appearance, which was O.K. but I felt a little uneasy because it seemed like getting "hit on".
:shrug: