Is it wrong to call women "Sweetheart" on the phone?

I work as a telephone agent. My last caller insisted on calling me "sweetheart" during the call. He was an older gentleman. I get this from time to time, especially from older men in the American South. When guys talk like that, I feel a mix of feelings as a woman, both valued but also patronized.

Do you think it's good or bad when men talk to women this way? Why do you think so?

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Ontheroad · M

I think it's more patronizing than anything.

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@Ontheroad Thank you for your response. May I ask what part of the world you are from? I feel like our answers to this are so dependent on context.

Ontheroad · M

@ShadowSister The USA, born and raised in California, lived all over the world (and the U.S.), and now find myself living in the South - Tennessee to be precise.

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@Ontheroad You probably encounter a lot of things that are culturally different then!

Ontheroad · M

@ShadowSister Yep, I sure have, and I just shrug, and keep on with the keeping on 😁.

This man who called you sweetheart is stuck in time, and in the culture he was raised in. He very likely didn't mean to be condescending, but as my Dad used to say "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@Ontheroad I agree. I don't think he meant anything by it. Still, it just annoyed me enough to post something about it here haha.