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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BlueVeins · 22-25

I'm a man and I've had southern women address me as sweetheart. I don't think they mean anything by it, but if it's making you uncomfortable, that's still a problem.

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@BlueVeins If it had gotten too bad, I would have said something. No, it was not that worrying. Just something I thought worth starting a conversation about on SW.

LordShadowfire · 100+, M

@ShadowSister It's definitely a southern thing.

strait46 · 46-50, M

@BlueVeins the "problem" is being an oversensitive wuss and expecting people to talk the way you talk. as south park said when they were allowed "p.c. is lame" in the early seasons.
that was before the new-speak bullies and their complaints shouting and censorship by private companies that we all experienced before fleeing here.

BlueVeins · 22-25

@strait46 Oh god, not south park politics. The idea that it's cool to be disinterestedly cruel to other people is a cancer on modern politics. "Just be respectful to people by default" is the simplest and easiest possible guideline to follow and it shouldn't be controversial. Teenager mentality.