Don't mess with Texas

That's when you spank them and wash their mouth out with soap.

Does that cost extra?

Where do you work?

I agree. It can be demeaning when said a certain way. I've never gone so far as to complain about someone calling me "hon" but I do make a mental note to avoid them in the future. I've heard of people getting so enraged over it that they've actually gotten someone fired for calling them hon.

In a place like Texas, though, it's not demeaning at all. That's just how people address people they don't know when they're being friendly. You can't blame a waitress for trying to be friendly the best way she knows how. Her livelihood depends on it.

Where is it that you live? I just want to know so that I can avoid that part of the world. Sheesh.

For the rest of us, what should a waitress refer to you as, if not one of the usual mild endearments?

For the record, I'm not at all bothered by other people liking it, I'm not being rude about it here. Nicknames are what you give to people you know and care about, and I think it's strange to hear someone I have never met before call me "sweetie" or "hun" or whatever. As gracehi said, it's Texas (I'm New England, just about as far away as you can get in the continental US) and they obviously have some different social norms than I am used to - which I already knew, but that doesn't make me suddenly happy to hear a 15 year old call me "hun" while I pay for my coffee at the drive through. Having said that, I would also never complain about someone using those terms. I don't think that anyone means something negative by it, but I think it's overly casual for someone who doesn't know me at all, and I don't welcome that. That's how I would view being greeted with a kiss by a server. I'm sure its well-intentioned, I respect that other people may like that, but I don't.

And as for terms that I'm perfectly fine with: miss, sir, ladies, guys, folks... But to be honest, I don't think those are ever really necessary - as long as its said with a smile, "What can I get for you today?" sounds just as friendly to be as "What can I get for you today, hun?" and it doesn't feel like the server thinks we're close friends :)

76- It's not all of Texas mostly small towns & such that still do that. Especially not at chains like Starbucks. I've lived in Texas for 5 years & have only had 1 waitress that used those terms.

Strange, it seems to be just the opposite up over here - pretty much the only place I hear that while getting drive through coffee.

Was scrolling through for ages waiting for someone to finally say they didn't like it! I can't stand this stuff either. I wouldn't be a bitch about it but it does annoy me and/or creep me out. It's not even that those words are reserved for friends though - I just can't think of any time when they would be used. I have friends who use nicknames and are close enough that we're always hugging and stuff but, in that instance, 'honey' would feel less friendly. So they're too friendly for strangers, too formal for friends - they just seem to try and force non-existent friendship or are patronising (and in some circumstances they do seem sexist).

However, I do understand that it's a regional/cultural thing. It pretty much never happens where I live, which makes it even weirder when it does. I would expect it more in somewhere like Texas though.

Totally with you Amy!

Sounds like my kinda diner

Thanks, Dipshit. I appreciate the positive feedback. :P

Gracehi, screw you! You loggerheaded, plume-plucked, wanker!! Ima doin it rigt?

Exactly, Penguinbitch! You should apply at OP's diner! You'd be a shoe-in for a waitressing position!

I think we should start the official FML diner. "welcome ass bandit, what ya havin?" "you want coffee with no cream? **** you, You're getting cream! "

"Today, I went to a diner with a weird acronym name. When I ordered a black coffee, the waiter insulted me, cried, '**** you!' and promptly served me coffee...with extra cream. FML."

Customer: "Hey you, asshole, get me a ******* order of fries jackass, with some mayo on the side." Server: "Sure thing fucktard, one order of fried bullshit and some of my 'special sauce' cumming right up."

Yes! I like this idea. You have to wear acronym name tags when you take your seat

That sounds like Dick's they'll give you offensive paper pirate hats too.

Oh my gosh yes! That place was awesome the first few times I went, but then it just got old.

@ 25 If a diner ever opened up like that, I'd go. Political correctness makes my skin crawl.

@123,unfortunately that's how the world is today. Even in Australia, where people used to be so laid-back.

where do you live? as in what area in the country? bc, at least where i grew up, everyone calls eachother hon. Just try not to assume that people mean it in a bad way

I don't know where you're from, but things are different in the southern US. People are much more informal, open, and friendly here, so addressing a stranger with what elsewhere would be considered an endearment isn't considered rude or unusual. Considering this happened in Texas, OP definitely did not deserve to be reprimanded. What she did was perfectly acceptable in that culture. My guess is that some uptight person from the north took offense and complained, and her boss took it too seriously.

@ 34 It's the same in Maryland too. Certain places it's out of place if your waiter/waitress doesn't start with "What'll it be Hun?" Never had a problem with it, and never will. It isn't like they are trying to secretly sexually harass or otherwise imply unwanted closeness with them.

I am from NY and I know it's a Southern thing

i love in texas and i dont like to be called that. stupid to get in trouble over though

You're a picky customer Perdix. I'll be happy with a darlin' and maybe a sugar bear or a butter bean.

Calling a customer "baby" is awkward.. I live in Virginia and that isn't appropriate at all in the part I live in,

Depends on where you work. And big city residents tend to be more snooty about their political correctness than townies or country folk

I serve food in a fairly small town.

I do as well. Like I said, though, most of my customers are very regular to the point of being on a first name basis, and with some, talking outside of work. The exceptions are the ones I call darlin', hon, sweetie, etc. Also, 99% of my customers are single men in their mid 20s to 30s. They eat it up. I work 3rd shift at the only 24 hour fast food place within about 20 miles.

Oh, or older truck drivers who eat it up even more!

Flirting with waitresses is the trucker's national pastime. It's far more fun when they play along, we don't get to talk to very many people in a day. Good humor, nicknames and hot coffee will earn good tips from most truckers.

We're not allowed to accept tips (I'm actually a gas station attendant and we have chicken and such) but whenever people do try and tip, it tends to be a truck. I actually met my husband, a former trucker, through my job and my high amount of flirting with him.