Don’t Call Me Dear
The only time the word “dear” is appropriate to me, is when you’re writing a letter. So here’s my letter.
Dear (choose one) store clerk, wait person, delivery guy, coffee server, cashier:
Why the fuck are you calling me dear? Do you think that you’re ingratiating yourself with me by using that little disrespectful term? As a matter of fact you’re alienating me. Just because you’re served me something, doesn’t mean that we’re now good buddies and that you should have terms of endearment for me.
I don’t mind being called ma’am, madam or madame, or Mrs. Idiot (if you happen to know my name). I’d even prefer being called sir over dear (and that happens on the phone a lot). So stop it. Because every time I hear it I think of a little term of endearment of my own… “idiot”.
And you know what else? If you want to say, “you’re welcome”, say you’re welcome, not “you’re more than welcome”. WTF is more than welcome? Is that akin to super welcome? really, really, really welcome?
If you have to say “you’re welcome”, instead of saying thank you back to me, then just say it. But I prefer that you say thank you when I say thank you. As in, I’m thanking you for ringing me through the cash, and you’re thanking me for my patronage… you know, the way they used to teach people to respond to customers in the ‘old’ days.
And, another thing, if you’re my waitperson and you ask me if I want change, you may not get a tip. Especially when my bill is only $10 and I give you a $20. Instead, why don’t you just say, “I’ll be back in a minute with your change”, and then, if I’m leaving the change for you, I have the option of saying, “no, that’s fine”.
For sure if you’re a pizza delivery guy and you don’t even make like you’re going to get out my change, you will not be getting any tip. At least pretend you’re getting the change so I have the option of deciding that I don’t need that $1-$3 that’s left and will give it to you.
I can’t tell you how many angry delivery guys left my place, all because they started walking away with my change, as if it was automatically theirs.
Maybe I’m a miserable old bitch, but if all people who served the public followed these simple rules, I think we’d all benefit.
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Comments
Well I don’t mind people I know calling me anything. You could call me dear, or snookey wookey, or asshole, and I’d be fine with it. Just not the strangers trying to ingratiate themselves or get a bigger tip or something by using some implied bond between us. 
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idiotonastick
Minna
Dave Barker
I used Moneris for over two years. I recently terminated due to a merchant compliance requiremen t – Moneris began...
Maria
just another
Female, taken, fire, Sagittarius, Monkey, Toronto, two kids, one grandson, IT.
55
is the new 30. I want the world to close their mouths when they’re eating or chewing gum. If they don’t, I want to elbow them in the face.
I’d call you ‘dear’, just to see your blood boil. hehehehehe, thats the cruel evil kind of BFG I am. Besides I’m older than you, and all those pretty young things, look to bloody dear for my liking….