For me, one of daily challenges is being addressed as "sweetie" or "hon" by complete strangers.
對我來說，有一個日常的小煩惱就是被一個全然不認識的人稱為“親愛的”或是“甜心”。
I get this regularly--from the coffee-cart vendor or department store salesperson, on the phone or at a doctor's office. Since when do strangers feel they can address others with such familiarity?
我經常被賣咖啡的小販或百貨商店售貨員這么叫，在電話里或是在醫生辦公室里也常這樣。從什么時候開始，陌生人感覺他們可以用這樣熟稔的稱呼叫別人的？
It rankles that some of the people I get this from are young enough that I could pass for their mother--that is, if I had had kids early. I understand the attempts to be friendly or convey warmth, but would the salesperson or vendor addressing me as I stand before them in a suit do the same to a man next to me dressed similarly? Somehow I doubt it.
更讓人可惱的是，有些這么稱呼我的人還很年輕，我夠當他們的媽媽了——如果我早點生了孩子的話。我明白這些人試圖表現得親切或是表示對你的熱情，但是這些售貨員如此稱呼站在她們面前西裝革履的我，她們也會對我旁邊同樣西裝革履的男人也這樣稱呼嗎？我有點懷疑。
Is it a generational thing? Or a cultural disconnect? One colleague says she doesn't mind at all being called "sweetie" because it makes her feel young.
是因為年代不同了嗎？還是文化差異？我的一個同事說，她一點也不在意有人叫她“親愛的”，因為這讓她感覺自己很年輕。
I guess I'm of the Jane Austen school of social conduct that believes "sir" and "ma'am," "please" and "pardon me" are proper forms of address in daily discourse. I say "excuse me, ma'am" or "sir, could you please..." when I have a question or need assistance. Perhaps I exaggerate, but I do sometimes worry that the increasing erosion of good manners I see every day or read about could spell the end of a civilized society.
我猜我在社交行為準則上屬于簡·奧斯汀派，認為“先生”和“女士”，“請”和“對不起”是日常交流中適宜的說法。我會在有問題或需要幫助時說“對不起，女士”或“先生，您能……”。或許我夸大其詞了，不過我有時真的擔心，我每天看到的或是讀到的禮貌舉止的日益衰敗可能預示著文明社會的終結。
A New York Times article last year detailed how being called "sweetie" or "dear" chips away at the dignity of older people. "Professionals call it elderspeak, the sweetly belittling form of address that has always rankled older people," the article says. The piece refers to studies showing "that the insults can have health consequences, especially if people mutely accept the attitudes behind them."
去年《紐約時報》上的一篇文章詳細講述了對年長的人來說，被稱為“親愛的”有損他們的尊嚴。文章中說，這種甜蜜但帶有貶低色彩的稱呼形式總會讓年長的人感到惱怒。文章引述了研究結果，說這種侮辱性稱呼能帶來健康問題，特別是如果人們默默地接受了稱呼背后的態度時。
On several occasions, I speak up, asking others to refrain from addressing me with undue familiarity. Just tell me yes or no or provide help or point me to the right direction--no niceties or terms of endearment necessary.
在某些場合，我會大聲說出來，請別人不要用過于熟稔的稱呼來叫我。干脆點，告訴我“是”還是“否”，提供幫助或給我指路，不需要親切的稱呼或是表示喜愛的詞匯。
Readers, what's your take on this? Do you mind being "sweetie-d" by strangers? Have you used these terms yourselves to casually address people you don't know?
朋友們，你對此有何看法？你在意被陌生人稱為“親愛的”嗎？你自己用這樣的詞稱呼過陌生人嗎？
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（來源：北外網院，英語點津編輯）
