[Brighton] Being called ' Mate'. When is it ok?

[Saunders]

I am fine with mate as long as its not from some sales shit or similar. I hate being called "Sir" more. Edit to add regionaly babe, luv, duck iare also fine.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

Mate is a great get out when you forget a name, but I call everyone mate, except girlies and I hate it when they say mate (whole new story), it happens, don't get upset mate.

Edit: I have more time for people calling me mate when they knock me sideways in a rush hour train than some woman that just looks at you like a piece of sh!t.

 

[BadFish]

This thread reminded me of this, Pal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMD4tdp6Soo

Hope you enjoy it mate.

 

[LlcoolJ]

Personally the only time I dont think its acceptable is when a parent calls their kid 'mate'. No he/she isnt your 'mate' they are your child and teach them some respect for parents and others. Cannot stand that. Starts there and then you get them treating teachers as mates and then the law and thats a downward spirial from there. Call a lot of people 'mate' I meet but never ever my kids. Love them to bits, but they arent my 'mate', their my kids and that is a lot more to me than a 'mate'.

Each to their own. My son is the most polite, respectful kid you could ever want to meet (ask his teachers, cricket coaches, other kids' parents etc) and I call him "mate" all the time. Because he's also my best mate.

He's also learnt that words do not define meaning but the use of them does.

Maybe at ten years old he gets that better than you do? Or maybe I'm still waiting for the downward spiral to kick in.

 

[Bulldog]

I don't mind mate, but personally I tend to use the term Hun xxx

 

[Bulldog]

Most people I meet tend to get called mate, nothing to do with social attitudes more to do with a bloody awful memory for names.

 

[Baldseagull]

Fine when it is a mate saying it. But is it ok for shopworkers, bar staff and waiters to call you it. Should a waiter say it ? Well. I don't like it.
How do you feel?

Next time it happens, you respond, in a quietly aggressive voice, "I aint your ****ing mate, PAL!" and stab them up.

 

[lawros left foot]

I rather like 'mate or pal, or even fella, but, I cannot stand being called ' young man'

I'm 58 years old.

 

[BadFish]

Each to their own. My son is the most polite, respectful kid you could ever want to meet (ask his teachers, cricket coaches, other kids' parents etc) and I call him "mate" all the time. Because he's also my best mate.

He's also learnt that words do not define meaning but the use of them does.

Maybe at ten years old he gets that better than you do? Or maybe I'm still waiting for the downward spiral to kick in.

I call mine mate too, I don't think it makes them any less respectful. I agree that they take this meaning as a affectionate term rather than actually thinking I am their mate.

My old man used to call me batman when I was a kid (no, I don't know why either) and I never once thought I was batman.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

 

[darkwolf666]

I reckon its a Brighton thing, when I joined the army in the early eighties many didnt quite get it, apart from the fact that the Scottish, Welsh, Irish, West Country, Midlands, Geordies, East anglians etc all thought I was from London.
I no longer live in Brighton and now the word used is fella, its not and neither is mate a first person name but a third person term. Such as tu and vous in French, if it offends anyone, just communicate that to the sender of the term, simples.

Not a Brighton thing, they do it here in Kent too. Doesn't bother me, in fact it mildly amuses me when a 20 year old calls me, a nearly 60 year old "mate" - as if!

 

[The Sock of Poskett]

but You Can Call Me Al ...

 

[Postman Pat]

I call mine mate too, I don't think it makes them any less respectful. I agree that they take this meaning as a affectionate term rather than actually thinking I am their mate.

My old man used to call me batman when I was a kid (no, I don't know why either) and I never once thought I was batman.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

I always call my son 'mate', he's a pretty decent and respectful kid. He's nearly 18, and I'm pretty sure he isn't stealing cars or dealing drugs. Not sure when this downward spiral kicks in.

I'm worried now, I call the grandkids 'pickle' are they going to think they are pickles?

 

[smillie's garden]

Mate is a great get out when you forget a name, but I call everyone mate, except girlies and I hate it when they say mate (whole new story), it happens, don't get upset mate.

Edit: I have more time for people calling me mate when they knock me sideways in a rush hour train than some woman that just looks at you like a piece of sh!t.

Lady issues, mate?

 

[BadFish]

I always call my son 'mate', he's a pretty decent and respectful kid. He's nearly 18, and I'm pretty sure he isn't stealing cars or dealing drugs. Not sure when this downward spiral kicks in.

I'm worried now, I call the grandkids 'pickle' are they going to think they are pickles?

Can't help you with the pickles but me and Robin can sort out the car stealing and drug dealing (although your boy will have to adopt a theme around his law breaking, without that we are not much use).

 

[Blue3]

Really not in favour of the duming down of titles it's all a little to much American/Australian for my taste examples being;

Mate; Australian term for anything with testicles
Sheila; Australian term for anything without testicles
Buddy; American term for someone in a better financial position than oneself for example Buddy can you spare a dime
Dame; American term for attractive ladies can be added to swell when referring to larger ladies as in she sure is a swell Dame

 

[Dick Swiveller]

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Do I know you?

 

[studio150]

You most likely don't like it because of a socially learned feeling of superiority you have over shopworkers, bar staff and waiters.

When someone calls another person 'mate' they are expressing a desire to form a bond with a fellow human being, in a very British way. It's usually a very positive social interaction, so it's a shame that you dislike it, or that you feel you are superior to them, purely on the basis that they are people working in these types of jobs.

If they were working in professions that you respected more, then you would surely not feel such contempt towards them calling you 'mate'.

I think you should reflect on this, and consider that we are all equal despite the professions that we have. Perhaps them calling you 'mate' is a compliment that you are worthy of their empathy.. and maybe consider calling them 'mate' back. It might make them feel good.

What total tosh.

In answer to the op, never

 

[The Clamp]

Mate is okay, though not particularly professional. Fella, buddy, and the absolute worst of all , Matey are unacceptable. I always cocnlude that people who call others matey generally don't have friends.

 

[portlock seagull]

I don’t think some people know it’s possible not to inanely keep adding mate fella buddy pal and most irritating of all, guys, on the end or beginning of everything.