Don’t Call Me Babe
I have an objection.
This is to being called ‘babe’ by the man in the newsagents when I enter his premises to purchase fags and soya sauce. (Staples of a freelance life, you know. Along with Diagnosis Murder and Haribo.)
I am no one’s ‘babe’. Not even The German’s. Being given such a moniker is an unsavoury reminder of a vile ex boyfriend and the fact that when it comes to the endless battle to enforce appropriate behaviour, some men clearly need their trenches redigging.
Apparently this overfamiliarity is a sign of the times. More a folded down corner on the cultural page than a direct attempt to piss me off.
But just because someone else is jumping of a cliff into an abyss of social incongruity, does not mean I have to as well.
Eyes front and hands where I can see ‘em, boys.
8 Comments so far
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Once someone I’d known for about 30 seconds called me ‘Ange’. Thats ‘Angel’, shortened. Being called angel is bad enough without it being made all quirky and colloquial…
By Jo on 01.04.08 4:34 pm
Couldn’t agree more. Babe is particularly grating, but any of that nonsense does my head right in.
This is coming from someone who sees handshakes as a ghastly and inappropriate display of public affection, though…
By Stu on 01.04.08 5:19 pm
You’re telling me. Unless I know someone really well, I have been known to recoil visibly/jump like I’ve been electric shocked when someone’s touched me.
This does not make me the easiest person to get to know. Except when I’m pissed. Then the whole lot gets turned on its head. Sometimes quite literally.
By LadyShambles on 01.04.08 6:31 pm
My boss is always calling women “babe.” He’s foul, so it makes me want to vomit. “Thanks, babe.” Gross. I am taking notes and waiting to use this illegal behavior against him someday soon.
By Shannon on 02.04.08 1:51 am
What about being called love by older women who run shops? Does that count or is it considered ok? Also, I’m all for handshakes but only when it’s a corporate situation or when meeting friends of your dad. Otherwise you’re just being a ponce.
By pimento on 02.04.08 9:03 am
Jo - what the fuck is up with ‘ange’? Did this man crawl out of the undercarriage of a Maestro on a used car lot?
Pimento - I expect that when you’re a girl, being called ‘love’ by an older lady in your local shop isn’t so bad. But if you’re a boy, could this be classed as overstepping the mark? I suppose it depends how much cleave the old girl’s got on show?!
By Ladyshambles on 02.04.08 9:23 am
See that’s the thing, with most of the old ducks I encounter that do it.. more cleavage is bad cleavage. I can see where they’re coming from, but it does kinda get me sometimes…
By pimento on 03.04.08 1:10 pm
Death by crinkly cleavage Pimento? What a thought!
By LadyShambles on 03.04.08 3:35 pm
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